Principal Cloud Architect

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career. Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families. The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is: Grade: Technical 412 Pay Range: $161,000.00 - $249,500.00 Job Description Job Description Summary Join us to drive innovation at scale by shaping the future of cloud architecture across our technology ecosystem. As a Principal Cloud Architect, you will lead the design and evolution of modern, secure, and scalable cloud solutions, partnering closely with engineering, product, and business stakeholders to deliver high-impact outcomes. What You’ll Do Define and lead enterprise cloud architecture strategy aligned to business objectives and innovation goals Design scalable, secure, and cost-effective cloud solutions across AWS, Azure, or GCP environments Partner with engineering teams to guide solution design, modernization, and migration initiatives Establish cloud governance frameworks, standards, and best practices for architecture and operations Drive adoption of cloud-native technologies including containers, serverless, and microservices Lead architectural reviews and provide mentorship to senior engineers and architects Collaborate cross-functionally to evaluate emerging technologies and accelerate innovation What You’ll Bring Deep expertise in enterprise-scale AWS infrastructure, Kubernetes, and Terraform. Eight or more years proven experience designing and delivering enterprise-scale distributed systems Strong background in cloud security, networking, and infrastructure architecture Experience leading large-scale cloud migrations and modernization efforts Ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive technical strategy Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field Bonus Points AWS Certifications Background in regulated or highly secure environments Experience in Lieu of Education An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered. At WGU, our mission drives everything we do, including how we hire. Our interview experience is designed to give qualified candidates the opportunity to show their best work through meaningful conversations and collaboration. We thoughtfully review every application and invite forward the candidates whose experience and potential best align with the role and our mission. Work Location This is a full-time, in-office position Position & Application Details Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave. How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday. Additional Information Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive. Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at . Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.