Senior Cloud Engineer

The Senior Cloud Engineer / Developer serves as the lead technical resource for cloud migration and operations support across USDA REE agencies (ARS, ERS, NASS, and NIFA), directing Azure infrastructure design, migration execution, security hardening, and DevOps practices, while providing technical guidance to other team members. *Key Responsibilities* * Lead cloud migration projects, including planning, execution, and post-migration support, for ARS applications and other REE agency systems. * Configure and manage Azure IaaS/PaaS resources, including Virtual Machines, App Service Environments, Azure MySQL/PostgreSQL Flexible Servers, Storage Accounts, Virtual Networks, and Azure Firewalls. * Design and manage Azure virtual networks, VPN gateways, and ExpressRoute Gateways to support hybrid cloud connectivity. * Develop and maintain Infrastructure-as-Code using Packer, Terraform, and ARM templates; automate provisioning and configuration through PowerShell, Azure CLI, Bash, Python, and Ansible. * Implement and manage CI/CD pipelines to automate software delivery and deployment. * Design, build, and validate deployment images and large-scale automated deployment processes, including test images with the required software and hardware baseline. * Implement Azure governance, including policies and resource tagging; manage encryption and Key Vault; perform server hardening to meet federal security standards. * Monitor and address security risks using Microsoft Defender, Splunk, and Nessus; monitor resource utilization, performance, and cost using Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, Application Insights, and Azure Cost Management. * Configure backup and recovery solutions (Azure Backup / Azure Site Recovery); design and test disaster recovery plans to ensure business continuity. * Install, configure, and maintain Windows Server environments, including DNS, Group Policy, Active Directory organizational units, and Windows Server roles such as File Server and Web Server. * Manage system updates using Azure Update Manager and ensure all systems remain current on security patches. * Execute lift-and-shift and modernization projects to Azure, and troubleshoot technical issues related to migrations after cutover. * Collaborate with security, networking, and data teams to validate configurations against required compliance standards, and with cross-functional teams to design solutions that meet federal agency needs. * Maintain detailed documentation of configurations, procedures, deployment implementations, and best practices. * Provide technical guidance and mentorship to team members. *Required Qualifications & Skills* * Proven experience as a Solutions Architect with a focus on cloud technologies (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud). * Strong background in software engineering, including proficiency in programming languages such as Java, Python, or C#. * Experience with DevOps practices and tools (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes, Jenkins, Terraform). * In-depth knowledge of cloud security best practices and tools. * Hands-on experience with cloud migration projects and hybrid cloud environments. * Strong understanding of networking, storage, and compute services in cloud environments. * Extensive experience with multiple Linux distributions (e.g., Ubuntu, CentOS, Red Hat). * Ability to diagnose and resolve complex issues in unfamiliar systems with minimal guidance. * Proficiency in working with a wide range of programming languages and development environments, even with limited prior exposure. * Experience with large-scale data migrations to the cloud. * Experience working in constrained Windows environments. * Familiarity with website stress testing methodologies and tools. * Experience migrating from Citrix to Azure Virtual Desktop. * Certifications in cloud technologies (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert). * Experience with containerization and orchestration tools (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes). * Knowledge of serverless computing and microservices architecture. * Experience with monitoring and logging tools (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana, ELK stack). * Familiarity with Agile and Scrum methodologies. * Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills; strong communication and collaboration skills. Pay: $136,000.00 - $165,000.00 per year Work Location: In person