Principal Analyst, Public Cloud

Forrester Research•Chicago, MA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Forrester Research is seeking a Principal Analyst to lead research on public cloud platforms and the strategies, architectures, operating models, and market dynamics shaping enterprise cloud adoption. This role serves technology executives and leaders responsible for cloud strategy, architecture, infrastructure, operations, and application platforms, helping them use public cloud to deliver stronger business outcomes while managing cost, complexity, risk, resilience, and organizational change. The Principal Analyst will examine the rapidly evolving public cloud market, including hyperscale and alternative cloud platforms; multicloud and hybrid cloud strategies; cloud-native infrastructure and application services; containers and Kubernetes; serverless computing; AI infrastructure and platform services; cloud operations; governance; and application migration and modernization. The ideal candidate combines strategic perspective with credible technical and delivery experience and can translate complex market and technology shifts into clear, provocative, and actionable guidance for senior leaders.

Requirements

A strong record of academic achievement; a BA/BS degree or equivalent professional experience is required.
At least 10 years’ experience in a mix of roles as a senior practitioner, cloud architect, platform or infrastructure leader, consultant, technology strategist, vendor executive, or research analyst focused on public cloud or closely related domains.
Deep knowledge of the public cloud market, including the major hyperscale platforms and the evolving ecosystem of alternative, sovereign, industry, and specialized cloud providers.
Demonstrated experience with cloud strategy, architecture, platform selection, migration, modernization, cloud-native development, or cloud operations in complex enterprise environments.
Strong working knowledge across several of the following areas: infrastructure as a service; containers and Kubernetes; serverless and application platform services; data and AI platform services; hybrid and multicloud management; cloud networking, storage, compute, security, resilience, observability, and automation.
Understanding of the organizational and operating-model changes required for cloud success, including platform engineering, cloud centers of excellence, product-centric delivery, governance, skills development, and collaboration across architecture, development, operations, security, finance, and sourcing teams.
The ability to evaluate technology platforms and markets through both a technical and business lens, including economics, ecosystem strength, strategic risk, and long-term customer implications.
Demonstrated ability to advise senior management and C-level clients and to translate technical complexity into clear business choices and outcomes.
Superior client-facing communication, listening, interviewing, critical thinking, collaboration, analytical, writing, editing, and presentation skills.
The ability to take complex, disparate ideas and distill them into simple, provocative concepts, with a willingness to take a well-supported stand on markets, vendors, and outcomes.
The ability to travel up to 30% of the time.

Nice To Haves

Experience in advising or delivering cloud programs for large enterprises, regulated industries, or global organizations.
Hands-on or leadership experience with one or more major public cloud platforms and familiarity with cloud architecture frameworks and modern delivery practices.
Experience in leading comparative market evaluations, vendor selection, product strategy, consulting engagements, or executive-level thought leadership.
An established network among enterprise cloud leaders, cloud providers, service partners, or industry media.

Responsibilities

Lead Forrester’s public cloud platform research, working across research teams and with sales, product, and customer success to build a cohesive portfolio that helps clients make better technology and business decisions.
Develop a deep understanding of what technology executives, cloud leaders, architects, infrastructure and operations leaders, platform teams, and application development leaders require to succeed with public cloud.
Conduct primary research through interviews, surveys, vendor briefings, and market analysis on public cloud strategy, platform selection, workload placement, multicloud and hybrid cloud, cloud-native development, AI infrastructure and services, sovereign cloud, cloud operations, governance, migration, and modernization.
Analyze the strategies, capabilities, differentiation, and market position of major and emerging public cloud providers and translate market developments into implications for enterprise customers and technology vendors.
Help clients navigate strategic and technical trade-offs involving cost, performance, resilience, security, data sovereignty, portability, skills, operating models, ecosystem choices, and vendor concentration.
Create approximately eight to 12 high-quality, actionable, analytically deep, and fact-based research projects per year, including written reports, tools, webinars, videos, blogs, podcasts, infographics, and other intellectual property.
Drive and lead key Forrester Wave™ and Landscape research in public cloud and adjacent markets.
Develop decision frameworks, maturity models, best practices, and practical guidance that help clients define cloud strategy, select platforms and partners, modernize applications, govern cloud use, and improve the value delivered by cloud investments.
Consult with clients to apply Forrester’s research in the context of their business and technology environments through inquiry, guidance, advisory, and consulting engagements.
Present at Forrester-sponsored and industry events and deliver compelling client webinars, workshops, and executive presentations.
Establish a visible industry presence as an influential speaker and thinker; build relationships with senior technology leaders, cloud providers, ecosystem partners, and journalists; and participate in vendor briefings and press inquiries.
Support business development and prospect conversations as arranged by Forrester’s account leadership teams.
Foster a culture of cross-team collaboration, mentorship, intellectual rigor, integrity, and positive pursuit of client impact.

Benefits

Exposure to industry experts and to top business leaders within Fortune 1000 companies.
Access to research that influences global leaders every day.
World-class learning and development opportunities.
Global reach: Forrester has research centers and sales offices in more than 25 cities internationally, spanning six continents.
Colleagues who are intellectually curious, hard-working, and collaborative.
All the cappuccino you can drink.
The opportunity to rock out with guitars in our Cambridge headquarters’ lobby and take piano lessons on Friday.
Onsite massages.
Fierce foosball and ping-pong rivalry.
A top-notch fitness center and new pickleball courts.
Zagster bike-sharing and rental program.
A competitive benefits package.
The chance to work in a LEED Gold- and LEED Platinum-certified building.