JOB SUMMARY
The Senior Systems Engineer – FinOps is a senior technical specialist responsible for driving cloud cost optimization, financial accountability, and engineering-led efficiency across large-scale data platforms. This role focuses on FinOps optimization across Snowflake, AWS EMR, and core AWS services (EC2, S3, Lambda, Redshift, Glue, DynamoDB, EKS).
The engineer designs and implements automation for tagging compliance, budget guardrails, workload efficiency, and anomaly detection to ensure cost-effective, scalable data solutions. Partnering with Cloud Platform, Data Engineering, DevOps, Security, and Finance teams, the role enables cost transparency, enforces governance through policy-as-code, and reduces spending without impacting performance or reliability.
Leveraging FinOps best practices, cost observability, and automated controls, this role ensures efficient operation of Snowflake, EMR, and AWS data pipelines while shaping scalable optimization strategies across a multi-cloud environment.
CANDIDATE PROFILE
Required Education & Experience
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Bachelor's degree in computer science, Engineering, or equivalent experience.
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7+ years of IT experience, including:
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5+ years in cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or Ali Cloud).
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3+ years of Snowflake cost optimization experience.
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3+ years of AWS EMR optimization (Spark tuning, cluster right-sizing, Spot strategies).
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Strong scripting and automation experience (Python, Bash, or similar).
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Experience with cloud cost management tools (CloudHealth, Cloudability, AWS Cost Explorer, Snowflake tools).
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Experience in implementing FinOps strategies across AWS services.
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Proven experience managing large-scale cloud budgets and driving cost savings.
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Deep understanding of cloud pricing models, cost drivers, and optimization techniques.
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Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
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Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
Preferred Education & Experience
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Experience with Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, CloudFormation, Ansible).
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Hands-on experience with containers and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes, ECS, EKS).
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Experience with distributed data platforms (Spark, Presto, Iceberg, Snowflake).
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Knowledge of emerging cloud capabilities (e.g., EMR Serverless, Snowflake Iceberg tables).
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Familiarity with Linux/Windows operating systems and database platforms.
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Understanding cloud security, compliance, and data protection practices.
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Experience in large-scale, enterprise environments.
CORE WORK RESPONSIBILITIES
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Lead FinOps engineering by analyzing and optimizing cost, usage, and performance across Snowflake, AWS EMR, and AWS data services (EC2, EKS, S3, Redshift, Glue, DynamoDB, Lambda).
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Design and implement automation for cost governance, including anomaly detection, budget controls, tagging compliance, and reservation planning, supported by unified cost dashboards.
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Partner with Finance to enable cost transparency through forecasting, budgeting, and chargeback/show back models while delivering actionable cost insights to leadership.
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Provide technical leadership and architectural guidance for cost-efficient cloud solutions, driving platform optimization, standardization, and best practices.
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Build, deliver, and maintain scalable cloud data platforms, ensuring high availability, performance, and observability through effective monitoring and alerting.
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Establish operational standards, automation frameworks, and continuous improvement processes to enhance system reliability, efficiency, and engineering productivity.
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Ensure compliance with IT governance and security standards while managing vendor relationships, monitoring SLAs/KPIs, and driving continuous service improvement.
At Marriott International, we are dedicated to being an equal opportunity employer, welcoming all and providing access to opportunity. We actively foster an environment where the unique backgrounds of our associates are valued and celebrated. Our greatest strength lies in the rich blend of culture, talent, and experiences of our associates. We are committed to non-discrimination on any protected basis, including disability, veteran status, or other basis protected by applicable law.
About UsSkills Required
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or equivalent experience
- 7+ years of IT experience
- 5+ years of experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Ali Cloud
- 3+ years of Snowflake cost optimization experience
- 3+ years of AWS EMR optimization experience, including Spark tuning, cluster right-sizing, and Spot strategies
- Strong scripting and automation experience with Python, Bash, or similar
- Experience with cloud cost management tools such as CloudHealth, Cloudability, AWS Cost Explorer, and Snowflake tools
- Experience implementing FinOps strategies across AWS services
- Experience managing large-scale cloud budgets and driving cost savings
- Deep understanding of cloud pricing models, cost drivers, and optimization techniques
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration abilities
- Experience with Infrastructure as Code using Terraform, CloudFormation, or Ansible
- Hands-on experience with containers and orchestration, including Docker, Kubernetes, ECS, or EKS
- Experience with distributed data platforms such as Spark, Presto, Iceberg, or Snowflake
- Knowledge of emerging cloud capabilities such as EMR Serverless and Snowflake Iceberg tables
- Familiarity with Linux or Windows operating systems and database platforms
- Understanding of cloud security, compliance, and data protection practices
- Experience in large-scale enterprise environments
Marriott International Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Marriott International and has not been reviewed or approved by Marriott International .
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Hotel travel discounts for employees, eligible family, and friends—along with wellness resources—stand out as signature perks across the portfolio. These benefits are especially valuable to those who travel regularly.
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Retirement Support — The 401(k) program includes a dollar-for-dollar match up to a capped portion of weekly pay, standing out as a strong component of total rewards. This support is a meaningful advantage for eligible U.S. associates.
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Parental & Family Support — Eight weeks of paid parental leave, adoption assistance, and childcare discounts signal a solid commitment to families. These offerings help round out the broader benefits package for eligible associates.
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What We Do
Marriott International, Inc. is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 7,500 properties in 30 leading hotel brands spanning 132 countries and territories. Its heritage can be traced to a root beer stand opened in Washington, D.C., in 1927 by J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott. Marriott International is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. Marriott International does not discriminate on the basis of disability, veteran status or any other basis protected under federal, state or local laws. Community Guidelines: We reserve the right to remove without any notice content that we determine in our sole discretion is offensive or illegal, contains personally identifiable information, trademarks or copyrights belonging to a third party, advertises a third party’s products or services, or is otherwise inappropriate. Application Tips: We encourage job seekers to protect themselves from email and recruiting scams. Please note: 1) We do not accept applications via email or fax; 2) We never ask for money as part of the application process; 3) We only contact job applicants from approved email domains. Please find more information about Marriott International’s job application process and approved email address domains here: http://www.careers.marriott.com/tips-for-applying/
