Principal Cloud Engineer

Unum Ireland; Portland (ME); On-site; USD 109,000 - 224,000; Full time

Job summary

Unum seeks a Principal Cloud Engineer to lead enterprise cloud architecture across AWS and Azure, with emphasis on Terraform IaC, DevSecOps, and FinOps. You will mentor engineers, shape roadmaps, and drive security, resilience, and cost efficiency at scale.

The role focuses on landing zones, IAM, networking, disaster recovery, and automation, while guiding teams to adopt best practices across cloud infrastructure and operations. Onsite campus-based position four days a week.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience; 8+ years in cloud engineering.
• Industry certifications (AWS/Azure/Terraform) preferred.
• Hands-on experience designing and operating cloud environments at enterprise scale.

Responsibilities

• Define and own enterprise cloud architecture across AWS and Azure.
• Lead IaC adoption using Terraform with modular design and state management.
• Embed DevSecOps in pipelines; implement security automation and policy-as-code.
• Drive governance, FinOps, and cost optimization for cloud platforms.
• Mentor engineers, lead cross‑functional programs, and set technical direction.

Skills

Cloud architecture

Terraform

DevSecOps

CI/CD

Scripting

Networking

Kubernetes

Security practices

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Terraform

GitHub Actions

Azure DevOps

Jenkins

PowerShell

Python

Job description

General Summary

Are you passionate about shaping the future of cloud technology at enterprise scale? As a Principal Cloud Engineer, you will serve as a strategic technology leader responsible for defining and advancing the organization's cloud architecture vision across AWS, Azure, Infrastructure as Code (Terraform), and DevSecOps practices. In this highly influential role, you will partner with senior leaders to drive cloud transformation, modernization, and optimization initiatives that enhance security, scalability, resilience, and cost efficiency. You'll translate cloud strategy into actionable roadmaps, architect enterprise-wide solutions, and lead the adoption of best practices across cloud infrastructure, automation, security, and operations. Beyond technical excellence, you'll play a pivotal leadership role by mentoring engineers, developing future talent, and fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. You'll guide the design of cloud landing zones, identity and access management, networking, observability, automation, and disaster recovery capabilities while championing Terraform, CI/CD, DevSecOps, and FinOps principles to deliver reliable, secure, and business-aligned solutions. This is a campus-based position that requires 4 days a week onsite.

Job Specifications Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, engineering, or a related field, or equivalent specialized experience, skills, knowledge, or training. 8+ years of related work experience, including significant hands‑on experience designing and operating cloud environments.

Industry certifications preferred, such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect (Professional), Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert, HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate/Professional, or a security certification (e.g., AWS Security Specialty, Azure Security Engineer, CISSP).

Technical Skills

• Advanced, hands‑on expertise in public cloud platforms, with depth in both AWS and Azure (GCP a plus).


• Advanced proficiency in Terraform and Infrastructure as Code practices, including modular design, remote state, and pipeline‑driven deployment.


• Strong DevSecOps experience: CI/CD tooling (e.g., GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps, Jenkins), security automation, policy‑as‑code, container and workload security, and secrets management.


• Hands‑on experience with scripting and development tools (e.g., Python, PowerShell, Bash).


• Strong understanding of cloud networking (VPC/VNet, routing, DNS, hybrid connectivity, load balancing), identity and access management, and security best practices.


• Experience with containers and orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes, EKS, AKS) and observability/monitoring tooling.


• Working knowledge of operating platforms (Windows, Linux), Active Directory/Entra ID, storage, and database management.


• Good knowledge of applicable data privacy practices and laws.

Leadership and Professional Skills

• Proven experience developing strategic plans, gathering business requirements, and designing systems at enterprise scale.


• Demonstrated leadership and interpersonal skills to direct, influence, and motivate within a matrixed organization.


• Proven project planning and management experience across multiple medium to large initiatives, with the ability to prioritize in a high‑pressure environment.


• Exceptional analytical, conceptual, and problem‑solving abilities, and the ability to quickly comprehend new technologies.


• Superior written and oral communication skills, including excellent architecture and technical documentation, and the ability to present ideas in user‑friendly language to senior leaders and vendors.


• Ability to provide effective mentorship, training, and technical leadership across the organization.


• Highly self‑motivated and directed, with keen attention to detail and a collaborative, team‑oriented approach.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Cloud Architecture and Strategy

Defines and owns the enterprise cloud architecture, reference patterns, and standards across AWS and Azure, including landing zones, network and identity design, multi‑account/subscription structure, and resilience.

Translates the Digital Transformation Office (DTO) cloud adoption vision into an executable technical roadmap and ensures alignment of technology goals with corporate strategy.

Leads large‑scale, complex cloud migration and modernization initiatives, and the highly technical teams delivering them.

Provides architectural consulting, direction, and assistance to IT and business partners, collaborating with end users and senior management to define business requirements and gain buy‑in for cloud plans.

Contributes to enterprise business strategy by highlighting the impacts and opportunities of available and emerging cloud technologies.

Infrastructure as Code and Automation

Leads the design and adoption of Infrastructure as Code using Terraform, including module standards, state management, and reusable, version‑controlled patterns across AWS and Azure.

Drives automation of provisioning, configuration, and operations to reduce delivery time and manual effort.

Establishes CI/CD pipelines and engineering practices for infrastructure delivery, including code review, testing, and policy‑as‑code.

DevSecOps and Security

Embeds security into the delivery lifecycle (DevSecOps) through automated security scanning, secrets management, vulnerability management, and compliance‑as‑code in pipelines.

Defines and enforces cloud security standards, including identity and access management, network segmentation, encryption, logging, and monitoring.

Partners with Security, Risk, and Compliance teams to meet regulatory, audit, and data privacy requirements.

Aids in the development of IT policies and procedures for architecture, security, disaster recovery, standards, purchasing, and service provision.

Governance, Cost, and Capacity

Develops, documents, communicates, and enforces cloud technology standards and policies.

Develops and manages the cloud capacity plan and leads FinOps practices, including cost visibility, optimization, and cost‑reduction opportunities.

Develops, documents, and recommends plans for cloud infrastructure investment.

Designs and executes test plans to validate performance, resilience, and disaster recovery, reporting findings and recommending improvements.

Technical Leadership and Collaboration

Serves as the subject matter expert for cloud platforms and infrastructure technologies across the enterprise, and the technical authority in cross‑organizational forums.

Mentors and trains engineers, raises the engineering bar, and cultivates best practices in cloud architecture, engineering, and support.

Researches emerging technologies and recommends those that improve cost effectiveness, security, and flexibility.

Proactively proposes technical solutions to business needs across the enterprise.

Works effectively in outsourced and matrixed environments; aids in negotiating and administering vendor, outsourcer, and consultant contracts and service agreements.

Documents and maintains in-depth knowledge of the company's existing IT architecture, infrastructure, and technology portfolio.

#LI-AD1 #LI-Hybrid #LI-Multi ~IN1

Unum is an equal opportunity employer, considering all qualified applicants and employees for hiring, placement, and advancement, without regard to a person's race, color, religion, national origin, age, genetic information, military status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or protected veteran status.

The base salary range for applicants for this position is listed below. Unless actual salary is indicated above in the job description, actual pay will be based on skill, geographical location and experience.

$109,100.00-$224,000.00

Additionally, Unum offers a portfolio of benefits and rewards that are competitive and comprehensive including healthcare benefits (health, vision, dental), insurance benefits (short & long-term disability), performance-based incentive plans, paid time off, and a 401(k) retirement plan with an employer match up to 5% and an additional 4.5% contribution whether you contribute to the plan or not. All benefits are subject to the terms and conditions of individual Plans.

Company: Unum

At Unum Group, we’re a Fortune 500 company and leading international provider of workplace benefits and services, helping workers and their families thrive for more than 175 years. Through our Unum and Colonial Life brands, our company offers disability, life, accident, critical illness, dental and vision insurance; leave and absence management support; and behavioral health services. Our 10,000+ employees work across operations in the US, UK and Poland, as well as our dedicated Technology Centre in Ireland.

Unum Group is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations for any applicant with a disability. If you are disabled and need a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or hiring process, please contact us by submitting a request here.