Principal Cloud Engineer

Motion Recruitment; Boston, Northern (MA, KY); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Motion Recruitment is seeking a Principal Cloud Engineer for a fully remote, contract-to-hire role. You will lead AWS architecture, design scalable enterprise cloud infrastructure, and automate security and cost optimization across multiple accounts.

You will collaborate with infrastructure, application, and security teams, drive modernization efforts, and mentor engineers while hands-on with AWS, IaC, SSM, and automation tooling.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience designing, implementing, and supporting enterprise AWS environments.
• Strong AWS architecture and engineering across multi-account environments.
• Hands-on IAM, policies, roles, trust relationships, permission sets, and SCPs.
• Experience with AWS Systems Manager (SSM) including automation, patch management, config management, and server lifecycle.
• Strong IaC experience, specifically with AWS CloudFormation.
• Experience with cloud networking, backups, and disaster recovery planning.
• Experience managing and optimizing cloud costs and governance.
• Scripting and automation using Python, PowerShell, and Bash.
• Experience administering Windows and Linux servers.
• Experience with cloud monitoring, observability, performance optimization, and incident management.
• Strong troubleshooting and communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate with technical teams and business stakeholders to implement best practices.

Responsibilities

• 60% Hands-on engineering, automation, and troubleshooting.
• 25% Technical leadership, architecture, platform improvement.
• 15% Cross-functional collaboration with infrastructure, application, and security teams.

Skills

AWS architecture

AWS cloud engineering

IAM & SCPs

SSM

CloudFormation

IaC

Cloud networking

Disaster recovery

Cost optimization

Python

PowerShell

Bash

Windows & Linux

Observability & monitoring

Incident management & troubleshooting

Communication & collaboration

Education

AWS Solutions Architect Associate

Tools

Terraform

GitLab CI/CD

Dynatrace

Kubernetes

API management platforms

Azure / GCP familiarity

SQL Server / PostgreSQL

Java / .NET

Python

PowerShell

Bash

Job description

A leading organization is seeking a Principal Cloud Engineer to join its team in a fully remote, full-time role. This opportunity is ideal for a technical leader with deep AWS cloud engineering experience who can design, automate, secure, and optimize enterprise cloud infrastructure. The role will focus on AWS architecture, CloudFormation, IAM, AWS Systems Manager (SSM), cloud networking, disaster recovery, and infrastructure automation using Python, PowerShell, and Bash.

This is an opportunity to take a leading role in shaping cloud infrastructure strategy while remaining hands-on with the technology. The ideal candidate will bring strong AWS engineering expertise and a focus on automation, operational excellence, security, and cost optimization. You will collaborate across infrastructure, application, and security teams to improve the reliability and scalability of enterprise cloud environments while exploring emerging technologies, including AI-driven operational tools. With a fully remote setup and exposure to enterprise-wide cloud initiatives, this role offers the opportunity to influence technical decisions and drive meaningful platform improvements.

Employment Type:Contract to Hire Full-Time

Required Skills & Experience

• Extensive experience designing, implementing, and supporting enterprise AWS cloud environments.

• Strong AWS architecture and engineering expertise across multi-account environments.

• Hands-on experience with AWS IAM, including policies, roles, trust relationships, permission sets, and Service Control Policies (SCPs).

• Experience with AWS Systems Manager (SSM), including automation, patch management, configuration management, and server lifecycle management.

• Strong Infrastructure as Code (IaC) experience, specifically with AWS CloudFormation.

• Experience with cloud networking, centralized backups, and disaster recovery planning and implementation.

• Experience managing and optimizing cloud costs and implementing cloud governance practices.

• Strong scripting and automation skills using Python, PowerShell, and Bash/Shell.

• Experience administering and troubleshooting both Windows and Linux server environments.

• Experience with cloud monitoring, observability, performance optimization, and incident management.

• Strong troubleshooting, problem-solving, and communication skills.

• Ability to collaborate with technical teams and business stakeholders to implement cloud engineering best practices.

Desired Skills & Experience

• AWS Solutions Architect Associate, AWS Cloud Operations certification, or equivalent certification.

• Experience with Dynatrace or similar observability and monitoring platforms.

• Experience with Terraform and GitLab CI/CD.

• Familiarity with Microsoft Azure and/or Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

• Experience with API management platforms such as Gravitee, Apigee, Kong, or MuleSoft.

• Experience with Kubernetes administration and engineering.

• Experience with Microsoft SQL Server and/or PostgreSQL.

• Application development experience with Java and/or .NET.

• Familiarity with AI technologies and AI-driven operational tooling.

• Interest in cloud innovation, infrastructure modernization, and continuous improvement.

What You Will Be Doing

Tech Breakdown

• 60% AWS Cloud Engineering, Architecture & Infrastructure Automation

• 20% Cloud Operations, Systems Management & Disaster Recovery

• 10% Cloud Networking, Security & Governance

• 10% Monitoring, Performance Optimization & Emerging Technologies

Daily Responsibilities

• 60% Hands-On Engineering, Automation & Troubleshooting

• 25% Technical Leadership, Architecture & Platform Improvement

• 15% Cross-Functional Collaboration with Infrastructure, Application, and Security Teams