Lead FinOps Engineer - Cloud Cost Optimization

Job Title: Lead FinOps EngineerLocation: Bengaluru, Kochi, TrivandrumExperience: 6-10 yearsAbout The Company:Our client is a leading global enterprise software product company that develops mission-critical SaaS solutions for the aviation, travel, transportation, hospitality, and logistics industries. With customers across multiple countries, the organization is known for its cloud-first approach, large-scale digital transformation initiatives, and strong focus on innovation. They operate complex multi-cloud environments and are investing heavily in FinOps, cloud governance, automation, and cost optimization to maximize business value from cloud investments.Role Summary:The organization is looking for an experienced Lead FinOps Engineer who can lead cloud cost optimization initiatives, improve cloud governance, automate cost management processes, and collaborate with engineering, finance, and business teams to ensure efficient cloud spending across multi-cloud environments.Key Responsibilities:Cloud Cost Optimization:- Lead cloud cost optimization initiatives across AWS, Azure, and GCP environments.- Identify, prioritize, and drive implementation of cost-saving opportunities across compute, storage, databases, networking, Kubernetes, and managed services.- Analyze cloud usage patterns and recommend rightsizing, scheduling, and architectural optimization opportunities.- Track, validate, and report realized savings from optimization initiatives.- Partner with extended Cloud Engineering, Product, and Customer Success teams to ensure cost optimization opportunities are identified, implemented, and sustained.Cloud Cost Visibility & Reporting:- Develop and maintain cloud cost dashboards, reports, and analytics.- Provide visibility into cloud spend trends, resource utilization, cost allocation, and optimization opportunities.- Support cost attribution across products, customers, and cloud platforms.- Investigate cloud spend anomalies and collaborate with Product, Customer Success and Cloud teams to identify root causes and corrective actions.- Deliver actionable insights that enable teams to make informed cloud consumption decisions.Cost Allocation & Governance:- Define, implement, and enforce cloud tagging standards and governance controls.- Support showback and chargeback models to improve cloud cost accountability.- Monitor compliance with FinOps policies, standards, and governance requirements.- Partner with Cloud Governance teams to establish best practices and operational controls.Automation & Analytics:- Build and maintain automation for identifying idle resources, rightsizing opportunities, orphaned assets, and optimization recommendations.- Develop scripts, workflows, and integrations using cloud APIs, Infrastructure-as-Code tools, and automation frameworks.- Automate anomaly detection, cost reporting, and optimization workflows.- Improve cloud cost management capabilities through self-service tools and automated recommendations.Stakeholder Collaboration:- Partner with Product, Finance, Customer Success, and Leadership teams to drive cloud cost accountability.- Facilitate cloud cost reviews, optimization workshops, and governance discussions.- Present cloud cost insights, optimization opportunities, and recommendations to technical and non-technical stakeholders.- Promote FinOps awareness and best practices across the teams.FinOps Program Development:- Contribute to the organization's FinOps maturity journey across Inform, Optimize, and Operate phases.- Develop and maintain FinOps playbooks, standards, KPIs, and operational procedures.- Promote a culture of cloud cost ownership and accountability.- Stay current with cloud pricing models, FinOps methodologies, and industry best practices.Required Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related discipline.- 7+ years of experience in Cloud Engineering, Cloud Operations, Platform Engineering, Cloud Governance, FinOps, or related domains.- Minimum 3 years of hands-on experience in cloud cost optimization and FinOps practices.- Strong knowledge of AWS services, pricing models, billing constructs, and cost optimization techniques.- Experience with Azure and/or GCP cost management and governance practices (Optional).- Proven experience delivering measurable cloud cost optimization outcomes.- Strong understanding of cloud cost allocation, tagging strategies, and governance frameworks.- Experience working with cloud cost management platforms such as CloudHealth, Cloudability, Apptio, CloudZero, Astuto OneLens or similar tools.- Hands-on experience with SQL, Power BI, Tableau, or other reporting and analytics tools.- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret large datasets.- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.Preferred Qualifications:- FinOps Certified Practitioner (FOCP) or equivalent FinOps certification.- AWS, Azure, or GCP cloud certifications.- Experience managing multi-cloud environments.- Hands-on experience with Terraform, Python, Cloud Custodian, or similar automation frameworks.- Experience with Kubernetes cost optimization and container cost management.- Familiarity with ServiceNow and IT Financial Management (ITFM) processes.- Experience in SaaS or enterprise software organizations.- Knowledge of customer-level cost allocation and hosting cost management.Success Metrics:- Achievement of cloud optimization and savings objectives.- Increased cloud cost visibility and allocation accuracy.- Improved tagging compliance and governance maturity.- Reduction in cloud waste and optimization backlog.- Increased adoption of FinOps best practices across engineering teams.- Successful automation of cloud cost management processes.- Delivery of actionable insights that drive measurable cloud cost improvements. (ref:hirist.tech)