Azure Cloud Cost Optimization SME

Role: Cloud Cost Optimization SME (FinOps + Platform Governance)

Enterprise-scale Data Platforms

• Databricks (Dev / QA / Prod)
• Snowflake (Warehouses, workloads, cost attribution)
• Azure / AWS Cloud ecosystem
• Strong focus on cost governance, security, and operational efficiency

Why We Are Hiring (Business Need)

We are executing a large-scale cloud cost optimization and governance initiative across Databricks and Snowflake platforms.

Key challenges we are solving:

• Rapidly increasing cloud spends without clear ownership
• Over-provisioned compute (clusters, warehouses)
• Inefficient workload patterns and lack of guardrails
• Limited cost visibility and accountability
• Security and governance gaps due to uncontrolled access

We need a Cloud Cost Optimization SME who can own the problem end-to-end from defining strategy to driving execution and measurable savings.

Role Summary

The Cloud Cost Optimization SME will:

• Define and own the cost optimization strategy
• Establish clear cost reduction goals and KPIs
• Lead execution across Databricks & Snowflake
• Implement FinOps best practices
• Partner with Engineering, Ops, Security, and Leadership
• Build governance frameworks (cost + security)

This is a hands-on leadership role, not just advisory.

Key Responsibilities

Cost Optimization Strategy & Ownership

• Define cost optimization vision, roadmap, and scope
• Identify high-impact optimization opportunities
• Translate business goals into measurable savings targets
• Drive cost optimization as a continuous program, not one-time effort

Databricks Cost Optimization (Mandatory)

• Optimize:
• All-purpose clusters
• Job clusters
• Autoscaling & instance selection
• Implement:
• Cluster policies
• Photon strategy
• Auto-termination
• Right-sizing based on usage patterns
• Analyze:
• Compute utilization
• Memory/CPU usage
• Job runtime inefficiencies
• Build Databricks cost dashboards (DBU, cluster, job-level)

Snowflake Cost Optimization (Mandatory)

• Warehouse right-sizing and consolidation
• Auto-suspend / auto-resume optimization
• Query performance tuning (credits optimization)
• Eliminate idle / under-utilized warehouses
• Role-based cost attribution
• Usage and consumption analytics

FinOps & Cost Governance

• Establish FinOps operating model
• Define:
• Cost ownership
• Budget controls
• Cost accountability
• Create:
• Cost attribution models
• Monthly cost review cadence
• Savings tracking mechanisms
• Partner with Finance for forecast vs actuals

Cloud Security & Policy Definition

• Define governance policies across:
• Access control (RBAC)
• Resource usage
• Admin privileges
• Implement:
• Platform guardrails
• Security policies aligned with cost controls
• Work closely with Security teams to ensure cost security risk

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Lead a cross-functional optimization team
• Work with:
• Platform teams
• Data engineers
• Ops & SRE
• Security
• Finance
• Communicate progress to leadership using metrics and dashboards
• Drive adoption and behavior change across teams

Must-Have

• 812+ years overall experience
• Strong hands-on experience with:
• Databricks cost optimization
• Snowflake cost optimization
• Proven experience in FinOps / cloud cost governance
• Experience defining and enforcing cloud security & governance policies
• Ability to lead and influence without authority
• Strong data-driven mindset
• Azure cloud financial management
• FinOps certification
• Experience working with enterprise clients
• Exposure to large-scale production environments