Principal Engineer, Cloud Infrastructure

Vertex Inc. • Boston, MA

1d • $144,000 - $216,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Principal Cloud Infrastructure Engineer will lead the design, implementation, and optimization of enterprise-scale Azure cloud infrastructure with a strong emphasis on automation, operational excellence, and emerging AI technologies. This role will serve as a technical leader responsible for architecting resilient, scalable, and secure cloud solutions that support critical business operations while driving automation-first approaches and ITIL best practices. The Principal Engineer will champion the integration of GenAI capabilities to enhance infrastructure operations, reduce manual toil, and accelerate cloud service delivery across the enterprise.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field
• Typically requires 10+ years of experience in infrastructure engineering, cloud architecture, or the equivalent combination of education and experience
• 5+ years of hands-on experience with Microsoft Azure infrastructure and services
• Proven track record of leading complex infrastructure projects in enterprise environments
• Experience implementing automation frameworks and IaC practices at scale
• Expert-level knowledge of Microsoft Azure services including Virtual Networks, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), Azure Virtual Machines, Storage, Azure Active Directory, and Azure Monitor
• Deep expertise in infrastructure automation using Terraform, ARM templates, PowerShell, and Azure DevOps
• Strong understanding of ITIL v4 framework and IT service management practices
• Familiarity with GenAI technologies, including Azure OpenAI Service and AI-assisted operations tools
• Proficiency in scripting and programming languages (PowerShell, Python, Bash)
• Knowledge of networking concepts, including VPN, ExpressRoute, DNS, load balancing, and firewall architectures
• Understanding of security frameworks, compliance requirements (SOX, HIPAA, GxP), and zero-trust principles
• Experience with monitoring and observability tools (Azure Monitor, Application Insights, Log Analytics, Grafana)
• Experience with SaaS based virtual desktop solutions and corresponding profile management solutions (Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, FSLogix)
• Strong problem-solving abilities and capacity to troubleshoot complex technical issues
• Excellent communication skills with ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders

Nice To Haves

• Experience with AWS cloud infrastructure is strongly preferred
• Relevant certifications preferred: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Azure DevOps Engineer Expert, or equivalent

Responsibilities

• Azure Infrastructure Architecture & Strategy: Lead the design and evolution of enterprise Azure infrastructure, including compute, storage, networking, and platform services. Define technical standards, reference architectures, and cloud-native patterns that align with business objectives, security requirements, and industry best practices. Serve as the primary technical authority for Azure infrastructure decisions.
• Automation & Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Drive automation-first initiatives across all infrastructure operations using tools such as Terraform, Azure DevOps, PowerShell, and Python. Design and implement CI/CD pipelines for infrastructure deployment, configuration management, and continuous compliance. Eliminate manual processes through intelligent automation and orchestration.
• ITIL Process Integration & Service Excellence: Establish and optimize ITIL-aligned processes for incident, problem, change, and service request management within cloud environments. Ensure infrastructure operations meet SLA commitments and incorporate continuous service improvement practices. Partner with service management teams to enhance operational maturity.
• GenAI Integration for Infrastructure Operations: Identify and implement GenAI and Azure OpenAI capabilities to enhance infrastructure monitoring, incident resolution, capacity planning, and operational workflows. Develop AI-assisted automation solutions that improve mean time to resolution (MTTR) and enable predictive infrastructure management.
• Governance, Security & Compliance: Partner with Information Security, Compliance, and Privacy teams to ensure cloud infrastructure adheres to regulatory requirements, security frameworks, and data protection standards. Implement Azure Policies, landing zones, and governance controls that enforce compliance while enabling developer agility.
• Performance Optimization & Cost Management: Monitor, analyze, and optimize Azure infrastructure for performance, reliability, and cost efficiency. Utilize Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and cost management tools to identify optimization opportunities. Implement FinOps practices to ensure cloud spending aligns with business value.
• Technical Leadership & Mentorship: Provide technical guidance and mentorship to infrastructure engineers and cross-functional teams. Lead architecture reviews, proof-of-concepts, and technical assessments. Foster a culture of innovation, learning, and engineering excellence within the infrastructure organization.
• Vendor & Partner Collaboration: Engage with Microsoft and technology partners to influence product roadmaps, participate in preview programs, and ensure enterprise needs are represented. Leverage Microsoft resources, including Unified Support and FastTrack, to accelerate cloud initiatives.
• Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity: Design and maintain robust disaster recovery and business continuity solutions using Azure Site Recovery, backup services, and multi-region architectures. Conduct regular DR testing and ensure infrastructure resilience meets business requirements.

Benefits

• From medical, dental and vision benefits to generous paid time off (including a week-long company shutdown in the Summer and the Winter), educational assistance programs including student loan repayment, a generous commuting subsidy, matching charitable donations, 401(k) and so much more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees