Principal Cloud Architect

Western Governors University; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Health savings account

Flexible paid time off

Discounted WGU tuition

Job summary

Western Governors University is seeking a Principal Cloud Architect to lead the design and evolution of secure cloud solutions. You will work closely with engineering and product teams to drive innovation and deliver high-impact outcomes across cloud environments.

The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in AWS infrastructure, Kubernetes, and Terraform, with a strong background in cloud security. This full-time regular position offers comprehensive benefits including healthcare, retirement plans, and flexible paid time off.

Qualifications

• Proven experience designing and delivering enterprise-scale distributed systems (8+ years).
• Experience leading large-scale cloud migrations and modernization efforts.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead enterprise cloud architecture strategy.
• Design scalable, secure, and cost-effective cloud solutions.
• Partner with engineering teams for solution design and migration initiatives.

Skills

Enterprise-scale AWS infrastructure

Kubernetes

Terraform

Cloud security

Networking

Infrastructure architecture

Technical strategy influence

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field

AWS Certified DevOps Pro

AWS Solutions Architect Professional

Job description

Job Description

Join us to drive innovation at scale by shaping the future of cloud architecture across our technology ecosystem. As a Principal Cloud Architect, you will lead the design and evolution of modern, secure, and scalable cloud solutions, partnering closely with engineering, product, and business stakeholders to deliver high-impact outcomes.

What You’ll Do

• Define and lead enterprise cloud architecture strategy aligned to business objectives and innovation goals
• Design scalable, secure, and cost-effective cloud solutions across AWS, Azure, or GCP environments
• Partner with engineering teams to guide solution design, modernization, and migration initiatives
• Establish cloud governance frameworks, standards, and best practices for architecture and operations
• Drive adoption of cloud-native technologies including containers, serverless, and microservices
• Lead architectural reviews and provide mentorship to senior engineers and architects
• Collaborate cross-functionally to evaluate emerging technologies and accelerate innovation

What You’ll Bring

• Deep expertise in enterprise-scale AWS infrastructure, Kubernetes, and Terraform.
• Eight or more years proven experience designing and delivering enterprise-scale distributed systems
• Strong background in cloud security, networking, and infrastructure architecture
• Experience leading large-scale cloud migrations and modernization efforts
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive technical strategy
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts
• AWS Certified DevOps Pro and Solutions Architect Professional or equivalent are mandatory
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field

Bonus Points

• Additional AWS Certifications
• Background in regulated or highly secure environments

Experience in Lieu of Education

An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.

Work Location

This is a full-time, in-office position.

Position & Application Details

Full-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.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: 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 [e-mail].

Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.