Senior Cloud Platform Engineer Jobs in California
Senior Cloud Platform Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the nation, concentrated in enterprise technology, cloud-native startups, financial services, and aerospace and defense firms that run large-scale distributed infrastructure. The greatest hiring volume is in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where companies like Google, Apple, and Salesforce maintain significant engineering operations and continuously expand their platform teams. Kubernetes administration, multi-cloud architecture across AWS and Azure and GCP, and platform reliability engineering are the most sought-after specializations at the senior level. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 79+ Senior Cloud Platform Engineer jobs
Description:
We are seeking a Senior Cloud Platform Engineer to design, build, and operate a secure, scalable cloud platform supporting ADAS data ingestion, processing, analytics, and validation workflows.
This role combines hands-on engineering with platform ownership across Azure infrastructure, Databricks, CI/CD pipelines, and operational tooling. The engineer will act as a key technical bridge across data engineering, backend, cybersecurity, privacy, and governance teams, ensuring the platform is secure-by-default, audit-ready, and aligned with data protection requirements such as GDPR, data residency, retention, and cross-border data constraints.
The position requires strong DevSecOps thinking, ownership mindset, and the ability to translate security, compliance, and operational requirements into practical engineering solutions.
Key Responsibilities
Cloud Infrastructure & Platform Engineering
- Design, implement, and operate Azure infrastructure across multiple subscriptions, regions, and environments
- Build and maintain networking components including VNets, subnets, NSGs, private endpoints, private DNS zones, route tables, and service endpoints
- Operate Azure services such as App Services, deployment slots, Container Registry, Storage, PostgreSQL Flexible Server, Key Vault, and Entra ID
- Develop and maintain reusable Terraform modules for infrastructure and data platform provisioning
- Enforce infrastructure-as-code standards including environment segregation, plan reviews, approval gates, drift detection, and state hygiene
Databricks & Data Platform
- Design and administer Databricks workspaces, Unity Catalog structures, clusters, cluster policies, SQL warehouses, and jobs
- Build and deploy scalable Spark-based data pipelines for ingestion and processing
- Manage identities, service principals, secret scopes, and Key Vault integrations
- Optimize platform performance, cost efficiency, and governance
- Support domain-driven and region-aware data products with consistent access control and governance
DevOps Ownership & Delivery
- Own Azure DevOps delivery processes end-to-end
- Design and maintain multi-stage YAML pipelines, service connections, environments, approvals, and branch policies
- Standardize release processes, deployment patterns, and code review practices
- Containerize applications using Docker and manage image lifecycle via private registries
- Improve deployment reliability, traceability, and recovery capabilities across environments
Security, Compliance & Privacy
- Design and operate secure-by-default platforms using least-privilege access, network isolation, and secure secret management
- Own identity and access management across Azure, Databricks, and Azure DevOps (RBAC, Entra ID, managed identities)
- Support security assessments, penetration testing, and audits by providing technical evidence and implementing remediation
- Manage service principal lifecycle, credential rotation, and secret governance
- Implement privacy-by-design principles including GDPR compliance, data minimization, retention, and residency requirements
- Translate security and compliance findings into actionable system improvements (IaC, policies, logging, encryption, backup, recovery)
Reliability & Operations
- Monitor, troubleshoot, and resolve infrastructure and platform incidents across cloud, data, and application layers
- Improve system performance, observability, and cost efficiency
- Implement best practices for scaling, lifecycle management, and resiliency
- Maintain operational documentation, runbooks, and post-incident reports
Collaboration & Technical Leadership
- Collaborate with ADAS, data engineering, backend, cybersecurity, and governance teams
- Contribute to architecture discussions and technical roadmaps
- Mentor team members on Terraform, Azure, Databricks, and DevSecOps practices
- Communicate technical risks and solutions clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Required Qualifications
Experience
- 5+ years of experience in cloud infrastructure, platform engineering, DevOps, or data platforms
- Hands-on ownership of Azure and Databricks environments across multiple environments and regions
- Experience in regulated, data-intensive environments with strong governance and compliance requirements
- Proven experience supporting audits, security assessments, and remediation activities
- Working knowledge of privacy and data protection frameworks (e.g., GDPR, data residency, retention policies)
Education
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience
Required Technical Skills
- Cloud (Azure): App Services, Container Registry, Key Vault, PostgreSQL, Storage, networking (VNets, NSGs, private endpoints), Entra ID, RBAC
- Infrastructure as Code: Terraform (modular design, environments, state management, providers)
- Data Platform: Databricks, Unity Catalog, Spark pipelines, SQL warehouses, access governance
- Programming: Python, SQL, Bash
- DevOps: Azure DevOps pipelines, YAML, branching strategy, service connections, CI/CD best practices
- Containers: Docker and container deployment patterns
- Security & Compliance: Identity management, secrets handling, vulnerability remediation, audit readiness
- Data Governance: Privacy-aware design, data classification, retention, residency compliance
- Version Control: Git workflows and code review practices
- Streaming Technologies: Kafka or similar
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Kubernetes / Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)
- Observability tools (Azure Monitor, Prometheus, OpenTelemetry, Log Analytics)
- Experience with policy-as-code, IaC scanning, and security posture management tools
- Familiarity with FinOps and Azure cost optimization practices
- Knowledge of compliance frameworks (ISO 27001, SOC 2, TISAX, NIST, CIS)
- Experience with enterprise-scale security and governance models
Scope of the Role
- Senior individual contributor role with strong technical ownership
- No direct personnel management; provides technical leadership and mentorship
- Operates across infrastructure, data platform, DevOps, and security domains
- Critical role in enabling secure, scalable, and compliant ADAS data platforms
- Works across global teams and multi-region cloud environments
Work Style & Expectations
- Strong ownership mindset and accountability for platform reliability
- Ability to operate independently across complex environments
- Structured and analytical approach to problem-solving and incident management
- Clear and effective communication across technical and business stakeholders
- Strong documentation skills for architecture, operations, and compliance
- Collaborative mindset across engineering, security, and governance teams
Description:
We are seeking a Senior Cloud Platform Engineer to design, build, and operate a secure, scalable cloud platform supporting ADAS data ingestion, processing, analytics, and validation workflows.
This role combines hands-on engineering with platform ownership across Azure infrastructure, Databricks, CI/CD pipelines, and operational tooling. The engineer will act as a key technical bridge across data engineering, backend, cybersecurity, privacy, and governance teams, ensuring the platform is secure-by-default, audit-ready, and aligned with data protection requirements such as GDPR, data residency, retention, and cross-border data constraints.
The position requires strong DevSecOps thinking, ownership mindset, and the ability to translate security, compliance, and operational requirements into practical engineering solutions.
Key Responsibilities
Cloud Infrastructure & Platform Engineering
- Design, implement, and operate Azure infrastructure across multiple subscriptions, regions, and environments
- Build and maintain networking components including VNets, subnets, NSGs, private endpoints, private DNS zones, route tables, and service endpoints
- Operate Azure services such as App Services, deployment slots, Container Registry, Storage, PostgreSQL Flexible Server, Key Vault, and Entra ID
- Develop and maintain reusable Terraform modules for infrastructure and data platform provisioning
- Enforce infrastructure-as-code standards including environment segregation, plan reviews, approval gates, drift detection, and state hygiene
Databricks & Data Platform
- Design and administer Databricks workspaces, Unity Catalog structures, clusters, cluster policies, SQL warehouses, and jobs
- Build and deploy scalable Spark-based data pipelines for ingestion and processing
- Manage identities, service principals, secret scopes, and Key Vault integrations
- Optimize platform performance, cost efficiency, and governance
- Support domain-driven and region-aware data products with consistent access control and governance
DevOps Ownership & Delivery
- Own Azure DevOps delivery processes end-to-end
- Design and maintain multi-stage YAML pipelines, service connections, environments, approvals, and branch policies
- Standardize release processes, deployment patterns, and code review practices
- Containerize applications using Docker and manage image lifecycle via private registries
- Improve deployment reliability, traceability, and recovery capabilities across environments
Security, Compliance & Privacy
- Design and operate secure-by-default platforms using least-privilege access, network isolation, and secure secret management
- Own identity and access management across Azure, Databricks, and Azure DevOps (RBAC, Entra ID, managed identities)
- Support security assessments, penetration testing, and audits by providing technical evidence and implementing remediation
- Manage service principal lifecycle, credential rotation, and secret governance
- Implement privacy-by-design principles including GDPR compliance, data minimization, retention, and residency requirements
- Translate security and compliance findings into actionable system improvements (IaC, policies, logging, encryption, backup, recovery)
Reliability & Operations
- Monitor, troubleshoot, and resolve infrastructure and platform incidents across cloud, data, and application layers
- Improve system performance, observability, and cost efficiency
- Implement best practices for scaling, lifecycle management, and resiliency
- Maintain operational documentation, runbooks, and post-incident reports
Collaboration & Technical Leadership
- Collaborate with ADAS, data engineering, backend, cybersecurity, and governance teams
- Contribute to architecture discussions and technical roadmaps
- Mentor team members on Terraform, Azure, Databricks, and DevSecOps practices
- Communicate technical risks and solutions clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Required Qualifications
Experience
- 5+ years of experience in cloud infrastructure, platform engineering, DevOps, or data platforms
- Hands-on ownership of Azure and Databricks environments across multiple environments and regions
- Experience in regulated, data-intensive environments with strong governance and compliance requirements
- Proven experience supporting audits, security assessments, and remediation activities
- Working knowledge of privacy and data protection frameworks (e.g., GDPR, data residency, retention policies)
Education
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience
Required Technical Skills
- Cloud (Azure): App Services, Container Registry, Key Vault, PostgreSQL, Storage, networking (VNets, NSGs, private endpoints), Entra ID, RBAC
- Infrastructure as Code: Terraform (modular design, environments, state management, providers)
- Data Platform: Databricks, Unity Catalog, Spark pipelines, SQL warehouses, access governance
- Programming: Python, SQL, Bash
- DevOps: Azure DevOps pipelines, YAML, branching strategy, service connections, CI/CD best practices
- Containers: Docker and container deployment patterns
- Security & Compliance: Identity management, secrets handling, vulnerability remediation, audit readiness
- Data Governance: Privacy-aware design, data classification, retention, residency compliance
- Version Control: Git workflows and code review practices
- Streaming Technologies: Kafka or similar
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Kubernetes / Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)
- Observability tools (Azure Monitor, Prometheus, OpenTelemetry, Log Analytics)
- Experience with policy-as-code, IaC scanning, and security posture management tools
- Familiarity with FinOps and Azure cost optimization practices
- Knowledge of compliance frameworks (ISO 27001, SOC 2, TISAX, NIST, CIS)
- Experience with enterprise-scale security and governance models
Scope of the Role
- Senior individual contributor role with strong technical ownership
- No direct personnel management; provides technical leadership and mentorship
- Operates across infrastructure, data platform, DevOps, and security domains
- Critical role in enabling secure, scalable, and compliant ADAS data platforms
- Works across global teams and multi-region cloud environments
Work Style & Expectations
- Strong ownership mindset and accountability for platform reliability
- Ability to operate independently across complex environments
- Structured and analytical approach to problem-solving and incident management
- Clear and effective communication across technical and business stakeholders
- Strong documentation skills for architecture, operations, and compliance
- Collaborative mindset across engineering, security, and governance teams
See All 79 Senior Cloud Platform Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsSenior Cloud Platform Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Senior Cloud Platform Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- NVIDIA7
- Adobe4
- Apple3
- Drata3
- Guidewire Software3
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software50
- Electronics & Hardware8
- Cybersecurity4
- Science & Research4
- Law & Legal Services3
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in senior cloud platform engineer jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a closely related technical field
- Extensive hands-on experience designing and operating Kubernetes and container orchestration platforms at scale
- Deep expertise across at least two major cloud providers such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud
- Proficiency with infrastructure-as-code tools including Terraform, Pulumi, or Ansible in production environments
- Strong background in CI/CD pipeline design using tools like GitHub Actions, ArgoCD, or Jenkins
- Experience implementing platform security controls, identity management, and compliance frameworks such as SOC 2 or FedRAMP
Senior Cloud Platform Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a senior cloud platform engineer in California?
The path to a senior cloud platform engineer role in California typically starts with a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or information systems, followed by several years building and operating cloud infrastructure. California employers at this level expect demonstrated expertise with Kubernetes, multi-cloud environments, and infrastructure automation. Certifications from AWS, Google Cloud, or the Cloud Native Computing Foundation carry real weight with hiring managers at California technology companies and enterprise firms. Most engineers move into senior roles after progressing through mid-level platform or DevOps positions at California-based cloud-intensive organizations.
How much do senior cloud platform engineers make in California?
Senior cloud platform engineers in California earn a median of about $174,410 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $105,060 for the lowest 10% to over $272,670 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire senior cloud platform engineers in California?
Employers hiring senior cloud platform engineers in California right now include NVIDIA, Adobe, and Apple, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's deep concentration of enterprise technology companies, hyperscalers, and cloud-native startups means demand for senior-level platform talent remains consistently high across both established firms and growth-stage organizations.
Which California cities have the most senior cloud platform engineer jobs?
San Francisco, San Jose, and Santa Clara have the most senior cloud platform engineer openings in California, reflecting where the state's technology sector is most dense. The San Francisco Bay Area leads because of the headquarters concentration of major cloud providers, enterprise software companies, and fintech firms that run substantial internal platform teams, while Los Angeles and San Diego draw hiring through their expanding cloud-native startup ecosystems, media technology operations, and defense and aerospace contractors.
Are there remote senior cloud platform engineer jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most engineering roles. About 34% of senior cloud platform engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting the highly portable nature of platform and infrastructure work. The parts of the role most commonly performed remotely include infrastructure-as-code development, CI/CD pipeline work, and architecture design, while on-site presence is sometimes required for regulated industries such as defense contractors or financial institutions with strict data handling requirements.
How can I get hired as a senior cloud platform engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a related infrastructure or DevOps role at a California technology company, then building toward platform engineering responsibilities over time. Large California employers like cloud-focused divisions at major Bay Area firms and Los Angeles technology companies regularly hire associate site reliability engineers, junior DevOps engineers, and cloud operations analysts as starting points. Earning a Google Cloud Associate Engineer or AWS Cloud Practitioner certification before applying gives candidates a concrete technical signal. Contributing to open-source Kubernetes or Terraform projects also builds the portfolio that California hiring managers look for when evaluating engineers without direct platform engineering titles.
Where can I find and apply to senior cloud platform engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to senior cloud platform engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Diego, and other markets throughout the state. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 79 Senior Cloud Platform Engineer Jobs in California
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