Cloud Operations Specialist

At ERCOT, our diverse and dynamic work environment provides a platform on which employees can work together to build the future of the Texas power grid and wholesale market utilizing the latest technologies and resources. We encourage you to join our talented, dedicated workforce to develop world-class solutions for today and tomorrow’s energy challenges while learning new skills and growing your career. ERCOT is committed to fostering inclusion at all levels of our company. It is the cornerstone of our corporate values of accountability, leadership, innovation, trust, and expertise. We know that individuals with a wide variety of talents, ideas, and experiences propel the innovation that drives our success. An inclusive and diverse workforce strengthens us and allows for a collaborative environment to solve the challenges that face our industry today and in the future. Key Responsibilities: Tenant Structure: manage and help design cloud tenant hierarchy, allocate resources efficiently. Onboarding & Accelerator Services: Guide new users and departments through the cloud adoption process, provide training and support. Experience in managing the CI/CD pipeline for Infrastructure-as-Code, ensuring seamless integration and delivery. Proficiency in creating and managing Terraform scripts to deploy various cloud services. Terraform Template Management: Develop, maintain, and deploy infrastructure as code templates using Terraform. Tenant Connectivity (Intra/Inter): Ensure secure and efficient connectivity between cloud environments. Cloud Framework Architecture: Design scalable, secure, and resilient cloud architectures. Policy Assignment: Define and enforce cloud policies to ensure compliance and security best practices. Cloud Security: Implement and manage security measures to protect cloud infrastructure, conduct regular security audits. Cost Management and Optimization: Monitor cloud usage and costs, implement strategies for cost efficiency. Backup and Recovery: Develop and manage cloud backup strategies, ensure data recovery processes are in place. Monitoring and Performance Tuning: Monitor cloud infrastructure for performance issues, optimize resources for better performance. Compliance Management: Ensure cloud services comply with relevant industry standards and regulations. Innovation and Automation: Explore new cloud technologies and automate routine tasks to improve efficiency. Docker Image Management: Design and implement Docker image strategies for cloud deployments, ensuring scalability and security. GitHub Runner Optimization: Optimize GitHub runners for CI/CD pipelines, ensuring they are efficient and reliable. Process Improvement: Identify and implement process improvements for Docker image management and GitHub runner configuration. Lead troubleshooting efforts for critical issues related to Terraform deployments in Azure, ensuring minimal downtime and efficient resolution. Design and implement advanced Terraform scripts to automate complex cloud infrastructure tasks in Azure, ensuring best practices and compliance. Mentorship: Mentor junior team members in Docker image management and GitHub runner configuration. Qualifications: Minimum of 5 years of experience in managing cloud infrastructure in excess of degree requirements Bachelor’s degree or higher in Computer Information Systems or an equivalent field or a combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge Extensive experience in managing cloud environments and Terraform Advanced knowledge of cloud security and cost management Experience with onboarding, support, and performance tuning Familiarity with compliance management and automation Looking for: HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate WORK LOCATION – Taylor, TX: Employees will be required to be on-site in Taylor, TX at minimum 2 days per week, or more, as needed based on the business needs as determined by management On-site schedules are flexible or may be rotated based on business needs as determined by the Manager Remote work is required to be performed from your Texas residence. Employees may opt to work on-site more than required or 100% of the time The foregoing description reflects the minimum qualifications and the essential functions of the position that must be performed proficiently with or without reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. It is not an exhaustive list of the duties expected to be performed, and management may, at its discretion, revise or require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned. This job description is not intended to create a contract of employment with ERCOT. Both ERCOT and the employee may exercise their employment-at-will rights at any time. #LI-DN ERCOT is firmly committed to equal employment for all qualified persons without regard to race, sex, medical condition, religion, age, creed, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, ancestry, veteran status, genetic information or any other protected category under federal, state or local law. Expected Salary Range: $90,220 - $153,380 The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) manages the flow of electric power to 27 million Texas customers - representing about 90 percent of the state's electric load. As the independent system operator for the region, ERCOT schedules power on an electric grid that connects more than 54,100 miles of transmission lines and 1,250 generating units. ERCOT also performs financial settlement for the competitive wholesale bulk-power market and administers retail switching for 8 million premises in competitive choice areas. ERCOT is a membership-based 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation, governed by a board of directors and subject to oversight by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas Legislature. ERCOT's members include consumers, cooperatives, generators, power marketers, retail electric providers, investor-owned electric utilities (transmission and distribution providers,) and municipal-owned electric utilities. ERCOT offers an excellent benefits package, which includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, long/short-term disability insurance, long-term care insurance, Section 125 Flexible Spending Account, and a Retirement Savings Plan. The medical, dental, vision, and quality-of-life benefits offered by ERCOT are second to none. Full-time employees are eligible to enroll in benefits on the first of the month following the date of hire. Additionally, 401(k) plans are available to help employees plan for the future. The ERCOT Internship Program provides college students the opportunity to develop their skills in a professional work environment. Each intern will receive unique projects and assignments that aim to solve real challenges facing the electric industry. ERCOT internships provide professional learning experiences that offer meaningful, practical work related to each student's desired career path. Eligible candidates should be enrolled in an academic bachelors or post graduate degree program maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The ERCOT Engineer Development Program (EDP) is a 12- to 16-month, self-paced program geared toward entry-level engineers looking to start a career in the power industry. Through the program, an EDP Engineer receives one-on-one mentoring, specialized training, and exposure to the work performed by each of the engineering groups at ERCOT. The program allows engineers to develop the fundamental skills necessary to reach their full potential while gaining an understanding of the types of engineering work ERCOT has to offer. EDP management supports participants each step of the way as they progress through the program. Upon completion, graduates are placed as full-time engineers within one of ERCOT’s engineering groups. The GMS Development Program (GDP) is designed to provide entry-level and early career professionals with the skills necessary to become successful Power System and Computer Engineers. The program, which is based in ERCOT’s Grid and Market Solutions (GMS) Department, will provide experience in day-to-day work and instruction in the fundamentals of electric power systems engineering, grid and market applications, software programming, and IT service and operations management. The GDP offers one-on-one mentoring, training, field trips, and special assignments. These assignments allow GDP engineers to become knowledgeable and familiar with the various business areas at ERCOT. The GMS leadership team prepares GDP engineers for a future career at ERCOT in power systems and computer engineering. The System Operator Development Program (ODP) is intended to combine real-time daily operations in an exciting work setting to prepare participants with the vital skills necessary to be successful in such a critical position — providing 24x7x365 on-demand support to manage the flow of electric power to more than 26 million Texas customers. If you are new to the industry, this program introduces you to the Bulk Electric System by combining introductory courses with the NERC Certification Exam Preparation Program in preparation to pass the NERC Certification Exam.

Salary : $90,220 - $153,380