Sr Lead Cloud Engineer

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Lead Cloud Engineer to serve as an Azure Subject Matter Expert (SME). In this role, you will design, implement, and manage secure Azure Government and hybrid cloud environments. You will ensure all infrastructure solutions are CMMC Level 2 compliant, meet strict federal cybersecurity standards, and align with enterprise business goals. The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in infrastructure as code (IaC), compliance (FEDRAMP, NIST, CMMC), and cross-functional leadership., * Architecture & Design: Provide architectural guidance and system designs for secure, scalable, and resilient Azure Government and hybrid-cloud solutions. Design hybrid-cloud networking between Azure VNets and AWS VPCs for secure workload interoperability.

• Infrastructure Implementation: Lead the deployment of CMMC-compliant Azure environments using Terraform and CI/CD pipelines (such as GitHub Enterprise and Azure DevOps).
• Compliance & Security: Enforce security, compliance, and governance policies per CMMC L2, FEDRAMP, and NIST standards. Standardize role-based permissions and configure IAM roles to enhance system security.
• Automation & Optimization: Streamline Azure resources to eliminate inefficiencies. Automate routine provisioning, standardization, and maintenance tasks using Terraform, PowerShell, and Bash.
• Management & Troubleshooting: Manage core Azure Gov services (Azure AD, VNets, AKS, Storage, Key Vault, Firewall) and implement robust disaster recovery and backup solutions (e.g., Azure Backup). Troubleshoot advanced infrastructure issues and optimize for performance.
• Leadership & Collaboration: Act as the go-to cloud expert for the engineering team. Develop comprehensive environmental documentation, mentor junior engineers, and drive the overarching secure platform strategy.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent education and experience, with typically 8+ years of enterprise-level support and design experience. Strong experience in operations and application administration & design
• 8+ years of comprehensive IT experience, with at least 5+ years specializing in Azure infrastructure engineering and architecture within government or highly regulated sectors.
• Azure Professional Certification (Solutions Architect, DevOps Engineer).
• Proficiency with ARM/Bicep/Terraform, PowerShell/Bash, and DevOps tools (Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions).
• Strong understanding of Azure networking, IAM, and security best practices for government workloads.
• Experience with container orchestration (AKS) in regulated environments.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong documentation & communication skills
• Flexible and able to adapt to a rapidly changing environment
• A broad range of technical skills with a strong desire to constantly expand skillset
• Positive, self-motivated individual who can complete goals independently
• Must be a team player

This information reflects the anticipated base salary range for this position based on current national data. Minimums and maximums may vary based on location. Individual pay is based on skills, experience and other relevant factors.

Location Based Pay Ranges

$132,232 - $176,310 in these states: AL AR AZ FL GA IA ID IN KS KY LA ME MO MS MT ND NE NM OH OK PA SC SD TN UT VT WI WV WY

$138,844 - $185,124 in these states: CO HI MI MN NC NH NV OR RI

$145,456 - $193,940 in these states: AK CA CT DC DE IL MA MD NJ NY TX VA WA

Lumen offers a comprehensive package featuring a broad range of Health, Life, Voluntary Lifestyle benefits and other perks that enhance your physical, mental, emotional and financial wellbeing. We're able to answer any additional questions you may have about our bonus structure (short-term incentives, long-term incentives and/or sales compensation) as you move through the selection process.

Lumen is the trusted network for the AI-powered world, connecting people, data, and applications through our expansive fiber network and connected ecosystem. We enable secure, high-performance connectivity across cloud, edge, and AI workloads for enterprises, governments, and communities. At Lumen, you'll work on infrastructure customers rely on today and build for what's next, where performance, security, and resilience matter. This is a high accountability environment where bold ideas drive real innovation for our customers, partners, and industry. The work is challenging, expectations are clear, and trust is built into how we operate. If you're ready to take ownership, deliver meaningful impact, and help shape the future of AI-ready connectivity, join us today., Life at Lumen is human and connected, even in a fast moving, AI-focused organization. We set clear expectations and trust people to meet them. With real support and shared accountability, teams collaborate better, move faster, and deliver meaningful outcomes. Our Lumen 8 behaviors guide how we interact, make decisions, and work together, shaping a culture built to perform and win. To learn more about Life at Lumen and how we live the Lumen 8, please visit