Google Cloud Platform (GCP) SME

Job Title: Google Cloud Platform (GCP) SME Location: Issaquah, WA - Onsite Duration: 12+ Months Pay Rate: $60 - $65/hr. on W2 | $70 - $75/hr. on C2C Job Descriptions: Ensure robust monitoring and incident response for deployed solutions through continuous improvement. Design, implement, and administer GCP architecture and environments, including cloud-native applications and automation. Provide technical expertise in cloud technologies, support requests and troubleshooting issues involving other teams, partners, and vendors. Cloud Architecture Design: Develop comprehensive cloud architectures leveraging GCP services such as Compute Engine, Kubernetes Engine, BigQuery, Pub/Sub, Cloud Functions, and others. Design scalable, secure, and cost-effective cloud solutions to meet business and technical requirements. Cloud Strategy and Roadmap: Define and implement a long-term cloud strategy for the organization, including migration plans, optimization, and governance frameworks. Assess and recommend best practices for cloud-native and hybrid cloud solutions. Solution Implementation: Lead the deployment and migration of on-premises or other cloud workloads to GCP. Implement CI/CD pipelines, monitoring, and infrastructure-as-code (e.g., Terraform, Cloud Deployment Manager). Security and Compliance: Design and implement identity and access management (IAM) policies, firewalls, and other security controls. Collaboration and Leadership: Work closely with development, operations, and business teams to understand requirements and provide technical guidance. Mentor junior team members and foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation. Performance Optimization: Optimize GCP services for performance, scalability, and cost efficiency. Monitor and resolve issues related to cloud infrastructure, applications, and services. Documentation and Reporting: Create and maintain technical documentation, architectural diagrams, and operational runbooks. Provide regular updates and reports to stakeholders on project progress, risks, and outcomes. Required Skills and Qualifications: • Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience). • 7+ years of experience in cloud architecture and 4+ years specifically with GCP. • Proven expertise in designing and implementing large-scale cloud solutions. • Experience with application modernization using containers, microservices, and serverless architectures. Technical Skills: • Proficiency in GCP services (e.g., BigQuery, Cloud Spanner, Kubernetes Engine, Cloud Run, Dataflow). • Strong experience with Infrastructure as Code (e.g., Terraform, Deployment Manager). • Knowledge of DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and container orchestration tools. • Familiarity with databases (relational and NoSQL) and data pipelines. Certifications: • GCP certifications such as Professional Cloud Architect or Professional Data Engineer are highly preferred. Preferred Qualifications: • Experience with multi-cloud or hybrid-cloud environments. • Knowledge of machine learning and AI services on GCP. • Understanding of networking concepts, including VPC, VPN, and interconnects. • Familiarity with tools like Jenkins, GitLab, or similar DevOps toolchains. • Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills. • Strong communication and stakeholder management abilities. • A team player with a proactive approach to challenges.