Senior Cloud Engineer

Central Strategies, LLC; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Central Strategies, LLC seeks a Senior Cloud Engineer to design and lead cloud initiatives powering critical Coast Guard operations. You will architect scalable, secure solutions across AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud while mentoring teams and driving modernization efforts.

The role emphasizes architecture excellence, DevOps practices, and compliance with SOC 2, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS, with a hands-on leadership approach and a focus on mission success.

Qualifications

• BS and 12+ years of relevant experience or MS and 10+ years; degree may be substituted by experience.
• Minimum 6+ years of administration experience with cloud-based applications (MSO365, SharePoint, Azure AD, AWS).
• Hands-on experience managing Windows Server environments (creation, configuration, upgrades, migrations, patching).
• Strong knowledge of Active Directory, Azure AD, SAML, and related protocols.
• Proficiency with cloud platforms and tools: AWS Console, Azure, Elastic, Ansible, Jira, Confluence, Git, Bitbucket, and other SaaS solutions.
• Experience integrating AWS and Azure log data to analysis platforms (Elastic, Splunk).
• Hands-on experience with Databricks and Kafka.
• Must be able to obtain a Public Trust clearance.
• Must hold at least one of the following certifications: MCSE (Server), Azure Developer Associate, Azure Solutions Architect; AWS certifications listed in ad.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop scalable, secure cloud solutions across AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform.
• Establish technical excellence by creating reference architectures and design patterns.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to development teams on cloud-native design and practices.
• Drive modernization initiatives including cloud migrations, containerization, and microservices strategies.
• Champion DevOps through IaC, automation frameworks, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Optimize cloud performance for reliability, scalability, and cost efficiency.
• Architect secure environments using Zero Trust and IAM solutions; ensure compliance with SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS.
• Collaborate with operations, security, and product teams; present recommendations to leadership.
• Engage stakeholders to gather requirements and facilitate cloud adoption with smooth onboarding.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of architectures and implementation methodologies.

Skills

Strong communication

Leadership

Education

BS with 12+ years experience OR MS with 10+ years

Tools

AWS Console

Azure

Elastic

Ansible

Jira

Confluence

Git

Bitbucket

Databricks

Kafka

Power BI

API management tools

Job description

Central Strategies is seeking a Senior Cloud Engineer to design and lead transformative cloud initiatives that power critical U.S. Coast Guard operations. In this hands‑on leadership role, you’ll leverage deep expertise in AWS, Azure, and Python to architect scalable cloud‑native solutions, drive modernization efforts, and ensure excellence across architecture, deployment, and security—all while mentoring teams and advancing mission success.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop scalable, resilient, and secure cloud solutions across AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform.
• Establish technical excellence by creating reference architectures, design patterns, and implementation standards.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to development teams on cloud-native design, deployment, and best practices.
• Evaluate emerging technologies to assess their impact and align adoption with organizational goals.
• Drive modernization initiatives, including cloud migrations, containerization, and microservices strategies.
• Champion DevOps practices through Infrastructure as Code (IaC), automation frameworks, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Optimize cloud performance to improve reliability, scalability, and cost efficiency of services.
• Architect secure environments using Zero Trust principles, defense‑in‑depth strategies, and IAM solutions.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards (SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS) and government regulations.
• Conduct security assessments to identify and remediate cloud vulnerabilities.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with operations, development, security, and product teams to deliver integrated solutions.
• Engage stakeholders to gather requirements, translate needs into technical solutions, and present recommendations to leadership.
• Facilitate customer onboarding and ensure smooth transitions for cloud adoption.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of architectures, standards, and implementation methodologies.

Required Qualifications

• BS and 12+ years of relevant experience, or MS and 10+ years; additional experiencemay substitute for degree.
  Minimum 6+ years of administration experience with cloud-based applications (MSO365, SharePoint, Azure AD, AWS).
  Hands‑on experience managing Windows Server environments (creation, configuration, upgrades, migrations, patching)
• Strong knowledge of Active Directory, Azure AD, SAML, and related protocols and processes.
• Proficiency with cloud platforms and tools: AWS Console, Azure, Elastic, Ansible, Jira, Confluence, Git, Bitbucket, and other SaaS solutions.
• Experience integrating AWS and Azure log data to analysis platforms (Elastic, Splunk).
• Skilled in supporting AWS‑hosted applications (deployments, patches, maintenance, security checks, troubleshooting).
• Ability to develop, optimize, and document SOPs and operational workflows.
• Collaborates with SMEs and security teams to define and implement secure cloud architectures.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills for both technical and executive audiences.
• Performs day‑to‑day operational support, including troubleshooting, change management, and issue resolution.
• Hands‑on experience with Databricks and Kafka.
• Proficiency with Power BI and API management tools is a strong advantage.
• Must be able to obtain a Public Trust clearance.
• Must hold at least one of the following certifications:
  • Microsoft: MCSE (Server), Azure Developer Associate, Azure Solutions Architect
  • AWS: Certified SysAdmin, Cloud Practitioner, Developer, Solutions Architect(Associate/Pro), DevOps Engineer, Advanced Networking, or Security