Principal Cloud Architect

Overview

Location: Raritan, NJ (Hybrid – 3 days onsite)

Job Description:

We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic Senior Architect to lead the design, implementation, and optimization of our Google Cloud environment. This role is a critical intersection of infrastructure, DevOps, and FinOps, requiring a candidate who can not only build robust and scalable cloud solutions but also drive cost efficiency and a culture of financial accountability. The ideal candidate will be a technical visionary with a strong business acumen, capable of aligning our cloud strategy with our overarching business objectives.

Responsibilities

• Design and deploy scalable, secure, and resilient infrastructure on Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
• Create the architecture and conduct implementation of core GCP services, including compute, storage, networking, database, data analysis services, and security.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive cloud governance framework, including policies and best practices for security, compliance, and cost optimization.
• Collaborate with application and data teams to create end-to-end cloud solutions that meet business and technical requirements.
• Act as a trusted advisor to stakeholders, providing insights on emerging cloud technologies, trends, and innovation opportunities.

DevOps and Automation

• Design and implement sophisticated CI/CD pipelines to automate the build, testing, and deployment of applications and infrastructure.
• Champion the adoption of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) principles using tools like Terraform to manage cloud resources.
• Architect and manage containerization and orchestration solutions using Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), Cloud Run.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement and automation across all stages of the development lifecycle.
• Collaborate with development and operations teams to enhance system reliability, scalability, and performance.

FinOps and Cost Management

• Develop and implement a comprehensive FinOps strategy to ensure financial accountability for cloud spending.
• Analyze cloud consumption and provide actionable insights to optimize costs while maintaining performance.
• Collaborate with finance, product, and engineering teams to foster a culture of cost-awareness and responsible cloud usage.
• Lead efforts to right-size resources, leverage cost-saving pricing models (e.g., committed use discounts), and implement automated cost-control measures.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Engineering, or a related field. Master’s degree in computer science is preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in cloud architecture, infrastructure engineering, or a similar role.
• Proven hands-on experience in designing and building solutions on Google Cloud Platform.
• Strong expertise in Infrastructure as Code with tools such as Terraform.
• In-depth knowledge of containerization (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes).
• Experience in designing and implementing CI/CD pipelines with tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, or Google Cloud Build.
• Demonstrated experience with cloud cost management and optimization (FinOps).
• Excellent understanding of cloud security principles and best practices.