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 73+ Senior Cloud Platform Engineer jobs
SUMMARY/JOB PURPOSE (Basic purpose of the job):
The Senior Staff Engineer – Cloud Platform will support the design and creation of cloud-based products and services to meet the technology needs of Exelixis. This position will help define and design our cloud platform, which includes cloud automation tools and standards, CI/CD pipelines, DevOps tooling and AWS account provisioning automation. This position will also work with application support teams to re-define the interface between our cloud platform products and application installation and configuration processes.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
Product Strategy & Product Road Map:
- Develop technical solutions to complex problems which require the regular use of ingenuity and creativity.
- Understands key business processes and business areas.
Product Development & Delivery:
- Guides the successful completion of major initiatives or programs and lead mid to large size complex projects.
- Lead end-to-end development processes, from ideation through CI/CD, security scanning, and production monitoring.
- Identify and implement improvements to overall processes and development procedures.
- Develops and applies complex and often long-term strategies on specific projects.
- Represents the department as the prime technical contact on contracts and projects.
- Exhibits broad knowledge of state-of-the-art engineering principles and theories.
Stakeholder Management & Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Translates overall direction and strategy and communicates across organizational levels and functions.
- Works on strategic initiatives.
- Interacts with senior external personnel on significant technical matters often requiring coordination between organizations.
Operational Excellence, Quality & Compliance:
- Document infrastructure and work instructions for systems and applications, including architecture diagrams, runbooks and code-level commits / READMEs.
- Lead and own incident response and root cause analysis for high-impact issues.
- Ensure that completed work delivers long-term value, including the aspects of maintainability, performance and observability.
- Make decisions regarding access, permissions, and security controls across systems.
Subject Matter Expertise:
- Serve as the SME for assigned capabilities, providing technical leadership and guidance.
- Mentor and coach junior engineers, fostering technical growth and best practices.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
No supervisory responsibilities.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:
Education:
- Master's degree in a relevant field and 7 years of experience; or
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and 9 years of related experience; or
- Associate degree and 11 years of experience; or
- Equivalent combination of education or years of experience
- Technical certification may be required
Experience:
- At least 7 years of experience in cloud infrastructure in a highly available and production environment.
- Experience working in a SOX and FDA regulated environment is a plus.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Advanced level knowledge of Amazon Web Services (AWS), especially with services related to hosting: EC2, RDS, Systems Manager, IAM, etc.
- Advanced level knowledge with infrastructure as code (IaC) tools, especially Terraform.
- Intermediate level knowledge with cloud and infrastructure automation.
Work Environment/Physical Demands:
Our office is a modern, open-plan space that fosters collaboration and creativity. Teams work closely together, sharing ideas and solutions in a supportive atmosphere. We provide all necessary equipment, including dual monitors and ergonomic chairs, to ensure a comfortable workspace.
This position will require minimal travel.
DISCLAIMER
The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.
Location: Alameda, CA Range for this position: $190,000 - $239,500 The base pay offered will take into account job-related knowledge, skills, experience and internal equity, among other factors. In addition to the base salary, as part of our Total Rewards program, Exelixis offers comprehensive employee benefits package, including a 401k plan with generous company contributions, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts. Employees are also eligible for a discretionary annual bonus program, or if field sales staff, a sales-based incentive plan. Exelixis also offers employees the opportunity to purchase company stock, and receive long-term incentives, 15 accrued vacation days in their first year, 17 paid holidays including a company-wide winter shutdown in December, and up to 10 sick days throughout the calendar year.Exelixis is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including lactation, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, age (40 and over), national origin or ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), veteran status, uniformed servicemember status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities, unless undue hardship and/or a direct threat to the health and/or safety of the individual or others would result.
If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the recruiting process, please email us at: ApplicantAccommodations@exelixis.com.
Exelixis is an E-Verify employer.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Our office is a modern space that fosters collaboration and creativity. Teams work closely together, sharing ideas and solutions in a supportive atmosphere. We provide all necessary equipment, including dual monitors and ergonomic chairs, to ensure a comfortable workspace.
DISCLAIMER:
The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.
SUMMARY/JOB PURPOSE (Basic purpose of the job):
The Senior Staff Engineer – Cloud Platform will support the design and creation of cloud-based products and services to meet the technology needs of Exelixis. This position will help define and design our cloud platform, which includes cloud automation tools and standards, CI/CD pipelines, DevOps tooling and AWS account provisioning automation. This position will also work with application support teams to re-define the interface between our cloud platform products and application installation and configuration processes.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
Product Strategy & Product Road Map:
- Develop technical solutions to complex problems which require the regular use of ingenuity and creativity.
- Understands key business processes and business areas.
Product Development & Delivery:
- Guides the successful completion of major initiatives or programs and lead mid to large size complex projects.
- Lead end-to-end development processes, from ideation through CI/CD, security scanning, and production monitoring.
- Identify and implement improvements to overall processes and development procedures.
- Develops and applies complex and often long-term strategies on specific projects.
- Represents the department as the prime technical contact on contracts and projects.
- Exhibits broad knowledge of state-of-the-art engineering principles and theories.
Stakeholder Management & Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Translates overall direction and strategy and communicates across organizational levels and functions.
- Works on strategic initiatives.
- Interacts with senior external personnel on significant technical matters often requiring coordination between organizations.
Operational Excellence, Quality & Compliance:
- Document infrastructure and work instructions for systems and applications, including architecture diagrams, runbooks and code-level commits / READMEs.
- Lead and own incident response and root cause analysis for high-impact issues.
- Ensure that completed work delivers long-term value, including the aspects of maintainability, performance and observability.
- Make decisions regarding access, permissions, and security controls across systems.
Subject Matter Expertise:
- Serve as the SME for assigned capabilities, providing technical leadership and guidance.
- Mentor and coach junior engineers, fostering technical growth and best practices.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
No supervisory responsibilities.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:
Education:
- Master's degree in a relevant field and 7 years of experience; or
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and 9 years of related experience; or
- Associate degree and 11 years of experience; or
- Equivalent combination of education or years of experience
- Technical certification may be required
Experience:
- At least 7 years of experience in cloud infrastructure in a highly available and production environment.
- Experience working in a SOX and FDA regulated environment is a plus.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Advanced level knowledge of Amazon Web Services (AWS), especially with services related to hosting: EC2, RDS, Systems Manager, IAM, etc.
- Advanced level knowledge with infrastructure as code (IaC) tools, especially Terraform.
- Intermediate level knowledge with cloud and infrastructure automation.
Work Environment/Physical Demands:
Our office is a modern, open-plan space that fosters collaboration and creativity. Teams work closely together, sharing ideas and solutions in a supportive atmosphere. We provide all necessary equipment, including dual monitors and ergonomic chairs, to ensure a comfortable workspace.
This position will require minimal travel.
DISCLAIMER
The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.
Location: Alameda, CA Range for this position: $190,000 - $239,500 The base pay offered will take into account job-related knowledge, skills, experience and internal equity, among other factors. In addition to the base salary, as part of our Total Rewards program, Exelixis offers comprehensive employee benefits package, including a 401k plan with generous company contributions, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts. Employees are also eligible for a discretionary annual bonus program, or if field sales staff, a sales-based incentive plan. Exelixis also offers employees the opportunity to purchase company stock, and receive long-term incentives, 15 accrued vacation days in their first year, 17 paid holidays including a company-wide winter shutdown in December, and up to 10 sick days throughout the calendar year.Exelixis is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including lactation, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, age (40 and over), national origin or ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), veteran status, uniformed servicemember status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities, unless undue hardship and/or a direct threat to the health and/or safety of the individual or others would result.
If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the recruiting process, please email us at: ApplicantAccommodations@exelixis.com.
Exelixis is an E-Verify employer.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Our office is a modern space that fosters collaboration and creativity. Teams work closely together, sharing ideas and solutions in a supportive atmosphere. We provide all necessary equipment, including dual monitors and ergonomic chairs, to ensure a comfortable workspace.
DISCLAIMER:
The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.
See All 73 Senior Cloud Platform Engineer Jobs in California
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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
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Manufacturing
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 Google, ByteDance, and NVIDIA, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 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 Sunnyvale 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 63% of senior cloud platform engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 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 73 Senior Cloud Platform Engineer Jobs in California
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