Mission-critical Kubernetes for aerospace
Aerospace demands extreme reliability and strict compliance. We build Kubernetes platforms that handle ITAR requirements, mission-critical workloads, and the unique challenges of aerospace operations.
Talk to an engineerThe Aerospace Industry Demands Infrastructure Excellence
The aerospace and defense industry faces unique infrastructure challenges that traditional cloud providers simply cannot address out of the box.
From ITAR compliance requirements that mandate US-person-only access to export-controlled technical data, to the extreme reliability demands of mission-critical flight systems, aerospace organizations need infrastructure partners who understand the stakes. A misconfigured container runtime or improper access control does not just mean a security incident. It can mean regulatory violations, lost contracts, or compromised mission safety.
THNKBIG is a US-based Kubernetes consulting firm serving aerospace and defense contractors across Texas, California, and nationwide. Our team works with prime contractors and their suppliers in Austin, Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, and San Francisco to build container platforms that satisfy the most demanding compliance requirements.
We understand that aerospace engineering teams need infrastructure that accelerates development velocity while maintaining the rigorous controls required by ITAR, CMMC, and AS9100 quality standards.
Whether you are building satellite command and control systems, aircraft avionics software, or ground-based radar processing applications, your Kubernetes infrastructure must be architected from the ground up with security and compliance as foundational requirements.
Our engineers have deployed mission-critical platforms for defense contractors, commercial space companies, and aerospace manufacturers. We bring that experience to every engagement, helping you avoid the compliance pitfalls and security gaps that delay programs and increase costs.
Aerospace-Specific Kubernetes Solutions
Classified and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) Environments
Handling classified data or CUI requires infrastructure that implements NIST 800-171 controls at every layer. We design Kubernetes environments with:
- Proper boundary controls and encryption at rest and in transit
- Comprehensive audit logging
- Access controls that enforce need-to-know principles
- Common Access Card (CAC) authentication integration
For organizations pursuing CMMC Level 2 or Level 3 certification, we implement the technical controls that assessors verify during the certification process.
Space Systems and Satellite Software Development
Commercial space companies and satellite operators face unique challenges: long development cycles, rigorous testing requirements, and the need to deploy software to systems that cannot be physically updated once launched.
We build CI/CD pipelines that support the extended testing cycles space software requires:
- Proper artifact management and digital signing
- SBOM tracking for full supply chain visibility
- Full software lifecycle support from development through qualification testing
- Complete traceability required by NASA and Space Force customers
Aircraft Systems and Avionics Integration
Modern aircraft generate terabytes of data from sensors, avionics, and operational systems. We design ground-based Kubernetes platforms that ingest, process, and analyze this data for:
- Maintenance optimization and predictive analytics
- Flight safety analysis
- Operational efficiency improvements
Our architectures integrate with existing MRO systems and support the data governance requirements of both commercial airlines and military aviation programs. For organizations developing avionics software, we build development environments that support DO-178C certification workflows.
Defense Contractor DevSecOps
The Department of Defense has mandated DevSecOps practices for software-intensive programs. We help defense contractors implement compliant DevSecOps pipelines that satisfy DoD Enterprise DevSecOps Reference Design requirements.
Our DevSecOps capabilities include:
- Container hardening based on DISA STIGs
- Automated security scanning integrated into CI/CD workflows
- SBOM generation and vulnerability tracking
- Platforms designed to pass security control assessments and achieve ATO
Purpose-built for aerospace
ITAR-Compliant Infrastructure
Export-controlled data requires US-person-only access. We design Kubernetes platforms that enforce ITAR requirements at the infrastructure level.
Mission-Critical Reliability
Aerospace systems require extreme reliability. We design for failure scenarios and test recovery procedures regularly.
Supply Chain Security
Know what's in your software supply chain. SBOM tracking, vulnerability scanning, and trusted image registries.
Edge & Embedded Systems
From satellites to ground stations, aerospace extends to edge environments. We deploy Kubernetes where traditional infrastructure can't reach.
Why Aerospace Companies Choose THNKBIG
US-Based, Clearance-Eligible Team
Aerospace and defense organizations choose THNKBIG because we combine deep Kubernetes expertise with genuine understanding of aerospace industry requirements. Our team is:
- 100% US-based
- Composed of US citizens eligible for security clearances
- Committed to never offshoring work to contractors in other countries
When your program manager asks about the citizenship status of everyone who will access your environment, we have a straightforward answer.
Proven Aerospace Track Record
We have delivered compliant Kubernetes platforms for organizations ranging from small defense startups to prime contractors on major weapon systems. Our engineers have hands-on experience with:
- AWS GovCloud deployments
- Azure Government environments
- On-premises deployments in classified facilities
We understand the difference between commercial best practices and what actually works in regulated aerospace environments. There is a significant gap between a Kubernetes tutorial and a platform that will pass a DCMA audit.
Partnership-Focused Approach
Our approach is practical and outcome-focused. We do not sell you a platform and disappear. Instead, we:
- Partner with your engineering team to ensure successful adoption
- Provide knowledge transfer so your team can operate independently
- Remain available for ongoing support as your requirements evolve
For aerospace organizations in Houston, Dallas, Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and throughout the United States, THNKBIG is the Kubernetes consulting partner that understands your mission.
Accelerating classified software delivery on EKS in AWS GovCloud
Defense Contractor — AWS GovCloud
The Challenge
A defense contractor needed to deploy an IL-5 compliant Kubernetes platform on AWS GovCloud to support classified software delivery for a DoD contract. Existing processes were manual, slow, and couldn't meet the aggressive security and deployment timeline requirements.
Our Approach
- Architected IL-5 compliant environment on AWS GovCloud with STIG baselines
- Deployed Rancher for multi-cluster management with hardened container images
- Implemented GitOps-driven CI/CD with zero-trust admission control
Results
90 days
To production
90%
Faster deploys
Zero
Security findings
IL-5
Full compliance
Frequently asked questions
Technology Partners
DevSecOps and Cloud-Native Infrastructure for Aerospace and Defense
Aerospace and defense organizations face a uniquely demanding intersection of technology modernization pressure and security compliance requirements. ITAR compliance requires that technical data related to defense articles and services be controlled throughout its lifecycle — meaning Kubernetes clusters processing ITAR-controlled data must restrict access to US persons, log all interactions comprehensively, and maintain the access control records that compliance audits require. THNKBIG implements ITAR-compliant Kubernetes platforms using US-citizen-only engineering teams, comprehensive RBAC configurations, and the audit logging infrastructure that defense compliance demands. Our platforms satisfy the personnel and technical controls that keep defense organizations compliant while enabling the development velocity that modern aerospace engineering requires.
The Department of Defense's Platform One initiative and DevSecOps Reference Architecture have established a pathway for defense organizations to adopt cloud-native software delivery while maintaining the security controls that mission-critical systems demand. THNKBIG implements Kubernetes-based DevSecOps platforms aligned with Platform One principles — using Iron Bank hardened container images, integrating Anchore for container image scanning, implementing continuous Authority to Operate processes, and deploying the party bus architecture that enables rapid software delivery for programs at Impact Level 4 and IL-5. For prime contractors and defense technology companies building products for DoD programs, our DevSecOps implementations reduce time-to-ATO while establishing the continuous monitoring practices that program offices increasingly require.
Space systems, UAV platforms, and autonomous defense systems require software infrastructure that meets the reliability and determinism requirements of safety-critical aerospace applications. Kubernetes provides the orchestration foundation for these systems when configured with deterministic scheduling, resource guarantees, and the health monitoring that fault-tolerant aerospace applications demand. THNKBIG has implemented Kubernetes platforms for aerospace organizations building satellite ground systems, mission planning software, and autonomous navigation platforms — delivering the reliability engineering that life-safety and mission-critical requirements impose. Our US-based engineering team's combination of Kubernetes expertise and defense industry experience positions us as the partner aerospace companies trust for cloud-native infrastructure where failure is not an option.
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US-based team · All US citizens · Continental United States only