Full-Time Cloud Cost Optimization Engineer
Job Description
The Cloud Cost Optimization Engineer reports into the Cloud Cost Management (Cloud FinOps) team within Discovery’s GT&O group. The team is responsible for overseeing the global and multi cloud footprint for Discovery Inc with a critical mission focused on promoting, governing, and implementing economical consumption. The Cloud Cost Optimization Engineer will partner with architects and engineers to advise on architecture and resource optimization, waste management, capacity management, KPI development and maintenance, and tagging and alerts enhancements
Responsibillities:
- The Cloud Cost Optimization Engineer will be a critical member of the team working directly with our cloud clients, leadership, and vendors:
- Monitor cloud consumption in various accounts and projects to mitigate waste and to determine areas of resource efficiency
- Work with account owners and engineers on an ongoing basis to advise on cloud resource setup in light of operational and financial trade-offs
- Comprehend complex architectural diagrams for new and existing projects to derive cost impact and advise on the cost mechanics and alternatives of the various cloud services
- Recommend savings opportunities related to cloud commitment purchases (Reserved Instances, Savings Plans, Spot, Committed/Sustained Usage..etc)
- Track utilization of cloud reservation/savings plans and work with teams to re-purpose freed up capacity
- Evaluate and investigate data patterns and anomalies to derive insightful knowledge that can inform strategic and operational decisions
- Leverage the cloud CMDB and other tools to advise on strategies for resource mapping, tagging, and maturity
- Analyze cloud services and deployed resources volume to inform contractual negotiations relating service discounts and commitment levels
- Participate in building, maturing, and governing Cost Optimization policies and best practices
- Act as subject matter expert in advising on new and existing cloud services and resources across cloud vendors
- Participate in automating, integrating, and maturing the Cloud FinOps team’s processes and data
Qualifications:
- Deep expertise in the core cloud services architecture and cost mechanics (Compute, containers, database, serverless, storage..etc)
- Advanced understanding of AWS cloud platform, Cost Explorer, Cost and Usage report, and services
- Knowledge of GCP cloud platform, console, and services
- Experience in DevOps/SRE practices such as CI/CD, IaC, and expertise with Linux and Windows stacks
- Experience in cost management tactics such as enterprise wide discount programs and commitment plans (Reserved Instances, Savings Plans, Spot, Sustained Use/Committed Use Discounts,..)
- Successful implementation of cost optimization strategies related to storage lifecycle configuration, compute rightsizing, reduction of idle or underutilized resources, snapshot cleanups, …etc
- Experience in navigating and managing cloud CMDB
- Experience with 3rd party cloud optimization tools and in utilizing data from monitoring tools to advise on optimization opportunities (New Relic, Splunk, CloudWatch..etc)
- Experience with developing scripts via Python (other languages might be applicable) to implement automated cost optimization control policies
- Ability to connect various services using related product APIs
- Self-driven and able to work across functionally diverse teams (technical and non-technical)
- Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
- Ability to operate successfully in a lean, agile, and fast-paced organization
- Team player with a transformation mindset
- +3 years of relevant work experience in a large multi million cloud environment
- +5 years experience working as a cloud engineer, developer, or architect
- Possess an AWS Solutions Architect certification, or ability to attain within 6 months is required
Preferred Skills:
- Past experience in working as a cost optimization engineer with successful track record in delivering substantial efficiencies and savings
- Deep knowledge of Kubernetes, Serverless technologies, Elemental Media Services (Live, Connect, Package, and Convert)
- Record of transitioning workloads from serverfull to serverless architecture
- DevOps experience using Terraform
- Past experience working for a large Media company or familiarity with the Media value chain
- Experience with implementing a successful tag governance process
- Knowledge of Azure cloud platforms, consoles, and services
- Knowledge of CDN services and providers such as Akamai, AWS Cloudfront, Google Cloud CDN, and Fastly
- BS degree in Computer Science or equivalent; MS preferred
This role is Onsite in Bellevue, WA OR Knoxville, TN OR Silver Spring, MD.
IDEAL CANDIDATE
Who worked in the mil+ range environment (LARGE company)
Who understands the cost factor in CLOUD development
Who wants to get into FinOps
Who has exp managing the COST – Experience in cost management tactics such as enterprise wide discount programs and commitment plans (Reserved Instances, Savings Plans, Spot, Sustained Use/Committed Use Discounts,..)
