Principal Cloud Engineer

Role Description

The Principal Cloud Engineer is a senior technical leader who pairs architectural vision with hands-on engineering execution. You will design and build the reference architectures, patterns, and standards that support Greystar’s global operations, then implement those designs yourself using modern cloud practices.

This is not a role that stops at diagrams. This is the role that proves out patterns through working POCs, then enables the platform team to operationalize and scale them. You will partner closely with the Data, Digital, and AI (D2AI) team, where much of Greystar’s active cloud development happens today, while keeping a broader, enterprise-wide perspective.

Much of that work is AI and data intensive, so a core part of this role is building the cloud foundation that Greystar’s AI and ML workloads run on, from accelerated compute and model serving to the Databricks data plane that powers them.

We are looking for someone who thinks in cloud concepts rather than being tied to any single provider. The ideal candidate understands foundational principles - IAM, virtual networking, DNS, load balancing, compute, and storage - and can translate those concepts fluidly across Azure, AWS, or any platform our growing portfolio demands.

This is an individual contributor role with a strong mentoring component. You will guide and elevate systems administrators and engineers across the team, helping them grow into more strategic thinkers themselves.

In addition to your resume, all candidates are required to include a short video (2–5 min) demonstrating how you have used AI tools in your engineering workflow — code generation, debugging, architecture, documentation, or similar. We recommend recording with Loom (free) or uploading as an unlisted YouTube video. Please embed this link at the top of your resume. Applications without a video link will not be reviewed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in cloud, infrastructure, or platform engineering, with at least 3 years in a senior or principal-level role.
• Strong conceptual mastery of cloud computing fundamentals - IAM, VNets/VPCs, load balancing, DNS, compute, storage.
• Deep hands-on experience with Azure private networking — hub-and-spoke topology, Private DNS zones, private endpoints, and network security controls.
• Hands-on experience with Terraform or equivalent Infrastructure as Code tools (Bicep, CloudFormation).
• Proficiency with Git-based version control and CI/CD pipeline design and management.
• Experience with containerization technologies, particularly Docker.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and influence engineering teams without direct management authority.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts and architectural decisions for diverse audiences.

Requirements

• Design and build reference architectures, design patterns, and technology standards that ensure consistency, security, and scalability across all environments.
• Design, implement, and continuously improve Greystar’s private networking architecture, including hub-and-spoke topology, private endpoint strategy, DNS architecture, and network segmentation standards across all cloud environments.
• Design and build Greystar’s container platform, delivering reference patterns for AKS and containerized workloads.
• Design and implement cloud infrastructure solutions across multi-cloud environments (Azure, AWS), with an emphasis on reliability, security, and cost-efficiency.
• Design and implement the infrastructure patterns for AI workloads and the Databricks data plane.
• Partner closely with application development teams to help them move fast and safe.
• Build and curate paved-road solutions: reference implementations, Terraform modules, pipeline templates, and starter architectures.
• Champion and advance Infrastructure as Code (IaC) practices using Terraform.
• Implement and maintain reliability standards the platform team operates against.
• Build and maintain governance frameworks for cloud decisions.
• Mentor and coach cloud and platform engineers.

Benefits

• Competitive Medical, Dental, Vision, and Disability & Life insurance benefits.
• Generous Paid Time off: 15 days of vacation, 4 personal days, 10 sick days, and 11 paid holidays.
• 6-Week Paid Sabbatical after 10 years of service (and every 5 years thereafter).
• 401(k) with Company Match up to 6% of pay after 6 months of service.
• Paid Parental Leave and lifetime Fertility Benefit reimbursement up to $10,000.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Critical Illness, Accident, Hospital Indemnity, Pet Insurance and Legal Plans.
• Charitable giving program and benefits.