Staff/Principal Cloud Infrastructure Engineer (IC) (Chicago)

Imagine leading a world-class engineering squad where your infrastructure isn't just a cost center—it's the engine driving global value. If you thrive on scaling internet-scale systems and want to see your fingerprints on the next generation of FinTech, let's talk.Why This Role MattersWith our client, you won't just manage servers; you will build the rails for the modern economy. You won't be a cog in a machine—you'll be the pilot.Impact at Scale: Build and operate production software that handles massive traffic and global complexity.Engineering First: Influence a culture that prioritizes Platform Engineering and developer experience.Autonomy & Growth: Own the roadmap for internal developer platforms and infrastructure tooling.High-Stakes Innovation: Bridge the gap between cutting-edge cloud solutions and perfect system reliability.The Mission (How You'll Lead)Mentor and Scale: Lead and inspire a high-performing infrastructure engineering team to deliver 24/7 product availability.Architect Developer Joy: Design and evolve Internal Developer Platforms (IDP) that empower our engineers to ship faster and safer.Drive Reliability: Build self-healing systems by integrating observability frameworks and advanced monitoring alerts.Optimize Response: Slash mean time to resolution (MTTR) by refining incident response protocols and operational automation.Collaborate across Borders: Partner with cross-functional leaders to translate complex business needs into elegant technical reality.What You BringLeadership Depth: 10+ years in software engineering with at least 5+ years managing diverse cloud infrastructure teams.Cloud Mastery: Expert-level familiarity with Azure (primary) and AWS ecosystems.Architectural Grit: Proven experience building and operating highly reliable distributed systems at scale.Operational Excellence: A track record of automating complex, multi-tier systems and managing high-stakes incident responses.Pragmatic Mindset: The ability to dive into ambiguous problems, break them down, and deliver results without the corporate fluff.FinTech experience is a major plus, but a passion for building great products is a must.Ready to Level Up?Our client is moving fast, and we need a leader who can keep pace while keeping the systems steady. If you're a builder, a mentor, and a strategist, we want to hear from you.