Principal Systems Engineer - VMware Cloud Foundation (Remote)

First Citizens Bank; Raleigh, Austin (NC, TX, AZ); Remote; USD 170,000 - 199,000; Full time

Job summary

First Citizens is seeking a senior cloud architect to drive the strategy and implementation of a private cloud platform, including VMware Cloud Foundation, vSphere, vSAN, and NSX. This remote role supports multiple markets across the United States and requires deep expertise in cloud architecture, automation, and governance.

You will lead cross-functional teams, define platform modernization roadmaps, and optimize cost, performance, and reliability across hybrid environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree with 10+ years leading enterprise cloud teams.
• Preferred: Bachelor's or master's degree in Cloud.
• Certificates in AWS/Azure/Terraform are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement the cloud architecture strategy aligned with business goals.
• Guide design for scalability, resilience, and performance in cloud projects.
• Lead end-to-end cloud projects with cross-functional teams (engineering, DevOps, security, operations).
• Develop cost optimization and resource management strategies for cloud assets.
• Create and maintain architecture diagrams and operating standards for cloud infra.
• Provide 24/7 on-call support to ensure availability and reliability.

Skills

VMware Cloud Foundation

vSphere

vSAN

NSX

Aria Suite

SDDC

Infrastructure as Code

Automation

Private Cloud Architecture

Disaster Recovery

Capacity Planning

Performance Engineering

Enterprise Storage

Networking

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

Tools

Terraform

CloudFormation

Job description

Overview

This is a remote role open for multiple markets across the United States.

Serves as the senior technical leader for VMware Cloud Foundation. Responsible for architecture, engineering, automation, lifecycle management, operational excellence, and adoption of the enterprise private cloud platform. Provides strategic direction for vSphere, vSAN, NSX, Aria Suite, SDDC operations, infrastructure automation, resiliency, and platform modernization.

Responsibilities & Qualifications

Duties & Responsibilities

• Cloud Architecture Strategy – Define and implement the overall cloud architecture and strategy, ensuring alignment with business goals and technology roadmaps.
• Technical Leadership and Innovation – Serve as the primary technical advisor for cloud infrastructure projects, guiding best practices in design, scalability, resilience, and performance. Identify and evaluate emerging cloud technologies and trends, recommending their application within the organization to drive efficiency and innovation.
• Project Oversight - Lead end-to-end cloud projects, from concept through deployment, by coordinating with engineering, DevOps, security, and operations teams.
• Optimization and Cost Management – Develop strategies for efficient cloud resource management, cost optimization, and performance enhancement, ensuring financial accountability.
• Documentation and Knowledge Sharing – Establish, review and maintain high-quality documentation, architectural diagrams, and operational standards for cloud infrastructure.
• Support - Provide technical mentorship to cloud engineers at all levels, fostering an environment of continuous learning and technical growth. Provide 24/7 on‑call support to ensure the availability and reliability of cloud infrastructure.

Position Specific Skills

• Cloud Services (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP)
• Infrastructure as Code (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation)
• Policy as Code & Governance
• Programming & Advanced Automation (e.g., JavaScript, Python)
• Container Orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes)
• Monitoring and Observability
• Operating Systems (Windows, Linux)
• Advanced Cloud and Network Security
• Cloud Architecture Expertise
• Developer Enablement
• Agile and DevOps Methodologies
• Security and Compliance Leadership

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and 10 years' experience OR High School Diploma or GED/Equivalent and 14 years' experience in Technical Hands-On Leader of Cloud Teams
• Preferred Education:Bachelor’s or master’s degree
• Preferred Area of Study:Cloud
• Preferred Area of Experience:Multi-Cloud
• Preferred Licenses or Certifications:AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional - IO;Azure Solutions Architect Expert - IO;HashiCorp Certified: Terraform - IO;Terraform Authoring and Operations Professional - IO;AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional - IO;Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305) - IO;Azure DevOps Engineer Expert - IO

Preferred Experience

5+ years leading enterprise virtualization or private cloud initiatives; experience with VMware Cloud Foundation, software-defined data centers, infrastructure automation, disaster recovery, and operational governance.

Must-Have Skills

• VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF); vSphere;vSAN; NSX; Aria Suite; Software Defined Data Center (SDDC); Infrastructure as Code; Automation; Private Cloud Architecture; Disaster Recovery; Capacity Planning; Performance Engineering; Enterprise Storage and Networking.

Preferred Skills

• Hybrid Cloud Platforms; Kubernetes; Public Cloud Integration; Policy-as-Code; AIOps; Platform Observability; Financial Services Infrastructure; Security & Compliance Frameworks.

VCF Platform Expertise

Lifecycle Manager, workload domains, cluster design, private cloud service delivery, self-service infrastructure, platform monitoring, platform upgrades, operational resilience, and integration with enterprise ITSM, security, and observability ecosystems.

Additional Information

This job posting is expected to remain active for 14 days from the initial posting date listed above. If it is necessary to extend this deadline, the posting will remain active as appropriate. Job postings may come down early due to business need or a high volume of applicants.

The base pay for this position is generally between $170,000 and $199,000. Actual starting base pay will be determined based on skills, experience, location, and other non-discriminatory factors permitted by law. For some roles, total compensation may also include variable incentives, bonuses, benefits, and/or other awards as outlined in the offer of employment.

Benefits are an integral part of total rewards and First Citizens Bank is committed to providing a competitive, thoughtfully designed and quality benefits program to meet the needs of our associates. More information can be found at https://jobs.firstcitizens.com/benefits.