Senior Staff Cloud Architect

ServiceNow; Kirkland (WA); Hybrid; USD 191,000 - 334,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans

401(k) Plan with company match

Employee ESPP

Job summary

ServiceNow is seeking a Sr Staff Cloud Architect to lead enterprise-scale cloud architecture initiatives spanning private, sovereign, and public cloud environments. You will shape infrastructure that supports high-value enterprise accounts and AI workloads globally, ensuring performance, security, and cost efficiency.

The role requires deep expertise in public cloud offerings, Linux kernel tuning, and CPU architectures, with a focus on scalable, secure, and cost-aware deployments across AWS,

Qualifications

• 12+ years in IT with degree in CS/CE/EE or related field.
• 10+ years evaluating datacenter technologies & multi-vendor RFPs.
• 7+ years hands-on with Kubernetes and containerized infra.
• 3+ years with cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP) at production scale.
• Excellent communication and leadership required.

Responsibilities

• Architect enterprise-scale cloud solutions spanning private datacenters, sovereign cloud, and public clouds (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Evaluate and benchmark emerging technologies, services, and architectural patterns before production adoption.
• Drive hardware enhancements from concept to implementation, assessing performance, security, and capacity.
• Evaluate and test new products, automate evaluations, and drive issue resolution with vendors.
• Collaborate with engineering and infra teams to understand impacts of platform enhancements on private/public stacks.
• Lead R&D to identify emerging cloud/hardware/software technologies for future designs.
• Serve as top-tier escalation for complex issues across domains.
• Conduct cross-domain root cause analysis for infrastructure issues across DB, OS, networking, and hardware.

Skills

AI in workflows

Cloud architecture

Linux performance

Public cloud

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/CE/EE or related field

Tools

Kubernetes

AWS

Azure

GCP

Linux

Databases

Job description

It all started when engineer Fred Luddy wrote code that automated a tedious task for his coworker, Phyllis. She cried tears of joy. That moment inspired Fred to build a company that could do that for everyone—freeing people from busywork so they could focus on meaningful work. Today, ServiceNow is the AI control tower for business reinvention. Our ServiceNow AI platform brings together any AI, any data, and any workflow— helping 85% of the Fortune 500® work smarter, faster, and better. We're building an AI-native culture where technology and talent are unstoppable together. And we're just getting started.

Join us to put AI to work for people.

Job Description

About the Cloud Hardware Engineering Team

The Cloud Hardware Engineering Team works with some of the most innovative and advanced technologies in the business. We are a highly collaborative and inclusive team where individuals with strong technical aptitude, deep industry expertise, and a collaborative attitude have the opportunity to grow their professional careers and mentor peers as they work across the organization. We provide competitive compensation, generous benefits, and a professional, innovation-focused work atmosphere.

About the role

As a Sr Staff Cloud Architect, you will directly lead enterprise-scale cloud architecture initiatives that shape ServiceNow's infrastructure across private, sovereign, and public cloud environments. Your architectures will ensure optimal performance, security, and cost efficiency across our global cloud footprint.

This is a critical role requiring deep expertise across multiple technical domains. You will serve as a force multiplier, leveraging specialized knowledge in public cloud offerings, database performance, Linux kernel tuning, and modern CPU architectures to solve complex problems affecting our entire customer base from high-value enterprise accounts to new cloud deployments. The solutions you architect will power ServiceNow's platform including large-scale application and database deployments to specialty services like customer analytics, fleet telemetry, and AI workloads.

What you get to do in this role:

• Architect enterprise-scale solutions spanning private datacenters, sovereign cloud, and public cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Evaluate and benchmark emerging technologies, services, and architectural patterns prior to production adoption.
• Drive hardware enhancements from original concept through final implementation across all system architectures and assess impact of design decisions on performance, security, and capacity.
• Evaluate and test new products, frequently prior to general availability. You will help automate evaluations, determine issues with designs, help identify root cause issues, and drive vendors internal and external to resolve issues.
• Work closely with engineering and infrastructure teams across the organization to understand the impacts of new software platform enhancements on the private and public cloud stack.
• Lead research and development efforts to identify emerging cloud, hardware, and software technologies, architectures, and designs with hands‑on opportunities to benchmark, validate, and determine viability for future system designs.
• Serve as top‑tier escalation for complex issues.
• Conduct cross‑domain root cause analysis for complex infrastructure issues, coordinating investigations across database, OS, networking, and hardware layers.

Qualifications

To be successful in this role you have:

• Experience in leveraging or critically thinking about how to integrate AI into work processes, decision‑making, or problem‑solving. This may include using AI‑powered tools, automating workflows, analyzing AI‑driven insights, or exploring AI's potential impact on the function or industry.
• 12 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Information Systems (CIS), Management Information Systems (MIS), Computer Science (CS), Computer Engineering (CE), Electrical Engineering (EE), or related field; or 8 years and a Master's degree; or a PhD with 5 years experience; or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years evaluating, cost‑modeling and implementing new datacenter technologies, including managing multi‑vendor RFPs.
• 10+ years profiling and evaluating Linux and database performance.
• 7+ years hands‑on with AWS, Azure, or GCP (compute, storage, networking, managed databases, cost optimization)
• 3+ years with Kubernetes and containerized infrastructure at production scale.
• Proven ability to lead complex transformation initiatives across multiple organization units.
• Thought leader and mentor with proven force‑multiplier impact.
• Excellent communication and customer skills, conflict management, and interpersonal skills. Must be able to communicate at a level appropriate to the audience.

For positions in this location, we offer a base pay of $190,900 - $334,100, plus equity (when applicable), variable/incentive compensation and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the base pay shown is a guideline, and individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies, and work location. We also offer health plans, including flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) Plan with company match, ESPP, matching donations, a flexible time away plan and family leave programs. Compensation is based on the geographic location in which the role is located and is subject to change based on work location.

Additional Information

We approach our distributed world of work with flexibility and trust. Work personas (flexible, remote, or required in office) are categories that are assigned to ServiceNow employees depending on the nature of their work and their assigned work location. Learn more here . To determine eligibility for a work persona, ServiceNow may confirm the distance between your primary residence and the closest ServiceNow office using a third‑party service.

Equal Opportunity Employer

ServiceNow is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity, veteran status, or any other category protected by law. In addition, all qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with legal requirements.

Accommodations

We strive to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, or are unable to use this online application and need an alternative method to apply, please contact [emailprotected] for assistance.

Export Control Regulations

For positions requiring access to controlled technology subject to export control regulations, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR), ServiceNow may be required to obtain export control approval from government authorities for certain individuals. All employment is contingent upon ServiceNow obtaining any export license or other approval that may be required by relevant export control authorities.

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