The Platform Systems Engineer with a FinOps focus supports First American’s commitment to operational efficiency, responsible cloud stewardship, and reliable technology services. This role combines platform engineering expertise with financial operations practices to ensure our cloud environments are cost-effective, well-managed, and aligned to business needs. The ideal candidate brings strong technical acumen, an analytical mindset, and a collaborative approach to driving transparency and meaningful optimization across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

FinOps Execution & Governance
Monitor and analyze cloud consumption to identify savings opportunities and reduce waste.
Provide clear, data-driven recommendations to engineering and business partners.
Maintain tagging standards, governance guidelines, and reporting structures that support cost accountability.
Partner with Finance on forecasting and budgeting activities to ensure accuracy and alignment.
Support commitment-based purchasing strategies (e.g., Savings Plans, Reserved Instances).

Automation & Operational Efficiency
Automate reporting, rightsizing, lifecycle management, and policy enforcement workflows.
Build and maintain scripts, tools, and dashboards that improve visibility and streamline FinOps operations.
Contribute to the development of self-service capabilities that support efficient cloud usage.

Cloud & Platform Engineering Support
Assist in designing and operating cloud environments with cost efficiency and reliability in mind.
Support infrastructure provisioning and change management through infrastructure-as-code.
Apply cloud architecture best practices to improve performance, resilience, and financial efficiency.

Collaboration & Leadership
Serve as a trusted partner to engineering, security, finance, and platform teams.
Communicate insights and recommendations in a clear, business-focused manner.
Contribute to documentation, standards, and continuous improvement initiatives that advance FinOps maturity across First American.

Required Qualifications
5+ years of experience in cloud operations, platform engineering, systems engineering, or FinOps.
Hands-on experience analyzing cloud spend and identifying actionable optimization opportunities.
Proficiency with at least one major cloud platform (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
Strong automation experience with tools such as Terraform, Python, PowerShell, or similar.
Familiarity with cost management platforms and cloud-native financial tools.
Ability to communicate effectively with both technical teams and business stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications
FinOps Foundation certification or equivalent experience.
Experience in cost governance, tagging frameworks, and chargeback/showback models.
Background with container platforms and their associated cost structures.
Knowledge of CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure automation workflows.
Understanding of security, compliance, and operational best practices in cloud environments.

Soft Skills
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to collaborate across teams and influence without authority.
Service-oriented mindset, with a focus on delivering reliable and cost-effective technology solutions.
Commitment to continuous learning and operational excellence.