Director, Cloud & AI Infrastructure Operations

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in California.

📋 Description

• Deliver operational leadership and support for applications operating on Google Cloud Platform and Kubernetes/OpenShift.

• Continuously enhance knowledge of GCP services, networking frameworks, and secure architectural patterns.

• Assist teams in the design and implementation of secure GCP solutions.

• Spearhead the design and implementation of High Availability and Disaster Recovery infrastructure across Google Cloud and Ford data centers.

• Leverage LLM, RAG, MCP, and Agentic AI concepts to refine IT processes and promote automation.

• Encourage the secure use of AI-powered IDEs like Cursor and Claude within engineering teams.

• Create and implement secure, production-ready solutions utilizing Google AI services.

• Collaborate with security engineering to establish controls that safeguard AI architectures and agents.

• Integrate SAST, SCA, IaC, DAST, and API security testing into delivery pipelines.

• Ensure that cloud, container, and AI solutions comply with security, risk, and regulatory standards.

• Aim to reduce infrastructure and AI token/consumption costs.

• Develop and showcase operational, financial, and productivity metrics and dashboards.

• Work alongside application, infrastructure, security, architecture, vendor, and enterprise technology teams.

• Mentor technical talent and act as an escalation point for intricate infrastructure challenges.

• Represent Ford Credit's cloud and AI infrastructure strategy in leadership forums.

⛳️ Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related discipline (or equivalent experience).

• Generally, 10+ years of experience in cloud infrastructure/platform engineering.

• Significant hands-on experience with Google Cloud Platform.

• Experience in operating and supporting applications on Kubernetes and/or OpenShift.

• Proven ability in designing and implementing secure cloud architectures, including GCP networking, IAM, and security controls.

• Experience in crafting and deploying HA/DR solutions across hybrid cloud and on-premises settings.

• Familiarity with AI/ML infrastructure concepts such as LLM, RAG, MCP, and Agentic AI.

• Knowledge of AI-powered development tools like Cursor and Claude Code.

• Understanding of Google AI/ML platform services, including Gemini Enterprise, Vertex AI Search, Feature Store, and AI Runtime.

• Awareness of AI security concerns, including prompt injection, data leakage, and model/agent access control.

• Proficient in SAST, SCA, IaC, DAST, and API security scanning tools and practices.

• Strong experience in cross-functional collaboration.

• Ability to create business cases and present cost/benefit analyses to senior leadership.

• Leadership, communication, and people-management skills; experience in leading technical teams.

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

• Visa sponsorship is not available.

• Preferred: Google Cloud certifications; Kubernetes/OpenShift certifications; experience in financial services or regulated industries; knowledge of FinOps/cost optimization; experience in DevSecOps and CI/CD security scanning.

🏝️ Benefits

• Immediate coverage for medical, dental, vision, and prescription drugs.

• Flexible family care days.

• Paid parental leave.

• Programs to assist new parents with ramp-up.

• Subsidized backup childcare options.

• Family building benefits, including reimbursement for adoption and surrogacy expenses and fertility treatments.

• Vehicle discount program available for employees and their family members, along with management leases.

• Tuition assistance provided.

• Established and active employee resource groups.

• Paid time off for individual and team community service initiatives.

• Generous paid holiday schedule, including the week between Christmas and New Year's Day.

• Paid time off and an option to purchase additional vacation time.