FinOps Engineer, Cloud & Kubernetes Optimization

FinOps Weekly; Northern (KY); Remote; USD 98,000 - 168,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Laptop provided

Monitors provided

Remote work setup guidance

Job summary

FinOps Weekly is seeking a hands-on FinOps specialist to join a cross-functional team focused on cloud spending optimization across AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform, including Kubernetes workloads.

You will build lightweight automation, develop reports and dashboards, and partner with engineering, product, finance and procurement to translate usage data into actionable cost-saving recommendations, driving unit economics and AI-related cost awareness.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with at least one major cloud platform (AWS/Azure/GCP).
• Experience analyzing or optimizing cloud infrastructure, containers, or Kubernetes workloads.
• Working knowledge of cloud billing, usage, cost allocation, forecasting, or optimization.
• Ability to use Python or another scripting language for automation, API calls, data prep, or integration.
• Experience using data to identify trends, investigate issues, and develop actionable recommendations.
• Strong communication skills to explain technical and financial information to cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Analyze cloud and Kubernetes usage to identify idle capacity, inefficient workloads, cost anomalies, and optimization opportunities.
• Partner with engineering and product teams to review recommendations, explain impact, and support implementation.
• Build lightweight scripts, API integrations, and repeatable workflows to reduce manual analysis.
• Create reports, dashboards, forecasts, and cost insights to help teams plan future usage.
• Support cloud commitment planning, reservations, savings programs, and other cost-efficiency strategies.
• Expand FinOps practices through standards, documentation, education, and tools.

Tools

Apptio Cloudability

VMware CloudHealth

Finout

Adaptive6

Cloud-native cost-management platforms

Kubernetes cost allocation

SQL

Excel

Power BI

Tableau

Terraform

Job description

## Job Description## About the RoleThis FinOps position supports technology and product teams in understanding cloud spending, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, and turning usage data into practical action. The role sits within a team that partners with engineering, product, architecture, finance, and procurement to translate complex cloud cost information into recommendations and measurable outcomes.The team’s focus is expanding beyond standard cloud cost reporting into more proactive optimization, unit economics, automation, and management of emerging technology costs, including AI-related spend. This hire is needed to add technical capacity as cloud usage continues to grow.In this role, you will work across cloud and Kubernetes workloads to analyze spending patterns, build lightweight automation, and help teams make informed decisions. The work is designed to have direct impact on cloud efficiency, cost savings, and how FinOps capabilities are developed and delivered.## Key Responsibilities– Analyze cloud and Kubernetes usage to identify idle capacity, inefficient workloads, cost anomalies, and optimization opportunities. – Partner with engineering and product teams to review recommendations, explain expected impact, and support implementation. – Build lightweight scripts, API integrations, and repeatable workflows that reduce manual analysis and connect data sources. – Create reports, dashboards, forecasts, and cost insights to help teams understand spending trends and plan future usage. – Support cloud commitment planning, reservations, savings programs, and other cost-efficiency strategies. – Help expand FinOps practices through standards, documentation, education, and tools that improve team ownership of cloud costs.## Required Skills– Hands-on experience with at least one major cloud platform: AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform. – Experience analyzing or optimizing cloud infrastructure, containerized applications, or Kubernetes-based workloads. – Working knowledge of cloud billing, usage, cost allocation, forecasting, or cost optimization. – Ability to use Python or another scripting language for basic automation, API calls, data preparation, or systems integration. – Experience using data to identify trends, investigate issues, and develop clear, actionable recommendations. – Strong communication skills, including the ability to explain technical and financial information to engineering, finance, product, and leadership audiences.## Preferred Skills– Experience with FinOps, cloud financial management, technology business management, or cloud cost optimization. – Familiarity with tools such as Apptio Cloudability, VMware CloudHealth, Finout, Adaptive6, or cloud-native cost-management platforms. – Experience with Kubernetes cost allocation, workload rightsizing, autoscaling, cluster efficiency, or shared-cost analysis. – Experience with SQL, Excel, Power BI, Tableau, Datadog, or similar analytical and observability tools. – Familiarity with Infrastructure as Code, Terraform, CI/CD pipelines, developer portals, or engineering automation workflows. – Exposure to unit economics, AI cost governance, token consumption, model-selection economics, or FinOps Foundation practices and certifications.## Cloud Platforms & Technologies### Cloud Providers – AWS – Microsoft Azure – Google Cloud Platform### FinOps Platforms – Apptio Cloudability – VMware CloudHealth – Finout – Adaptive6 – Cloud-native cost-management platforms### Programming Languages – Python – Other scripting languages### Infrastructure as Code – Terraform### Containers & Kubernetes – Kubernetes – Containerized applications### CI/CD – CI/CD pipelines### Monitoring – Datadog### Data & Analytics – SQL – Excel – Power BI – Tableau### Collaboration Tools – Developer portals## FinOps Responsibilities– Analyze cloud usage to improve visibility into spending and identify cost-saving opportunities. – Support cloud cost allocation, forecasting, and optimization efforts. – Contribute to cloud commitment planning, reservations, and savings programs. – Develop reports and dashboards that help teams understand spend trends and future usage. – Expand FinOps adoption through standards, documentation, education, and supporting tools. – Explore unit economics and AI-related cost management, including token-based consumption.## Benefits– Annual compensation of $98,100 to $167,850, based on experience and qualifications. – Company-provided technology setup, including a laptop, monitors, headset, keyboard, and mouse. – Monthly connectivity reimbursement for employees eligible to work from home. – Support for a remote work setup, including guidance on workspace and internet requirements.## Why You Might Be InterestedThis role offers the chance to help shape how FinOps capabilities are built and delivered rather than only maintaining an existing process. You will work closely with cloud, Kubernetes, engineering, finance, architecture, and product teams, giving you broad cross-functional exposure. The position also provides visible impact through cloud efficiency improvements and cost savings. In addition, the team is expanding into areas such as unit economics, AI cost management, and token-based consumption, which may appeal to candidates interested in emerging FinOps practices.