LightFeather is seeking a Principal Cloud Engineer specializing in Microsoft Azure to design, implement, and manage secure cloud solutions for federal IT environments. You’ll play a key role in supporting Azure infrastructure, automation, and security, applying DevOps best practices to drive performance, strengthen compliance, and improve operational efficiency.
Location: On-site, 5 days/week in Washington, D.C. 20036
Job Type: Full-time
Citizenship: U.S. Citizenship Required
Clearance Requirement: Willing to obtain a security clearance

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• U.S. Citizenship
• Willing to obtain a security clearance
• 5+ years of experience in Microsoft Azure cloud engineering and DevOps
• Proven expertise in Azure infrastructure architecture, deployment, and automation
• Strong experience with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using Terraform, ARM templates, or Bicep
• Hands-on experience building and managing CI/CD pipelines and DevOps workflows
• Familiarity with federal compliance standards including FedRAMP, NIST 800-53, and FISMA
• Proficiency in scripting and automation using PowerShell, Python, or Bash
• Experience with Azure networking, identity management (Azure Active Directory), security policies, and monitoring
• Strong leadership and mentorship skills
• Ability to work on-site in Washington, DC five days per week

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Microsoft Azure certifications such as AZ-104 (Administrator), AZ-400 (DevOps Engineer), or AZ-305 (Solutions Architect)
• Experience supporting federal IT systems and secure environments
• Understanding of hybrid cloud architectures and on-premise integrations
• Experience with cloud financial operations (FinOps) and cost optimization strategies

• Design and deploy secure, scalable cloud architectures in Microsoft Azure for federal clients
• Automate infrastructure provisioning using Terraform, Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates, or Bicep
• Improve continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines using Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, or similar tools
• Implement best practices for monitoring, logging, and cloud optimization to improve performance, security, and cost efficiency
• Ensure alignment with federal cybersecurity frameworks such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 800-53, the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP), and the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA)
• Manage Azure resources, including virtual networks, identity and access management (IAM), virtual machines, and security configurations
• Collaborate across teams—security, development, and operations—to continuously enhance cloud environments
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to a culture of innovation, learning, and technical excellence