Cloud Infrastructure Engineer

Job Title: Cloud Infrastructure Engineer – ONLY W2 Job Location: Austin, TX (Onsite) Duration: 12 Months Contract with possibility to Extension Job Description: The client is seeking a Cloud Infrastructure Engineer to support the Client’s Data Center Operations – AI & Application Platform for Excellence (APEX) team in managing and modernizing the agency’s multi-cloud environment across Azure and AWS. This individual will be responsible for building, configuring, securing, and supporting IaaS, PaaS, and serverless cloud services, while ensuring operational stability, compliance, and performance for migrated and steady-state workloads. The ideal candidate will bring strong hands-on experience with cloud architecture, networking, automation, and a solid understanding of DevOps, containerization, and infrastructure-as-code practices. Candidates must demonstrate a strong command of foundational cloud network design principles—including network segmentation, high availability (HA), least privilege access, operational stability, network security, and advanced troubleshooting/debugging. Key skills and traits the client needs: Deep expertise in cloud network design principles (Segmentation, HA, Least Privilege, Stability, Debugging, and Security).Deep expertise in Azure and AWS cloud services (IaaS, PaaS, Serverless).Proficiency with Terraform, Ansible, YAML/JSON, and scripting (Bash, PowerShell, Cloud CLI).Strong experience with Kubernetes, Docker, and microservices deployment.Knowledge of cloud monitoring tools (CloudWatch, Azure Monitor, Dynatrace, Sysdig).Experience with cloud data services and DR strategies.Understanding of security, compliance, and cost optimization in cloud environments.Highly organized, detail-oriented, and effective at communicating with both technical and non-technical teams.Preferred: Cloud certifications (Azure/AWS/Google/Oracle) and prior Texas HHS or state agency experience. Required Skills: Minimum of 5+ years of experience Ability to clearly explain and apply foundational cloud network design principles, including Segmentation, High Availability (HA), Least Privilege access controls, Stability, Debugging, and Network Security.Knowledge and experience in solutioning, configuring, integrating, and securing cloud networking and cloud service models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, Serverless) in Azure and/or AWS.Experience and understanding of cloud computing DevOps principles and Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD).Experience with containerization, deploying, and configuring microservices.Kubernetes architecture deployment, scaling, and maintenance.Proficient automation skillset using a combination of command language scripting (Bash, Korn, PowerShell, Cloud CLI, Kubernetes Helm) and third-party tools.Experience with declarative and imperative languages (YAML, JSON, Ruby, HCL, etc.) and infrastructure-as-code (IaC) tools (Ansible, Docker, Terraform, etc.).Experience with cloud and performance monitoring, auditing, logging, and operations tools such as Sysdig Secure (CNAPP), Dynatrace, and cloud-native toolsets (AWS CloudWatch, GCP Cloud Operations, Azure Monitor, OCI Monitoring, etc.).Experience and knowledge of cloud recovery strategies for storage replication, automated recovery plans, and protecting data for cloud disaster recovery.Knowledge and/or hands-on experience with cloud database services (Relational/NoSQL and SQL/Oracle), data lakes, and cloud ETL/ELT best practices for handling structured and unstructured information.Understanding of cloud data integration services like Azure Data Factory, OCI Data Integrator, Google Data Fusion, AWS Kinesis, DataSync, and Data Copy.Experience and understanding of best practices for optimizing IT cloud infrastructure, tracing, network debugging/troubleshooting, and aligning with standards, policies, and IT information security controls.Effective written and oral communication skills. Preferred Skills: One or more Cloud certifications for Azure, AWS, Google, or Oracle (Certified Engineer, Cloud Certified Solutions Architect, Data Architect, DevOps Engineer) or equivalent work experience.Experience in solutioning, configuring, integrating, and securing cloud networking and cloud service models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, Serverless).Highly organized, responsive, and a highly detailed problem solver.Prior experience working for or with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission or other Texas state IT agencies.