Cloud FinOps SME

Requirement/Must Have:

• Strong understanding of public cloud services and pricing models such as AWS and Azure.
• Experience working with data platforms such as Databricks, Apache Spark, or large-scale analytics environments.
• Experience developing cost analytics, forecasting models, and financial reporting dashboards.
• Knowledge of cloud cost optimization techniques including rightsizing, autoscaling, workload scheduling, and reserved capacity planning.
• Experience implementing cost allocation models and tagging strategies for cloud resource tracking.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate cloud usage data into financial insights and optimization recommendations.
• Experience collaborating with engineering, finance, and product teams in a cross-functional environment.
• Experience using data analysis tools such as SQL, Python, or BI platforms for reporting and analytics.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to present insights to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Experience in cloud cost management, FinOps, platform operations, or technical program management.

• Monitor, analyze, and optimize cloud spending across Databricks workloads and cloud services.
• Develop and maintain cloud cost visibility dashboards and usage analytics to provide transparency into platform consumption and spending.
• Partner with Data Engineering, Platform Engineering, and Product teams to implement cost-efficient cloud architecture and workload strategies.
• Implement and manage cost allocation frameworks such as tagging, workspace mapping, business units, and product mapping to track unit economics.
• Develop and maintain cloud consumption forecasting models and support budgeting and financial planning cycles.
• Establish and promote FinOps governance policies and best practices including cluster usage guidelines, autoscaling, instance optimization, and idle resource management.
• Identify and drive cost optimization initiatives such as cluster right-sizing, workload scheduling, storage lifecycle policies, and reserved capacity planning.
• Collaborate with Finance teams to support showback and chargeback reporting and improve cost accountability across engineering teams.
• Analyze platform utilization patterns and recommend improvements to cluster configurations, job orchestration, and resource usage.
• Work with cloud service providers on demand planning, reserved instances, savings plans, and capacity reservations.
• Identify opportunities for automation and process improvement in cloud cost management and reporting.
• Track and report FinOps KPIs, optimization initiatives, and realized savings.

• FinOps Certified Practitioner certification.
• Experience working with Databricks cost optimization and cluster management.
• Familiarity with cloud cost management tools such as CloudHealth, Cloudability, or native cloud cost management platforms.
• Experience building cost dashboards using BI tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or Looker.
• Knowledge of enterprise data platform architecture.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent communication and cross-team collaboration skills.
• Ability to influence engineering teams toward cost-efficient design and operational practices.
• Proactive and self-driven mindset with strong ownership.
• Organized with strong attention to detail and documentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Relevant education or equivalent professional experience in a related field.