Lead Data Engineer

Lead Data Engineer – Cloud Optimization & FinOps
Location: Remote (Americas)

About Virtasant
Virtasant is a global leader in cloud cost optimization and technology services. We help organizations harness the full potential of the cloud while minimizing costs, improving performance, and embedding AI-driven automation into everything we build. Our clients include Fortune 500 companies and fast-scaling startups, and we operate as a fully remote, globally distributed team.

About the Role
We are seeking a Lead Data Engineer with deep technical and problem solving acumen to join our internal team focused on driving cloud cost optimization and operational excellence across Virtasant. In this high-impact role, you’ll work across engineering, product, and executive teams to uncover cost-saving opportunities, influence decision-making, and ensure cloud resources are used efficiently at scale.

This role combines advanced data analysis, strong stakeholder engagement, and deep cloud infrastructure knowledge - perfect for someone who can bridge financial, technical, and operational domains.

Key Responsibilities

• Cloud Cost Analysis & Insight Generation
  Analyze large-scale datasets from AWS, Kubernetes, and other cloud platforms using Python, SQL, PySpark, and Jupyter Notebooks to uncover cost trends, inefficiencies, and optimization opportunities.

• Rightsizing & Optimization Execution
  Proactively identify rightsizing opportunities (compute, storage, etc.) and partner with engineering teams to execute recommendations and realize savings.

• Reporting & Communication
  Build impactful dashboards, reports, and documents that clearly explain findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders, including engineers, PMs, and execs.

• Influence & Stakeholder Management
  Present complex analysis in a way that drives change - even in cases of resistance or scrutiny. Persuasively advocate for cost-saving actions and influence outcomes.

• Continuous Improvement & Thought Leadership
  Stay current on cloud provider changes, pricing models, FinOps tooling, and best practices. Bring fresh ideas and improvements to Virtasant’s internal cloud operations.

• Initiative & Ownership
  Take ownership of new work streams, identify areas of opportunity, and independently execute high-impact work without constant oversight.

Required Qualifications

Technical Expertise

• Proficient in Python, SQL, PySpark and Trino for data wrangling and analysis.

• Hands-on experience with AWS cost tools, services, and billing data (CUR, Savings Plans, RI management).

• Familiarity with Kubernetes and cost optimization tooling.

• Experience using Jupyter Notebooks for interactive analysis and sharing insights.

Analytical & Communication Strength

• Proven track record in analyzing cloud cost data and surfacing actionable insights.

• Clear, concise communicator - especially when presenting complex data in writing or presentations.

• Comfortable writing internal documents that drive alignment and action across technical teams.

Influence & Resilience

• Strong stakeholder management skills - can handle skepticism, pushback, or disagreement while still guiding decisions.

• Confidence in presenting analysis to engineering leaders, product teams, and execs.

Proactive & Autonomous

• Self-directed and highly motivated. You don’t wait for work to be assigned - you find the next most important thing and make progress.

Why Join Virtasant?

• Work with a mission-driven company that’s leading the future of cloud optimization.

• Be part of a fully remote, global team of smart, kind, and driven people.

• Have a direct impact on how we run and scale our own business.

• Shape and improve our internal cost optimization practices using cutting-edge tools and techniques.