General Summary
The Cloud Media Architect will lead the design and management of the cutting-edge cloud and on-premises infrastructure that drives LAIKA’s world-renowned stop-motion animation pipeline and business operations. This pivotal role blends technical expertise with creativity, collaborating closely with artists and technical teams to bring groundbreaking stories to life while shaping the future of the studio’s technological landscape. The architect will implement robust, large-scale Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) systems to support LAIKA’s high-demand workflows, from render farms to storage and workstation environments, ensuring the magic of stop-motion continues to push the boundaries of innovation. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Cloud & On-Premises Management: Manage and administer both virtualized and bare-metal server infrastructure across cloud environments (AWS, GCP, Azure) and on-premises data centers, ensuring the availability, security, and performance of the studio’s systems.  
• Performance Optimization and Security: Ensure the availability, security, and optimal performance of the studio’s cloud infrastructure. Continually monitor and optimize system performance to meet the evolving needs of creative and technical teams. Create advanced caching mechanisms to improve overall workflow performance.
• Automation & IaC: Develop Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) to automate the deployment and management of systems, software, and cloud resources using tools such as Terraform, Ansible, and custom scripts in Python, Go, or Shell.
• Cost Forecasting: Develop tools to forecast cloud expenditures and manage Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). 
• Troubleshooting and Support: Serve as the escalation point for diagnosing and resolving performance, reliability, and system issues in production environments. Maintain 24/7 reliability and uptime for critical infrastructure systems. 

Qualifications 

Experience: 

• 5+ years of experience in systems engineering and infrastructure design, particularly in cloud and on-premises environments.
• Expertise in cloud platforms, including AWS, GCP, and Azure. 

Technical Skills: 

• Expertise in Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC), with hands-on experience in languages and scripts like Python, Go, Shell, or Ruby, and knowledge of Terraform or similar tools.
• Extensive experience with various operating systems (Linux, MacOS, and Windows)
• Strong understanding of containerization technologies like Docker and Kubernetes (K8s). 

Media and Entertainment Experience: 

• Knowledge of media-focused storage solutions (e.g., Qumulo, Isilon, NetApp, Avid Nexis). Expertise in infrastructure as code with the ability to design, code, test and enhance scripts for automation and management of architecture services (e.g., Python, GO, Shell). 
• Familiarity with VFX tools (e.g., Maya, Houdini, Katana) and post-production applications (e.g., Avid, Resolve). 

Methodologies and Tools: 

• Experience with Agile methodologies (Kanban, Scrum) and remote work technologies (e.g., PCoIP, Parsec). 

Physical Demands and Work Environment
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to walk; stand; sit; use hands to operate standard office equipment; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk or hear both in person and by telephone. The employee must lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee works under typical office conditions and is exposed to variable indoor temperatures. The noise level is usually quiet or moderate.  

Location 
On-site in Hillsboro, OR and also eligible for hybrid or remote work in Oregon, California and/or Washington.

Salary 
Salary is commensurate with skills and experience.

Disclaimer
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

Please review our EMPLOYMENT DISCLAIMER and MATERIALS SUBMISSION AGREEMENT.