📍 Job Overview

• Job Title: Staff Engineer - Cloud Infrastructure
• Company: Exelixis
• Location: Alameda, California, United States
• Job Type: On-site
• Category: DevOps Engineer
• Date Posted: 2025-04-09
• Experience Level: 10+ years
• Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the modernization of traditional server hosting by adopting cloud services and designing technical architectures for new services and features.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to clearly articulate technical architecture and drive product-centric focus on capabilities and value.
• Mentor junior engineers and manage vendors to deliver new capabilities and implement new technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong background in cloud infrastructure and a deep understanding of AWS services, as well as excellent communication and leadership skills to drive technical change and mentor team members.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

• Cloud Migration & Modernization: Lead the shift from on-prem hosting in leased data centers to leveraging AWS services for internal hosting service delivery.
• Technical Architecture Design: Design and evaluate technical architectures for new services and features, incorporating strong security controls and applying security best practices in the code development life cycle.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Lead key technical discussions and considerations around transformative technology from both a technical and non-technical perspective.
• Product Ownership: Act as the technical product owner for key hosting services, including on-prem and cloud infrastructure and automation.
• Team Leadership: Provide technical direction to other individuals, mentor junior engineer staff, and manage vendors and contractors to deliver new capabilities and implement new technologies.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline with eight years of related experience, or
• Master’s degree in a related discipline with four years of related experience, or
• PhD degree in a related discipline with four years of related experience, or
• Equivalent combination of education and experience

Experience:

• Experience with Amazon Web Services (AWS), especially with services related to hosting: EC2, RDS, Systems Manager, IAM, etc.
• Experience with infrastructure as code (IaC) tools and DevOps practices, especially Terraform
• Experience with virtualization platforms, especially VMWare VCenter & ESX server
• Experience with Microsoft Active Directory & Windows and Linux Operating Systems
• Experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries
• Experience in cloud and infrastructure automation

Required Skills:

• Ability to effectively work in cross-functional teams with various backgrounds, personalities, and skill levels
• Strong customer-facing, oral, written, and verbal skills to effectively interface with business partners, stakeholders, and technical staff
• Ability to define and articulate complex architectures and processes
• Ability to work with minimal guidance, adapt to frequent priority changes, and respond to ad-hoc requests

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with pharmaceutical and biotech industry-specific cloud infrastructure challenges
• Familiarity with biotech-specific data management and security requirements

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate experience with AWS services, infrastructure as code, and cloud migration projects
• Showcase leadership and mentoring skills through case studies or testimonials
• Highlight experience with virtualization platforms and biotech industry-specific projects

Technical Documentation:

• Provide detailed documentation of cloud migration strategies, technical architectures, and security best practices
• Include code samples and configuration files for AWS services and infrastructure as code tools

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $141,500 - $201,000 annually

Benefits:

• 401k plan with generous company contributions
• Group medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Life and disability insurance
• Flexible spending accounts
• Discretionary annual bonus or sales-based incentive plan (for field sales staff)
• Stock purchase opportunity and long-term incentives
• 15 accrued vacation days in the first year, 17 paid holidays including a company-wide winter shutdown in December, and up to 10 sick days throughout the calendar year

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Biotechnology, focused on developing innovative medicines for difficult-to-treat cancers

Company Size: Medium-sized, with a solid commercial foundation and growing research and development efforts

Founded: 1994

Team Structure:

• The cloud infrastructure team works closely with application support teams and other technical stakeholders to deliver hosting services and new capabilities
• The team is responsible for defining and designing the hosting service, including virtual machine standards, configuration, provisioning, and ongoing operations

Development Methodology:

• The team follows Agile methodologies, with a focus on product-centricity, customer value, and continuous improvement
• Collaboration and cross-functional teamwork are essential for success in this role

Company Website: Exelixis

📝 Enhancement Note: Exelixis offers a dynamic and challenging work environment in the biotech industry, with a strong focus on innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. The company's commitment to fighting cancer and improving patient lives provides a compelling mission for employees.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: Senior-level role with a focus on technical leadership, architecture design, and cloud infrastructure management

Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Director of IT Infrastructure and collaborates with various technical stakeholders, including application support teams and other infrastructure engineers

Technical Impact: Responsible for defining and implementing cloud infrastructure strategies that support Exelixis' technology needs, ensuring high availability, scalability, and security for critical business applications

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical leadership and architecture decision-making opportunities
• Mentoring and coaching junior engineers to develop their technical skills and advance their careers
• Collaboration with external vendors and partners to deliver new capabilities and implement new technologies

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential for technical professionals looking to advance their careers in cloud infrastructure and architecture. The opportunity to mentor junior engineers and drive technical change provides a strong foundation for future leadership roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site, with a hybrid work arrangement available for some positions

Office Location(s): Alameda, California, with additional offices in San Francisco, California, and other global locations

Workspace Context:

• The Alameda headquarters offers a modern, collaborative workspace with access to various amenities and resources
• The team works closely together in an open office environment, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing

Work Schedule: Full-time, with some flexibility for remote work and adjusted hours for on-call rotations

📝 Enhancement Note: Exelixis provides a dynamic and flexible work environment, with a strong focus on collaboration, innovation, and employee well-being. The company's commitment to work-life balance and employee development makes it an attractive place to work in the biotech industry.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

1. Phone or video screen with the hiring manager to discuss the role, technical requirements, and cultural fit
2. Technical deep dive with the cloud infrastructure team, focusing on AWS services, infrastructure as code, and virtualization platforms
3. On-site or video final interview with the Director of IT Infrastructure and other key stakeholders, assessing leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight AWS services, infrastructure as code, and cloud migration projects with a focus on leadership and mentoring aspects
• Include case studies or testimonials demonstrating experience with virtualization platforms and biotech industry-specific projects
• Prepare detailed documentation of cloud migration strategies, technical architectures, and security best practices

Technical Challenge Preparation:

• Brush up on AWS services, infrastructure as code tools, and virtualization platforms, with a focus on cloud migration and architecture design
• Practice explaining complex technical concepts clearly and concisely to non-technical stakeholders
• Prepare for scenario-based questions that assess problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills

ATS Keywords: AWS, cloud migration, infrastructure as code, DevOps, virtualization, biotech, pharmaceutical, technical leadership, architecture design, mentoring

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for this role is designed to assess technical expertise, leadership skills, and cultural fit. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with AWS services, infrastructure as code, and cloud migration projects, as well as their ability to work effectively in a collaborative, cross-functional team environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Staff Engineer - Cloud Infrastructure position at Exelixis:

1. Submit your application through the Exelixis careers portal.
2. Prepare your portfolio to highlight AWS services, infrastructure as code, and cloud migration projects, with a focus on leadership and mentoring aspects.
3. Tailor your resume to emphasize relevant technical skills, experience, and achievements in cloud infrastructure and architecture.
4. Research Exelixis' mission, culture, and values to demonstrate your alignment with the company's goals and commitment to fighting cancer.
5. Practice explaining complex technical concepts clearly and concisely to non-technical stakeholders, and prepare for scenario-based interview questions that assess problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and biotech industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with Exelixis before making application decisions.