Principal Infrastructure Engineer

Engine
Full_time$220k-250k/year (USD)

📍 Job Overview

  • Job Title: Principal Infrastructure Engineer
  • Company: Engine
  • Location: Remote - USA
  • Job Type: Full-time
  • Category: DevOps, Infrastructure
  • Date Posted: June 10, 2025
  • Experience Level: 10+ years
  • Remote Status: Remote

🚀 Role Summary

  • Lead the technical roadmap for cloud infrastructure and security at Engine.
  • Define and drive the overall architectural direction for cloud environments, infrastructure, and ecosystem services.
  • Solve complex infrastructure problems and provide technical guidance to the engineering team.
  • Collaborate with stakeholders to align technical direction with business needs and secure buy-in from leadership and partners.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

  • Architectural Leadership: Define the technical vision and roadmap for cloud infrastructure and services at Engine.
  • Complex Problem Solving: Tackle intricate infrastructure challenges and drive innovative solutions.
  • Stakeholder Communication: Effectively articulate complex technical concepts and align stakeholders across the organization.
  • Team Leadership: Guide and mentor the InfraSec engineering team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and learning.
  • Initiative Execution: Lead large-scale infrasec initiatives, ensuring long-term scalability, resilience, and efficiency.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field. Relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Experience: 12+ years of hands-on experience in designing and building scalable, reliable cloud infrastructure and systems, with a deep expertise in AWS.

Required Skills:

  • Cloud Infrastructure: Proven expertise in cloud environments and services, particularly AWS.
  • Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Mastery of Terraform, as well as multiple declarative and imperative frameworks (e.g., CloudFormation, Chef, Puppet, Ansible, Pulumi).
  • Containerization: Strong experience with Docker and Kubernetes.
  • Observability: Expertise in logging, monitoring, metrics, and alerting systems.
  • Configuration Management & Service Discovery: Deep understanding of data organization, partitioning, storage and retrieval, fault tolerance, and leveraging effective libraries for automation and orchestration.
  • CI/CD: Proficiency in tools and architectures for build, deploy, and artifact management.
  • Security & Compliance: Experience with security systems, data governance, and compliance frameworks.

Preferred Skills:

  • Experience with multi-cloud environments and service mesh technologies.
  • Familiarity with infrastructure cost management and optimization strategies.
  • Strong background in Agile methodologies and DevOps practices.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

While a portfolio is not explicitly required for this role, demonstrating relevant projects or case studies that showcase your technical expertise in cloud infrastructure, problem-solving, and leadership can strengthen your application.

Project Essentials:

  • Document your experience with cloud infrastructure design, implementation, and optimization.
  • Highlight your ability to lead teams and drive large-scale initiatives.
  • Showcase your problem-solving skills by presenting complex infrastructure challenges and the solutions you implemented.

Technical Documentation:

  • Include detailed documentation of your cloud infrastructure projects, highlighting your approach to architecture, implementation, and optimization.
  • Explain the tools and technologies you used, and how you ensured the security and compliance of your infrastructure.
  • Describe any challenges you faced and how you overcame them.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $220,000 - $250,000 USD per year

Benefits:

  • Competitive base pay tied to role and experience, with opportunities for bonuses, commissions, and equity.
  • Comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance, as well as retirement savings plans.
  • Flexible work arrangements, with a hybrid-hub model that caters to different roles and needs.

Working Hours: Full-time position, with standard working hours and flexibility for maintenance windows and project deadlines.

🎯 Team & Company Context

Company Culture: Engine is a fast-growing startup focused on revolutionizing work travel. They value innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning, fostering a dynamic and inclusive work environment.

Team Structure:

  • The InfraSec team is responsible for providing a cloud ecosystem that enables engineers to build new services and environments efficiently and economically.
  • The team consists of experienced infrastructure and security professionals, working together to deliver scalable, reliable, and secure cloud environments.

Development Methodology: Engine follows Agile methodologies, with a focus on continuous integration, continuous deployment, and iterative development.

Company Website: Engine

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: This role is suited for a seasoned infrastructure engineer with extensive experience in cloud infrastructure design, implementation, and optimization. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of driving technical direction and leading teams through complex challenges.

Reporting Structure: The Principal Infrastructure Engineer will report directly to the VP of Engineering and work closely with other engineering leaders, as well as cross-functional stakeholders.

Technical Impact: This role will have a significant impact on Engine's cloud infrastructure, driving strategic decisions that enhance scalability, reliability, and security. The Principal Infrastructure Engineer will play a crucial role in shaping the company's technical roadmap and ensuring that infrastructure services meet the needs of the business and its users.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Technical Leadership: As Engine continues to grow, there will be opportunities for the Principal Infrastructure Engineer to take on more strategic and leadership roles within the organization.
  • Emerging Technologies: Staying up-to-date with the latest cloud infrastructure trends and tools will enable the Principal Infrastructure Engineer to drive innovation and adoption within the team and the broader organization.
  • Mentorship and Knowledge Sharing: By sharing your expertise with other team members and contributing to the company's technical culture, you can help foster a collaborative and learning-focused environment.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Engine offers a hybrid-hub model, allowing employees to work remotely or from one of their amazing offices.

Office Location(s): Engine has offices in several major cities across the United States. The specific office location(s) for this role may vary.

Workspace Context:

  • Remote Work: Engine provides the necessary tools and resources for remote employees to work effectively from home.
  • On-site Work: Engine's offices are designed to be collaborative and comfortable, with state-of-the-art technology and amenities to support productivity and innovation.
  • Cross-functional Collaboration: Engine encourages collaboration and knowledge sharing between teams, fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement.

Work Schedule: Engine offers flexible working hours, with a focus on results and productivity. Employees are expected to be available during core business hours and may need to be flexible for maintenance windows and project deadlines.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

  1. Phone Screen (30-45 minutes): A brief conversation with a member of the recruitment team to discuss your background, experience, and motivation for applying to the role.
  2. Technical Deep Dive (60-90 minutes): A detailed discussion with the hiring manager and other technical team members about your experience with cloud infrastructure, architecture, and problem-solving.
  3. Behavioral and Cultural Fit Interview (60 minutes): A conversation with the hiring manager and other team members to assess your communication skills, leadership style, and cultural fit with Engine.
  4. Final Decision and Offer: The hiring team will review all candidate feedback and make a final decision. If you are selected, you will receive an offer for the position.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Highlight your experience with cloud infrastructure design, implementation, and optimization.
  • Showcase your ability to lead teams and drive large-scale initiatives.
  • Demonstrate your problem-solving skills by presenting complex infrastructure challenges and the solutions you implemented.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

  • Brush up on your knowledge of cloud infrastructure, architecture, and best practices.
  • Familiarize yourself with Engine's technology stack and the specific cloud services they use.
  • Prepare for questions about your experience with infrastructure as code, containerization, observability, and security.

ATS Keywords: (Organized by category)

  • Cloud Platforms: AWS, GCP, Azure, Multi-cloud
  • Infrastructure as Code: Terraform, CloudFormation, Chef, Puppet, Ansible, Pulumi
  • Containerization: Docker, Kubernetes, ECS, EKS, GKE
  • Observability: Prometheus, Grafana, ELK Stack, Datadog, New Relic
  • Configuration Management & Service Discovery: HashiCorp Consul, Etcd, Kubernetes DNS, CoreDNS
  • CI/CD: Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, CircleCI, GitHub Actions, AWS CodePipeline, CodeBuild
  • Security & Compliance: OWASP, CIS, NIST, ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS
  • Soft Skills: Leadership, Communication, Problem-solving, Strategic Thinking, Collaboration
  • Industry Terms: Infrastructure as Code, IaC, Cloud Native, Serverless, Microservices, DevOps, SRE

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Cloud Platform: AWS (Primary), with experience in multi-cloud environments a plus.

Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Terraform (Primary), with experience in other IaC tools such as CloudFormation, Chef, Puppet, Ansible, or Pulumi.

Containerization: Docker (Primary), with experience in Kubernetes (Primary), ECS, EKS, or GKE.

Observability: Prometheus (Primary), with experience in Grafana, ELK Stack, Datadog, or New Relic.

Configuration Management & Service Discovery: HashiCorp Consul (Primary), with experience in etcd, Kubernetes DNS, or CoreDNS.

CI/CD: Jenkins (Primary), with experience in GitLab CI/CD, CircleCI, GitHub Actions, AWS CodePipeline, or CodeBuild.

Security & Compliance: Experience with OWASP, CIS, NIST, ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, or PCI-DSS.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Engine Values:

  • Customer Obsessed: We put our customers first and strive to understand their needs and exceed their expectations.
  • Innovation Driven: We embrace continuous learning and improvement, always seeking new and better ways to do things.
  • Collaborative: We work together, sharing knowledge and supporting each other's success.
  • Accountable: We take ownership of our work and strive for excellence in everything we do.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-functional Integration: Engine encourages collaboration between teams, fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement.
  • Code Review Culture: Engine values peer review and collaboration in the development process.
  • Knowledge Sharing: Engine fosters a culture of knowledge sharing and mentorship, with regular team meetings, brown bag sessions, and technical training opportunities.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

  • Cloud Architecture: Designing and implementing scalable, secure, and highly available cloud architectures that meet the needs of Engine's growing business.
  • Infrastructure Optimization: Continuously optimizing cloud infrastructure for performance, cost, and security.
  • Security and Compliance: Ensuring that Engine's cloud infrastructure meets all relevant security and compliance standards, such as SOC 2, HIPAA, or PCI-DSS.
  • Emerging Technologies: Staying up-to-date with the latest cloud infrastructure trends and tools, and driving adoption within the team and the broader organization.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Technical Skill Development: Continuously expanding your knowledge and expertise in cloud infrastructure, architecture, and best practices.
  • Conference Attendance: Attending industry conferences and events to stay current with the latest trends and technologies in cloud infrastructure.
  • Certification and Community Involvement: Pursuing relevant certifications and engaging with online communities to learn from and collaborate with other cloud infrastructure professionals.
  • Technical Mentorship and Leadership: Providing technical mentorship and guidance to other team members, and contributing to the company's technical culture.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

  • Cloud Architecture: Describe your experience with cloud architecture design and implementation, and how you've approached challenges such as scalability, security, and cost optimization.
  • Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Explain your experience with IaC tools, and how you've used them to automate and manage cloud infrastructure.
  • Observability: Discuss your experience with logging, monitoring, metrics, and alerting systems, and how you've used them to ensure the reliability and performance of cloud infrastructure.
  • Security and Compliance: Describe your experience with security systems, data governance, and compliance frameworks, and how you've ensured that cloud infrastructure meets relevant standards.

Company & Culture Questions:

  • Engine's Mission: Explain why you're excited about Engine's mission to revolutionize work travel, and how you think you can contribute to its success.
  • Collaboration and Communication: Describe your experience working with cross-functional teams, and how you've ensured effective communication and collaboration to drive successful outcomes.
  • Problem-solving: Share an example of a complex infrastructure challenge you faced, and how you approached it to deliver a successful solution.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Cloud Infrastructure Projects: Highlight your experience with cloud infrastructure design, implementation, and optimization, and explain how your projects demonstrate your technical expertise and leadership.
  • Problem-solving: Present complex infrastructure challenges you've faced, and explain how you approached them to deliver successful solutions.
  • Leadership and Teamwork: Showcase your ability to lead teams and drive large-scale initiatives, and explain how your projects demonstrate your collaborative and communication skills.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Principal Infrastructure Engineer position at Engine:

  1. Submit Your Application: Click on the "Apply Now" button on the job listing page, and complete the application form with your resume, cover letter, and any relevant portfolio links.
  2. Prepare for Phone Screen: Review the job description and be ready to discuss your background, experience, and motivation for applying to the role.
  3. Research Engine: Familiarize yourself with Engine's mission, values, and culture, and be prepared to discuss how you align with the company's goals and vision.
  4. Prepare for Technical Deep Dive: Brush up on your knowledge of cloud infrastructure, architecture, and best practices, and be ready to discuss your experience with the hiring manager and other technical team members.
  5. Prepare for Behavioral and Cultural Fit Interview: Reflect on your leadership style, communication skills, and cultural fit with Engine, and be ready to discuss your approach to collaboration and teamwork.

📝 Enhancement Note: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and web development/server administration industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.


Content Guidelines (IMPORTANT: Do not include this in the output)

Web Technology-Specific Focus:

  • Tailor the description to DevOps and infrastructure roles, emphasizing cloud infrastructure, architecture, and security.
  • Highlight the required skills and experience in cloud infrastructure, with a focus on AWS and other relevant cloud platforms.
  • Include specific portfolio guidance for infrastructure engineers, focusing on cloud infrastructure design, implementation, and optimization projects.
  • Address the interview process and preparation strategies for infrastructure engineers, with a focus on technical deep dives, behavioral interviews, and portfolio presentations.

Quality Standards:

  • Ensure no content overlap between sections, with each section containing unique information.
  • Use Enhancement Notes sparingly and only when making significant inferences about the role, team, or company.
  • Maintain a balance between comprehensive detail and concise, actionable information.
  • Integrate web development and server administration-related keywords naturally throughout the description.

Industry Expertise:

  • Include specific cloud infrastructure technologies, platforms, and best practices relevant to the role.
  • Address the career progression path for infrastructure engineers, with a focus on technical leadership and strategic decision-making.
  • Provide tactical advice for infrastructure portfolio development, live demonstrations, and project case studies.
  • Include interview preparation and coding challenge guidance tailored to infrastructure engineers.

Professional Standards:

  • Maintain consistent formatting, spacing, and professional tone throughout the description.
  • Use industry-specific terminology accurately and appropriately.
  • Include comprehensive benefits and growth opportunities relevant to infrastructure engineers.
  • Provide actionable insights that give web development and server administration candidates a competitive advantage.
  • Focus on infrastructure team culture, collaboration, and user impact measurement.

Technical Focus & Portfolio Emphasis:

  • Emphasize cloud infrastructure design, implementation, and optimization, with a focus on scalability, security, and cost optimization.
  • Include specific portfolio requirements tailored to infrastructure engineers, with a focus on cloud infrastructure projects.
  • Address infrastructure problem-solving methods, performance optimization, and scalable architecture.
  • Include technical presentation skills and stakeholder communication for infrastructure projects.

Avoid:

  • Generic business jargon not relevant to infrastructure roles.
  • Placeholder text or incomplete sections.
  • Repetitive content across different sections.
  • Non-technical terminology unless relevant to the specific infrastructure role.
  • Marketing language unrelated to infrastructure, DevOps, or cloud technology.

Application Requirements

Candidates should have 12+ years of hands-on experience in designing and building scalable cloud infrastructure, particularly in AWS. Strong communication skills and experience leading large-scale initiatives in complex ecosystems are essential.