Principal (Data) Cloud Engineer

Valcon; Utrecht; Hybrid; EUR 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Mobility budget

Lease car

Remote work abroad

Sports membership

Job summary

Valcon seeks a Principal (Data) Cloud Engineer to lead technical direction and elevate data solutions across client engagements. You will design scalable cloud infrastructures, mentor senior specialists, and shape Valcon's data strategy and Well-Architected standards.

You'll act as a trusted advisor in strategic sessions, fostering innovation and industry-leading practices while supporting clients and colleagues to maximize value. Dutch and English communication is essential.

Qualifications

• A completed technical bachelor's or master's degree.
• At least 5+ years of experience in cloud engineering, partly in a leading or architect role within data related projects.
• You have deep expertise on modern data platform infrastructure (Azure, AWS, Databricks, Snowflake) and IaC (Terraform, bash, Python).
• You have hands-on experience establishing infrastructure and CI/CD platforms from the ground up in enterprise environments.
• You communicate fluently in Dutch and English.

Responsibilities

• Design complex, scalable cloud infrastructures and ensure delivery excellence across multiple projects.
• Stay ahead of market developments and translate them into new tools, methods, and standards for Valcon.
• Mentor senior specialists and consultants, contributing to knowledge sharing through training and coaching.
• Join strategic sessions as a trusted advisor and help frame complex issues for client value.

Skills

Cloud Architecture

Mentorship

Strategy

Trusted Advisor

Zero-Trust

Well-Architected

Stakeholder Management

Dutch-English

IaC Terraform

Education

Bachelor's/Master's in CS/IT/Data

Tools

Azure

AWS

Databricks

Snowflake

Terraform

Azure DevOps

GitHub Actions

Job description

Do you want to set the technical direction and inspire the next generation of cloud engineers?

As a Principal (Data) Cloud Engineer at Valcon, you’ll be the technical authority that both clients and colleagues turn to for guidance. You'll look beyond individual projects to see the bigger picture: how can we elevate our data solutions and empower our people to reach their full potential?

Data & AI Strategy

Valcon places data at the center of client engagements, with a focus on AI and data‑driven business transformation.

What will you do?

In this role, you combine deep technical expertise with strategic insight. You are responsible for the quality of solutions within a broad portfolio, and you set the standards for the rest of the organization.

• Guiding & Connecting: You'll design complex, scalable cloud infrastructures and ensure delivery excellence across multiple projects. By connecting different technical disciplines, you'll create maximum value for clients while following industry best practices: zero-trust architecture, passwordless authentication, zero-touch production deployments, private networking, and the Well-Architected Framework.
• Innovation & Standardization: You'll stay ahead of market developments and translate them into new tools, methods, and standards for Valcon. You'll shape how we work and ensure we maintain our technical leadership.
• Inspiring Mentorship: You'll mentor senior specialists and consultants, actively contributing to knowledge sharing through expert training and coaching. Your guidance will help colleagues grow professionally and technically.
• Trusted Advisor: Clients see you as the expert. You'll join strategic sessions, help frame complex issues, and identify opportunities where Valcon can add value.

What do we offer you?

We believe top experts need space. Space to innovate, but also space for a private life.

• Impact: A key role where you have direct influence on Valcon's technical strategy.
• Flexibility & Balance: A culture that respects your work-life balance, including options for a sabbatical or extra leave.
• Appreciation: An excellent salary, bonus scheme, and mobility budget or lease car.
• Community: Access to a network of expert peers for collaboration, plus sports facilities and social events.
• Competitive and transparent salary according to our pay structure, an annual bonus of up to 4 months' salary depending on seniority level, individual performance, and company results, and a monthly expense allowance of €95.
• A company car or mobility budget.
• A workplace that prioritizes and respects your work-life balance, for example by offering you the option of taking a sabbatical or expanding the amount of holidays per year.
• An affordable sports membership that allows you to participate in 50 different sports offered by over 10,000 partners.
• The opportunity to work remotely from abroad for 10 days per year.
• A vibrant community that organizes both professional and social events.

Who are you?

You are a recognized expert in your field who easily switches between technology and business. You enjoy sharing your knowledge, for example by speaking at events or writing publications.

Experience

• A completed technical bachelor's or master's degree.
• At least 5+ years of experience in cloud engineering, partly in a leading or architect role within data related projects.
• You have deep expertise on modern data platform infrastructure (e.g., Azure, AWS, Databricks, Snowflake), and infrastructure as code (Terraform, bash, Python) and actively share best practices.
• You have experience leading high‑complexity projects and know how to manage diverse stakeholders.
• You have hands‑on experience establishing infrastructure and CI/CD platforms (Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions) from the ground up in enterprise environments.
• You are familiar with working in enterprise environments and like working in agile teams.
• You have strong communication skills: you can persuasively advise on solution directions, recognize commercial opportunities, and provide substantive support.
• You communicate effectively in both Dutch and English.
• Please note: You already reside in the Netherlands and hold a valid work permit.

Keywords

• Cloud Architecture, IaC (Terraform), Strategy, Trusted Advisor, Mentorship, Zero-Trust, Well-Architected Framework, Stakeholder Management