Principal Cloud Engineer

POSITION SUMMARY
The Principal Cloud Engineer is a technical and strategic leader for the cloud platform and enablement function, responsible for setting vision, driving innovation, and ensuring alignment with business objectives across hybrid and multi-cloud environments (Azure, GCP, on-prem). This role mentors architects and senior engineers, influences executive stakeholders, and leads the development of enterprise-wide cloud strategies, standards, and transformation initiatives.

In the first 12 months in this role, you will have an opportunity to:

* Digest, understand and aide in improving and implementing the enterprise cloud strategy, reference architectures, and technology roadmaps.

* Lead adoption of advanced cloud-native patterns (e.g., Git Ops, SRE, Fin Ops, Zero Trust) across all platform teams.

* Sponsor and guide major transformation initiatives (e.g., migration, modernization, automation at scale).

* Establish and track organizational SLOs for reliability, security, and cost optimization.

* Build and nurture a high-performing, inclusive cloud engineering culture through mentorship and coaching.

* Represent cloud engineering in executive forums, influencing investment, risk, and compliance decisions.

Location:

This role is located on-site in Appleton, WI with occasional off-hours maintenance and participation in an on-call rotation.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

What You Will Do

• Set technical direction for cloud platform and enablement, aligning with business and IT strategy.
• Develop and evangelize enterprise cloud standards, guardrails, and best practices.
• Lead cross-functional architecture reviews and technology selection processes. Digest, understand and aide in improving and implementing the enterprise cloud strategy, reference architectures, and technology roadmaps.
• Sponsor and guide major transformation initiatives (e.g., migration, modernization, automation at scale).

• Oversee design and implementation of complex, scalable, and secure cloud solutions.
• Drive adoption of automation, Infrastructure as Code, and modern Dev Ops/Git Ops workflows.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and guide proof-of-concept initiatives.
• Lead adoption of advanced cloud-native patterns (e.g., Git Ops, SRE, Fin Ops, Zero Trust) across all platform teams.

• Champion SRE and Fin Ops practices; set organizational SLOs and cost optimization targets.
• Ensure robust security, compliance, and disaster recovery strategies are embedded in all solutions.
• Establish and track organizational SLOs for reliability, security, and cost optimization.
• Lead incident response for critical events and oversee post-mortem analysis.

• Mentor architects, senior engineers, and high-potential talent; foster a culture of learning and innovation.
• Develop and deliver training programs, workshops, and knowledge-sharing sessions.
• Support career development and succession planning within the cloud engineering organization.
• Build and nurture a high-performing, inclusive cloud engineering culture through mentorship and coaching.

• Communicate technical vision and strategy to executive leadership and business stakeholders.
• Influence investment decisions, risk management, and compliance initiatives.
• Represent the cloud engineering function in external forums, industry groups and vendor engagements.

• Cloud:
  Azure, GCP, AWS; on-prem virtualization/storage (VMware, SAN/NAS)
• IaC/Config:
  Terraform, Bicep, Ansible/Chef/Puppet;
  Packer
• CI/CD & SCM:
  Azure Dev Ops, Git Hub, Cloud Build, Git
• Containers:
  Docker, Kubernetes (AKS/GKE/EKS), Service Mesh
• Observability:
  Azure Monitor, GCP Cloud Monitoring/Logging, Prometheus/Grafana, Elastic
• Security:
  Entra /Azure AD, GCP IAM, Key Vault/Secret Manager, KMS, Azure Policy/Org Policy/OPA

Additional

Job Responsibilities:

• Live our values of High Performance, Caring Relationships, Strategic Foresight, and Entrepreneurial Spirit
• Find A Better Way by championing continuous improvement and quality control efforts to identify opportunities to innovate and improve efficiency,…