Cloud Engineer

RESPEC is hiring a mid-level Cloud Engineer to design, build, migrate, and operate secure AWS environments for multiple private and public-sector projects. You’ll lead environment buildouts, support migrations, implement automation and monitoring, and collaborate closely with security and engineering. AWS is the priority;
Azure is secondary and exposure to GCP is a bonus.

Responsibilities:

• Architect, build, and operate AWS environments (dev/test/UAT/prod) for web, data, and GIS workloads.
• Execute migrations (lift-and-shift/re-platform); plan cutovers, validations, and rollback strategies.
• Implement automation using IaC (Cloud Formation or Terraform) and scripting (Power Shell/Bash/Python).
• Manage core AWS services: EC2, VPC, S3, IAM, ALB/NLB, Auto Scaling, Systems Manager, Cloud Watch/Cloud Trail.
• Configure networking: VPCs, subnets, routing, security groups/NACLs, DNS; support VPN/Direct Connect concepts.
• Establish reliability: monitoring/alerting, patching, backup/restore, performance tuning, capacity planning.
• Apply security best practices: least-privilege IAM, encryption, key/secret management, logging/guardrails.
• Stand up basic databases (Oracle/SQL Server/Postgres on RDS or EC2), manage connectivity, and perform backups/restores.
• Optimize cost with tagging, budgets, lifecycle policies, and rightsizing.
• Create documentation (diagrams, runbooks, SOPs) and share knowledge with the team.
• Engage with PMs and stakeholders to clarify requirements, report status, and mitigate risks.

• 5–7 years of IT/cloud engineering experience with production AWS workloads.
• Hands‑on with IaC (Cloud Formation or Terraform) and scripting (Power Shell/Bash/Python).
• Strong grasp of AWS operations, networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, DNS, VPN concepts), and observability.
• Foundational DBA skills for Oracle/SQL Server/Postgres (deploy, configure, connectivity, backup/restore).
• Clear communicator with solid troubleshooting and documentation habits.
• Able to work onsite in Albuquerque 3 days per week.

Preferred Qualifications

• AWS certification (Solutions Architect Associate, Sys Ops Administrator, or Developer) or willingness to obtain within 6 months.
• Exposure to Azure; familiarity with GCP helpful.
• Experience with containers (Docker, ECS/EKS basics) and CI/CD (Git Hub Actions/Azure Dev Ops/Jenkins).
• Knowledge of HA/DR patterns (multi-AZ, read replicas, snapshots) and cost/performance trade‑offs.
• Familiarity with ITSM environments (Service Now) and ITIL practices.
• Collaborative, documentation‑first approach; comfortable explaining trade‑offs to technical and non‑technical audiences.

Work Arrangement and Support

• Hybrid model: 3 days onsite in Albuquerque for collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Occasional after‑hours work for migrations, maintenance windows, or incidents; primary help desk covered by others with escalation to this role as needed.

Work Schedule:

• Hybrid schedule: 3 days/week in office; 2 days remote

Compensation:
Salary depends on experience and expertise. Compensation includes a comprehensive fringe‑benefits package. RESPEC is a 100% employee‑owned company and employees are eligible for participation in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) after a qualifying period.

Featured benefits include:

• 401(k) & ESOP (with company match up to 4%)
• Professional Development and Training
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program
• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance Plans

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Big challenges need bold thinkers.

If you’re someone who sees problems as opportunities, you’ll thrive here.
RESPEC is 100% employee‑owned
, which means we take ownership of every challenge. Here, your ideas drive real solutions. Since 1969, we’ve tackled complex challenges in energy transition, infrastructure resilience, digital transformation, and sustainability.

At RESPEC, you’ll work alongside clients to take on critical problems
. Depending on your expertise, you might design infrastructure in remote locations, develop renewable energy solutions for global projects, or apply data‑driven technology to improve mining and water systems.

We bring deep technical knowledge, real‑world experience, and a commitment to work that matters. If you're looking for a place where your contributions have real impact, you’ll fit right in.

We do not accept unsolicited resumes from third‑party recruiters.

We'd love to have you join our team. We are always looking for great talent who are “cultural add”.