Principal Engineer, Cloud Infrastructure

Job Description

Principal Cloud Infrastructure Engineer 

Location: Boston, MA (Vertex Headquarters) 

Position Summary 

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. 

Key Duties & 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 FastTr