Systems Engineer Mid

Finops Cloud Engineer

GES was awarded the U.S. Air Force Cloud One Architecture and Common Shared Services contract and currently has an opening for a FinOps Cloud Engineer supporting AWS, Azure, GCP, and OCI environments. This is an exciting opportunity to leverage your expertise to drive cost optimization, efficiency, and financial accountability across a global-scale multi-cloud environment supporting USAF mission systems. This role focuses on implementing technical changes that directly optimize cloud spend, executing cost-saving initiatives identified through FinOps analysis, and continuously improving cost visibility and governance across cloud platforms. Location: These positions will be hybrid remote. Candidates may be required to work onsite as needed. Preferred candidates will be located near Hanscom AFB (Boston, MA), Gunter AFB (Montgomery, AL) or work in Reston, VA or Huntsville, AL.

Primary Responsibilities Include: As a FinOps Cloud Engineer, you will be responsible for executing and operationalizing cloud cost optimization strategies across multi-cloud environments. You will partner closely with cost analysts, cloud engineers, and program leadership to implement high-impact savings initiatives and improve financial efficiency.

• Implement compute rightsizing recommendations across AWS, Azure, GCP, and OCI to optimize utilization and reduce waste.
• Identify and remediate underutilized or idle resources, including rightsizing storage and removing unattached volumes and disks.
• Develop, modify, and maintain snapshot and backup lifecycle policies or automation scripts to eliminate unnecessary retention and reduce storage costs.
• Analyze logging usage and costs; implement strategies to reduce logging volume and optimize log retention policies.
• Track Reserved Instances (RI) and Savings Plan inventories; support renewal, modification, and purchasing decisions to maximize cost efficiency.
• Execute cost optimization recommendations provided by FinOps analysts and ensure measurable savings are achieved.
• Utilize cloud cost and usage data to proactively identify additional cost-saving opportunities.
• Support cost tracking, forecasting, and reporting activities across cloud environments.
• Collaborate with engineering and operations teams to ensure cost-aware architecture and deployment decisions.
• Develop automation (IaC/scripts) to enforce cost optimization policies and prevent cost inefficiencies.
• Maintain documentation of cost optimization actions, processes, and outcomes.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of FinOps practices, governance, and tooling.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors and 8+ years of experience; Masters and 6+ years of experience. Additional experience may be accepted in lieu of degree.
• Interim Secret clearance required to start; ability to obtain Secret clearance required to maintain employment.
• US citizenship required.
• Certifications: CompTIA Security+ or equivalent (IAT-2). If expired, renewal of certification will be required to begin work.
• Strong hands-on experience with at least one major cloud provider (AWS, Azure, GCP, or OCI).
• Experience with cloud cost management tools (e.g., AWS Cost Explorer, Azure Cost Management, GCP Billing).
• Strong understanding of cloud resource types and cost drivers (compute, storage, networking, logging).
• Experience implementing automation using scripting or Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Python, PowerShell, etc.).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on cost optimization.
• Ability to work across cross-functional teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication and documentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with FinOps practices, frameworks, or certifications (FinOps Certified Practitioner or equivalent).
• Experience supporting large-scale, multi-cloud environments.
• Familiarity with USAF Cloud One, Platform One, or DoD cloud environments.
• Experience with tagging strategies and cost allocation models.
• Knowledge of Reserved Instances, Savings Plans, and commitment-based discount strategies.
• Experience building dashboards and reporting using tools like Cloudability, Kion, or native cloud tools.
• Scripting experience for automation (Python, Bash, PowerShell).
• Cloud certifications (AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI, Terraform) at the associate/intermediate level or higher.