Principal Consultant - Cloud & Engineering

Founded in Switzerland in 1968, Zühlke is a global transformation partner with engineering and innovation at its core.

Role Summary

Principal Consultant – Cloud & Engineering. Provide senior technical and engineering leadership across complex client engagements, shaping cloud adoption, optimisation and migration strategies that support business goals.

Responsibilities

• Lead client-facing engagements, solving complex problems and turning strategic intent into high‑quality outcomes.
• Act as a trusted advisor, helping clients understand how cloud, data and AI capabilities can support strategy and improve products, services and operations.
• Facilitate discovery and design sessions, technical workshops, architecture reviews, proof‑of‑concept projects and evaluations of new technologies and vendors.
• Develop a compelling vision for technology transformation, cloud optimisation and migration journeys.
• Guide and de‑risk programmes and projects, promoting iterative delivery and incremental value.
• Provide technical leadership to cross‑functional teams prototyping platforms, services and products across diverse technology environments.
• Define functional and non‑functional requirements, ensuring solutions address performance, capacity, scalability, availability, security, manageability, sustainability and operational needs.
• Make pragmatic technology decisions, explain trade‑offs and value to technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Improve engineering effectiveness, delivery practices, automation, DevSecOps and Infrastructure as Code.
• Collaborate with software engineering, platform engineering, data, AI, security, operations, product, delivery and finance teams.
• Provide guidance on privacy, information security, resilience, responsible AI and regulatory considerations.
• Apply expertise across applications, platforms, infrastructure, data, integration, identity and observability.
• Stay up‑to‑date with developments in cloud, data engineering, analytics, Generative AI, foundation models and responsible AI practices.
• Manage and mentor colleagues, fostering technical, consulting and leadership growth through coaching, feedback and career support.

Qualifications

• Clear understanding of business value and a focus on delivering that value transparently.
• Confident decision‑making and the ability to explain technical choices and implications.
• Experience as a Principal or Lead Cloud Architect, Technical Architect or Engineering Leader across multiple programmes and projects.
• Strong experience designing and delivering cloud solutions with modern engineering practices.
• Experience working across complex, distributed or changing technology environments.
• Understanding of how software, platforms, data and AI capabilities work together to deliver business value.
• Strong software and engineering judgement across applications, platforms, infrastructure, data and cloud services.
• Direct experience with delivery teams, prototyping, technical problem‑solving or hands‑on guidance.
• Experience in fast‑paced, Agile, delivery‑oriented environments focused on quality and a “show by doing” approach.
• Experience mentoring and developing colleagues through feedback, coaching and career support.
• Open, proactive and adaptable mindset, responding constructively to change and learning from experience.
• Experience in consulting, presales, proposals or bid management is a differentiator.

Benefits

• Work‑life blend: safe & healthy workplace, flexible working hours and the possibility to work from home.
• Profit‑share scheme in addition to annual salary, based on company performance.
• Access to a global and diverse community with learning opportunities and inclusive culture.
• Commitment to professional development and investment in skill building.

Equal Opportunity Employment

We welcome people from all backgrounds, regardless of gender, personality, national origin, race, religion, colour, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, disability or veteran status.