Principal Cloud Engineer

POSITION SUMMARYThe Principal Cloud Engineer is a technical and strategic leader for the cloud platform and enablement function, responsible for setting vision, driving innovation, and ensuring alignment with business objectives across hybrid and multi-cloud environments (Azure, GCP, on-prem). This role mentors architects and senior engineers, influences executive stakeholders, and leads the development of enterprise-wide cloud strategies, standards, and transformation initiatives.
In the first 12 months in this role, you will have an opportunity to:
· Digest, understand and aide in improving and implementing the enterprise cloud strategy, reference architectures, and technology roadmaps.
· Lead adoption of advanced cloud-native patterns (e.g., GitOps, SRE, FinOps, Zero Trust) across all platform teams.
· Sponsor and guide major transformation initiatives (e.g., migration, modernization, automation at scale).
· Establish and track organizational SLOs for reliability, security, and cost optimization.
· Build and nurture a high-performing, inclusive cloud engineering culture through mentorship and coaching.
· Represent cloud engineering in executive forums, influencing investment, risk, and compliance decisions.
Location: This role is located on-site in Appleton, WI with occasional off-hours maintenance and participation in an on-call rotation.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

What You Will Do

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Set technical direction for cloud platform and enablement, aligning with business and IT strategy.
• Develop and evangelize enterprise cloud standards, guardrails, and best practices.
• Lead cross-functional architecture reviews and technology selection processes. Digest, understand and aide in improving and implementing the enterprise cloud strategy, reference architectures, and technology roadmaps.
• Sponsor and guide major transformation initiatives (e.g., migration, modernization, automation at scale).

Technical Excellence & Innovation

• Oversee design and implementation of complex, scalable, and secure cloud solutions.
• Drive adoption of automation, Infrastructure as Code, and modern DevOps/GitOps workflows.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and guide proof-of-concept initiatives.
• Lead adoption of advanced cloud-native patterns (e.g., GitOps, SRE, FinOps, Zero Trust) across all platform teams.

Reliability, Security & Cost Governance

• Champion SRE and FinOps practices; set organizational SLOs and cost optimization targets.
• Ensure robust security, compliance, and disaster recovery strategies are embedded in all solutions.
• Establish and track organizational SLOs for reliability, security, and cost optimization.
• Lead incident response for critical events and oversee post-mortem analysis.

Mentorship & Talent Development

• Mentor architects, senior engineers, and high-potential talent; foster a culture of learning and innovation.
• Develop and deliver training programs, workshops, and knowledge-sharing sessions.
• Support career development and succession planning within the cloud engineering organization.
• Build and nurture a high-performing, inclusive cloud engineering culture through mentorship and coaching.

Executive & Stakeholder Engagement

• Communicate technical vision and strategy to executive leadership and business stakeholders.
• Influence investment decisions, risk management, and compliance initiatives.
• Represent the cloud engineering function in external forums, industry groups and vendor engagements.

Primary Tools & Technologies

• Cloud: Azure, GCP, AWS; on-prem virtualization/storage (VMware, SAN/NAS)
• IaC/Config: Terraform, Bicep, Ansible/Chef/Puppet; Packer
• CI/CD & SCM: Azure DevOps, GitHub, Cloud Build, Git
• Containers: Docker, Kubernetes (AKS/GKE/EKS), Service Mesh
• Observability: Azure Monitor, GCP Cloud Monitoring/Logging, Prometheus/Grafana, Elastic
• Security: Entra ID/Azure AD, GCP IAM, Key Vault/Secret Manager, KMS, Azure Policy/Org Policy/OPA

Additional Job Responsibilities:

• Live our values of High Performance, Caring Relationships, Strategic Foresight, and Entrepreneurial Spirit
• Find A Better Way by championing continuous improvement and quality control efforts to identify opportunities to innovate and improve efficiency, accuracy, and standardization
• Continuously learn and develop self professionally
• Support corporate efforts for safety, government compliance, and all other company policies & procedures
• Perform other related duties as required and assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• Progressive IT experience, with 10+ years experience with public cloud platforms, such as Azure and/or GCP. Additionally, demonstrated cloud architecture/engineering leadership.

• Proven track record of leading large-scale cloud transformation initiatives in hybrid/multi-cloud environments (Azure, GCP, on-prem).

• Deep expertise in cloud architecture, automation (Terraform, Bicep), CI/CD, SRE, and security.

• Demonstrated leadership, mentorship, and organizational influence.

• Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and executive presence.

Preferred:

• Advanced certifications: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Google Professional Cloud Architect, AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional, CKA/CKAD, HashiCorp Terraform Associate.

• Experience with enterprise-scale migrations, modernization, and cloud financial management (FinOps).

• Background in compliance frameworks (SOC2, ISO, HIPAA, etc.) and policy-as-code.

• Published thought leadership (whitepapers, conference presentations, patents, etc.).

DIVISION:

Corporate

U.S. Venture will not offer sponsorship for employment status (including, but not limited to, H-1B, TN, E-3, F1,  CPT, OPT, STEM OPT, visa status and other employment‑based nonimmigrant visas) for this position. Accordingly, all applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis and must not require U.S. Venture’s sponsorship to continue to work legally in the United States. In general, U.S. Venture does not sponsor candidates for nonimmigrant visas or permanent residency except when there is a specific business need.

U.S. Venture will not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of an executed recruitment Master Service Agreement, there will be no obligation to any referral compensation or recruiter fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without an agreement, U.S. Venture shall reserve the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, shall be deemed the property of U.S. Venture.

U.S. Venture, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or other protected characteristic. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may call Human Resources at (920) 739-6101.