Principal Cloud Computing Engineer

SAIC is hiring a Principal Cloud Computing Engineer to support the VA’s migration to the cloud. The role designs and operates cloud infrastructure and automation, supports VAEC Azure environments, and addresses cloud security, compliance, and cloud-readiness needs.

Responsibilities:

• Create data flow diagrams, cloud diagrams, transition diagrams, and high-level architecture diagrams on Cloud Infrastructure, applications, and systems
• Design, develop, deploy, and operate automation technologies for continuous integration (CI) and continuous delivery (CD)
• Manage and control permissions in the cloud service provider for each cloud application, storage, and service being hosted
• Implement, manage, and design monitoring capabilities for cloud architecture and cloud-hosted systems and applications to ensure optimal performance and compliance with VA and Federal policies
• Provide customer-focused support for Product lines and Services, including setup, configuration, and provisioning of VAEC environments
• Provide cloud support services for systems and applications in the VAEC Azure (GovCloud) environments, ensuring compliance with VIP development, release, and documentation requirements
• Adopt a DevOps mindset with an understanding of CI/CD practices and tooling
• Provide Cloud Security Provider Documentation
• Design VAEC/cloud-hosted solutions and address cloud-readiness gaps

Requirements:

• Bachelor's and 20 years' experience or master's degree and 10 years in computer science, systems engineering, cloud engineering or related technical discipline
• Proven track record of designing, deploying, and managing Azure infrastructure and services
• Experience with large-scale, high-availability, and scalable cloud architecture
• Expertise in core Azure services such as Azure Virtual Machines, Azure Blob Storage, Azure SQL Database, Azure Virtual Network (VNet), Azure Functions, Microsoft Entra ID, Azure Resource Manager (ARM), Azure Monitor, and Azure DNS
• Experience with Azure security practices and services including Microsoft Entra ID, Azure RBAC, Azure DDoS Protection, and Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF)
• Proficiency with Azure networking components such as VNet Peering, Azure ExpressRoute, VPN Gateway, Private Endpoints, and Azure Load Balancer
• Ability to design, deploy, and manage scalable, secure, and highly available Azure cloud infrastructures
• Experience establishing and governing multi-subscription Azure environments using Management Groups, Azure Policy, and Azure Landing Zones
• Knowledge of cloud cost management, FinOps practices, budgeting, tagging strategies, and resource optimization using Azure Cost Management
• Proficiency in scripting languages such as Python, PowerShell, Bash, or JavaScript/Node.js for automation and cloud operations
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools such as ARM Templates, Ansible, and GitOps methodologies
• Proficiency with monitoring, logging, and observability tools including Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, Application Insights, Azure Activity Log, and third-party tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, and New Relic
• Experience optimizing performance, availability, and resiliency of Azure resources and services
• Strong understanding of Azure security best practices and compliance frameworks including HIPAA, FedRAMP, NIST, GDPR, and PCI DSS
• Experience implementing encryption, key management, secrets management, and identity solutions using Azure Key Vault, customer-managed keys, and Microsoft Entra ID
• Knowledge of Azure database services including Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, Azure Cosmos DB, Azure Database for PostgreSQL, and Azure Database for MySQL
• Experience with database performance tuning, backup and recovery, high availability, and disaster recovery strategies
• Familiarity with CI/CD tools and practices including Azure DevOps Pipelines, GitHub Actions, Jenkins, and GitLab CI
• Experience with containerization and orchestration technologies such as Docker, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), Azure Container Apps, and Kubernetes
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to troubleshoot complex cloud platform issues
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
• Skilled in prioritizing tasks, managing competing priorities, and meeting project deadlines
• Strong attention to detail to ensure system stability, security, operational excellence, and data integrity
• Proven ability to mentor engineers, provide technical leadership, and contribute to cloud architecture governance
• Experience leading complex cloud modernization, migration, and transformation initiatives while collaborating across cross-functional teams
• Strong documentation skills for architecture, operational procedures, security controls, and system configurations
• Ability to manage and contribute to multiple projects simultaneously while ensuring high-quality deliverables
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities to troubleshoot complex cloud-related issues
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
• Skilled in prioritizing tasks, managing time effectively, and meeting deadlines
• Strong attention to detail to ensure system stability, security, and data integrity
• Capability to mentor and provide technical guidance to junior engineers and team members
• Ability to lead technical projects and collaborate with cross-functional teams
• Strong documentation skills for creating and maintaining system configurations, processes, and procedures
• Ability to manage and contribute to multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring timely completion and quality results
• Commitment to staying current with emerging Azure technologies, cloud-native architectures, and industry best practices
• Commitment to staying current with emerging Azure technologies, tools, and industry trends
• US Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance
• Advanced Azure certifications are preferred, such as: