26-101 - Cloud Engineer
Colorado State University
Job Description
Position summary:
The individual in this position will report to a Senior Research Associate and serve as a cloud engineer on the VLab and VLab Cloud projects. Specifically, the individual in this position will perform a combination of cloud architecture, engineering, and DevOps roles, working with NWS staff and contractors to do the following:
Design and implement solutions to migrate applications from on-premises to the cloud.
Orchestrate management, monitoring, and administration of cloud systems.
Maintain and improve existing cloud projects.
Instill industry best-practices within the team and within hosted projects.
Document engineered solutions and prepare summary reports for stakeholders.
This work will include participating in remote weekly development discussions and occasional in-person meetings, which may take place in Silver Spring, MD or other locations determined by the federal sponsor. We seek a highly motivated, goal-oriented individual, who loves technology, has excellent communication skills, and works well within a team as well as individually.
Full Consideration Date: Monday, April 13, 2026, 11:59pm (MT)
Essential Job Duties
Migrate applications from on-premises to the cloud.
Orchestrate management and administration of OSTI’s cloud systems.
Develop automated techniques for managing configuration of cloud systems.
Perform occasional customer support as a member of the VLab Support Team.
Provide expertise, consultation, and training on cloud architecture; work with various teams to help migrate applications to the cloud.
Document work in issue tracking systems.
Prepare platform, infrastructure, DevOps, and software documentation individually and in collaboration with other team members.
Complete annual reports documenting the status of existing projects; summarize results for sponsors and the broader weather community.
Conditions of Employment:
Must be a citizen of the United States or Lawful Permanent Resident with a physical USCIS “Green Card.”
Ability to pass a National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI) federal background check and receive a NOAA Common Access Card (CAC) ID badge.
Required Qualifications
In your cover letter, please specifically address EACH required qualification as it relates to your experience. An application without a cover letter that addresses each of the required qualifications for this position will not be considered further.
Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related technical field plus:
10 years of practical technical experience.
OR
Master’s degree in computer science or a related technical field plus:
5 years of practical technical experience.
OR
PhD in computer science or a related technical field plus:
2 years of practical technical experience.
At least 3 years of cloud architecture, engineering, platform, and DevOps experience within Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Preferred Qualifications
In your cover letter, please specifically address the applicable preferred qualifications for this position. A cover letter that fails to address the preferred qualifications for this position may not be considered further after review by the search committee.
● Certifications:
Kubernetes certification (CKA, CKAD, etc.)
AWS certification (Solutions Architect - Associate / Professional, etc.).
● AWIPS Experience
Developing applications
Administering an operational AWIPS system
● System administration experience within a Linux environment.
● Kubernetes cluster administration and/or application development experience.
● In-depth experience with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) (Terraform preferred, CloudFormation).
● Creating and maintaining CI/CD pipelines.
● Practical experience with containerization.
● Experience with GitLab.
● Experience with code review.
● Experience with system configuration management tools (Ansible preferred).
● Fluent in scripting languages, including at least Bash and Python.
● Experience developing solutions for other big 3 cloud environments (i.e. Microsoft Azure, GCP).
● Knowledge of cloud security principles to protect from unauthorized users and malicious attacks.
● Knowledge of operational meteorology, NWS operations, and NWS users and partners.
Salary Range
$135,000 - $150,000Required Application Documents
To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.
Cover Letter, Resume/CVEmployee Benefits
Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.
Background Check Policy Statement
Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.
EEO
Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.