Cloud Platform Engineer - Azure

Salary range is $81k to $160k, with a midpoint of $112k.  New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.

Sound Transit also offers a competitive benefits package with a wide range of offerings, including:

• Health Benefits: We offer two choices of medical plans, a dental plan, and a vision plan all at no cost for employee coverage; comprehensive benefits for employees and eligible dependents, including a spouse or domestic partner.
• Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Retirement Plans: 401a – 10% of employee contribution with a 12% match by Sound Transit; 457b – up to IRS maximum (employee only contribution).
• Paid Time Off: Employees accrue 25 days of paid time off annually with increases at four, eight and twelve years of service. Employees at the director level and up accrue additional days. We also observe 12 paid holidays and provide up to 2 paid floating holidays and up to 2 paid volunteer days per year.
• Parental Leave: 12 weeks of parental leave for new parents.
• Pet Insurance.
• ORCA Card: All full-time employees will receive an ORCA card at no cost.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Sound Transit will pay up to $5,000 annually for approved tuition expenses.
• Inclusive Reproductive Health Support Services.
• Compensation Practices: We offer competitive salaries based on market rates and internal equity. In addition to compensation and benefits, you’ll find that we provide work-life balance, opportunities for professional development and recognition from your colleagues.

GENERAL PURPOSE: 

As a Cloud Platform Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in designing, implementing, and maintaining our cloud infrastructure to support IT operations and digital initiatives. This position works collaboratively with cross-functional teams to ensure a secure, scalable, and highly available Azure cloud environment that enhances reliability and service delivery across the Agency. This will include establishing a framework to manage our Azure environment.  Expectation is to adhere to enterprise architecture strategy and direction, establish standards as needed, and work across all IT teams in supporting the business demand, data platform needs, and other administrative and planning needs.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• Cloud Infrastructure Design and Implementation:
  • Work with solution architects to design, deploy, and maintain cloud-based infrastructure solutions on Azure platform.
  • Implement best practices for security, scalability, and performance optimization.
  • Automate provisioning and deployment processes to enhance operational and financial efficiency.
  • Collaborate with software development teams and solution architects to ensure compatibility with cloud platforms.
  • Work with third-party cloud service providers to ensure seamless integration and support.
  • Automating deployments of new applications and services to the cloud platform.
• Security and Compliance:
  • Establish and maintain security protocols, access controls, and compliance standards for Azure environment.
  • Monitor and mitigate security risks, conduct regular vulnerability assessments, and ensure data protection.
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC):
  • Utilize Infrastructure as Code tools (e.g., ARM, Ansible) to manage infrastructure configurations.
  • Version control and document infrastructure changes.
• Performance Optimization:
  • Monitor system performance and troubleshoot issues to optimize cloud resources.
  • Implement cost management strategies to control cloud expenditure.
  • Monitoring and scaling cloud systems to handle user traffic and maintain service uptime.
  • Analyzing cloud usage and identifying opportunities to optimize cost and performance.
• Disaster Recovery and High Availability:
  • Develop and maintain disaster recovery plans and ensure high availability of cloud services.
  • Conduct regular backups and recovery tests.
• Collaboration and Documentation:
  • Collaborate with IT teams, developers, and stakeholders to gather requirements and provide technical expertise.
  • Document configurations, procedures, and troubleshooting guides.
  • Collaborate and train operational support teams on the implementation of new cloud-based initiatives, services, and technologies ensuring alignment with standards and service level agreements.
• Continuous Improvement:
  • Stay updated on cloud technology trends and recommend improvements to existing infrastructure.
  • Participate in capacity planning and scalability efforts.
  • Troubleshoot incidents, identify root causes, fix, and document problems, and implement preventive measures.
  • Demonstrate exceptional problem-solving skills, with an ability to see and solve issues before they affect business productivity.
  • Champion proactive, innovative IT solutions for the improvement of IT design and operation whenever and wherever possible.
  • Participates in preventative maintenance weekends and after-hours maintenances (as needed) to ensure critical updates are applied to agency systems; documents work performed and maintains accurate change management records; updates system documentation and process documentation as needed.
  • Drive problem investigations and resolution as required.
  • Champions and models Sound Transit's core values and demonstrates values-based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency.
  • Contributes to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transit’s Equity & Inclusion Policy.
  • It is the responsibility of all employees to follow the Agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities, which could include systems, operations, and/or other employees.
  • It is the responsibility of all employees to integrate sustainability into everyday business practices.
  • Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Management Information Systems or closely related field. Four years of experience in Azure cloud engineering role or closely related field; Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Licenses or Certifications:  

• Azure Administrator
• Azure Security
• Solution Architect

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Proven experience as a Cloud Platform Engineer or similar role.
• Strong knowledge of Azure cloud platform.
• Strong knowledge of PowerShell and Infrastructure as Code tools and automation.
• Strong knowledge of Active Directory Object Administration, Management, and Federation Services.
• Strong knowledge of cost management and related techniques in a cloud environment.
• Knowledge of Databases, including SQL and schemas.
• Familiarity with cloud security best practices and compliance standards.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work in a collaborative team environment.
• Strong documentation skills.
• Exceptional listening, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Modeling, prototyping, and alternatives analysis.
• Capacity management and designing scalable solutions.
• ITSM, PMLC, SDLC, and strategic planning of Information Technology including corporate business systems and transit systems.
• In depth understanding of key issues and success factors within an IT organization.
• Familiarity with Business Intelligence and data management best practices.
• Knowledge of IT applications, processes, software, and equipment.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Possesses a solid technology culture with a strong interest and ability in learning new technologies in both corporate business technologies and transit technologies.
• Continuous improvement.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other department staff, management, vendors, outside agencies, community groups, and the general public.
• Working effectively under pressure, meeting deadlines, and adjusting to changing priorities.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:  

• Work is performed in a hybrid environment with an expectation of working in office a minimum of 3 days per week.
• Position is responsible for work within complex technical administration screens; may be subject to seeing. 
• Position will be responsible for supporting critical cloud technology and will need to be available off hours for support.
• The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel as required. 

Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or other protected class.