Cloud Engineer II

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career.Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:Grade: Technical 408Pay Range: $116,000.00 - $174,100.00Job DescriptionAt Western Governors University (WGU), we believe technology should empower students, simplify experiences, and scale opportunity. We’re seeking a Cloud Engineer II to help build and support secure, reliable, and highly available cloud platforms that power services for students and employees across the university.This is an exciting opportunity for a mid-level cloud engineer who enjoys automation, operational excellence, and modern DevOps practices while continuing to grow toward senior technical leadership. This engineer will work 4 days a week in the designated office location for this position in Salt Lake City.The Cloud Engineer II is a mid-level technical contributor responsible for implementing, maintaining, and supporting scalable, secure, and highly available cloud environments. This role operates within established architectural patterns to deploy and manage cloud-based systems supporting university operations and digital learning experiences.The ideal candidate brings hands-on AWS expertise, strong automation skills, and a passion for reliability, observability, and continuous improvement. You’ll collaborate closely with platform, infrastructure, and application engineering teams to support enterprise initiatives and operational excellence.Essential Functions & ResponsibilitiesExecute software deployments across cloud environments using established processes and operational runbooksImplement and maintain monitoring and observability solutions aligned with engineering standardsDevelop and maintain automation for infrastructure provisioning, configuration management, and deployment workflowsTroubleshoot application and system performance issues and implement optimization improvementsIdentify and resolve operational issues to maintain uptime, resiliency, and service healthContribute to initiatives that improve scalability, reliability, operational efficiency, and engineering maturityMonitor cloud resource utilization and support cloud cost optimization and FinOps effortsDocument technical configurations, operational procedures, and support processesCommunicate technical risks, blockers, and delays to senior engineers and leadershipCollaborate with application development, platform engineering, and infrastructure teams to deliver projects successfullyParticipate in maintenance activities, operational support, and innovation initiativesParticipate in on-call rotations and incident response activitiesShare knowledge and mentor junior engineers when appropriatePerform other job-related duties as assignedKnowledge, Skills, And AbilitiesSolid understanding of AWS core services and cloud architecture fundamentalsWorking knowledge of DevOps practices, Agile methodologies, and IT service management frameworks such as ITILExperience with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools such as Terraform, CloudFormation, or similar technologiesProficiency administering Linux systems in production environmentsExperience with containerization and orchestration technologies such as Docker and KubernetesExperience building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines using tools such as Jenkins, GitHub Actions, Argo CD, or AWS-native servicesProficiency in scripting and automation using Bash and at least one programming language such as Python, Java, or Node.jsFamiliarity with observability and monitoring tools such as CloudWatch, Dynatrace, Prometheus/Grafana, or New RelicUnderstanding of Git workflows and trunk-based development practicesFamiliarity with modern engineering tooling, including emerging GenAI and agentic AI solutions that enhance developer productivityStrong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving capabilitiesEffective communication, collaboration, and technical documentation skillsAbility to work independently while contributing effectively within a collaborative engineering teamStrong customer service mindset and operational ownershipExperience with cloud cost optimization and FinOps practicesMinimum QualificationsBachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience3–5 years of experience in cloud or infrastructure engineering roles with hands-on AWS experience2+ years of Linux systems administration experienceExperience working with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practicesExperience collaborating with cross-functional engineering teamsAt least one AWS Associate-level certification or equivalent practical experiencePreferred QualificationsExperience supporting higher education or distance education environmentsExperience with serverless technologies such as AWS LambdaProficiency in multiple programming languages such as Python, Java, or GoFamiliarity with compliance and data protection frameworks including PII, PCI, SOX, HIPAA, FTI, and FERPAExperience working with JSON and YAML configuration formatsWhy Join WGU?At Western Governors University (WGU), you’ll join a mission-driven organization focused on expanding access to education through innovation and technology. Our engineering teams build modern, scalable platforms that directly impact students nationwide while fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous learning, and operational excellence.If you’re passionate about cloud engineering, automation, and building reliable systems that make a meaningful difference, we’d love to hear from you.Position & Application DetailsFull-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.Additional InformationDisclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive.Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.