Technical Program Manager, Cloud Cost Management (Elastic Search Technology)

N-iX is a global software development service company that helps businesses across the globe create next-generation software products. Founded in 2002, we unite 2,400+ tech-savvy professionals across 40+ countries, working on impactful projects for industry leaders and Fortune 500 companies. Our expertise spans cloud, data, AI/ML, embedded software, IoT, and more, driving digital transformation across finance, manufacturing, telecom, healthcare, and other industries. Join N-iX and become part of a team where your ideas make a real impact.

Client Overview:
The client is a leading company in digital transaction management and e-signature solutions, helping organizations streamline agreements and accelerate business processes through secure, scalable, and user-friendly platforms.

Currently we are looking for Technical Program Manager, Cloud Cost Management (Elastic Search Technology) to join the team and be able to work within PST (Pacific Standard Time) or 14:00 - 22:00 / 15:00 - 23:00 CET

Project Overview:
The project focuses on optimizing cloud infrastructure costs and improving financial efficiency across Engineering Business Services. The role involves leading cloud migration initiatives, implementing cost-management frameworks, and optimizing Elastic Search clusters and other workloads in Azure. The goal is to drive operational excellence, enforce governance and automation, and ensure cost-effective, reliable, and scalable cloud solutions while supporting strategic organizational priorities.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Financial Planning & Budgeting:

• Develop and manage the annual operating budget and multi-year financial plans for Engineering Business Services, driving down total spend

• Align divisional budgets to organizational priorities and strategic goals

• Provide detailed variance analysis, trend reporting, risk identification, and actionable insights.

2. Cloud Migration & Optimization Strategy:

• Support strategic initiatives including the transition from on-premises data centers to Azure Cloud

• Design and implement cost-optimization frameworks for cloud workloads, including Elastic Search clusters

• Establish and standardize processes for evaluating investment requests, ROI assessments, and ongoing governance.

3. Azure Cost Management & Engineering Excellence:

• Rightsize & Clean Up: continuously downsize underutilized VMs/VMSS; remove unattached disks, NICs, IPs, snapshots; schedule non-prod shutdowns

• Commitments & Pricing: manage Azure Reservations vs. Savings Plans, track coverage/utilization, enable Azure Hybrid Benefit, and leverage Spot VMs

• AKS/Containers: tune requests/limits, enable HPA/KEDA, use spot node pools, right-size node types, cache images, optimize registry egress

• PaaS/Serverless Shift: migrate suitable workloads to App Service, Functions, or Container Apps; adopt burstable SKUs and ephemeral OS disks

• Storage & Database: apply lifecycle rules (Hot→Cool→Archive), reduce Premium tiers, prune snapshots, enable compression; implement SQL serverless/elastic pools and Cosmos autoscale + TTL

• Network & Egress: co-locate services, configure Private Endpoints, minimize cross-region traffic; optimize NAT gateways, load balancers, and CDN usage.

4. Elastic Search Cost Management:

• Analyze Elastic Search cluster usage and costs; right-size data and master nodes

• Implement index lifecycle management (ILM) to tier data (hot, warm, cold, frozen)

• Automate snapshots and retention policies; leverage managed offerings or serverless search where suitable

• Monitor query and indexing performance to balance TCO and SLAs.

5. Automation & Guardrails:

• Define policy-as-code (Terraform/Bicep) to enforce tagging, naming, and cost controls

• Build KQL detectors for idle CPU/RAM/IOPS or under-utilized RI/SP coverage and implement auto-remediation (shutdowns, tag fixes, snapshot expiry)

• Integrate Azure Advisor recommendations into the backlog and enable automated enforcement.

6. Licensing & Marketplace Spend: Map workloads to Azure Hybrid Benefit or BYOL; identify and prune unnecessary third-party marketplace licenses.

7. Reliability vs. Cost: Ensure backup/replication strategies align to actual RPO/RTO and compliance requirements without overspending.

8. Collaboration & Mentorship:

• Partner with engineering, finance, product, and strategic sourcing teams (2–3 analysts) to negotiate contract extensions and drive down operating costs

• Mentor and coach junior team members on cost management best practices and financial discipline.

9. Analysis & Reporting:

• Summarize complex findings into executive-level presentations, dashboards, and project plans

• Conduct industry benchmark research to inform competitive advantage

• Track and report regular progress against “big bets,” strategic initiatives, and organizational goals.

Deliverables will include validated financial models, cost-optimization playbooks, operational dashboards, Elastic Search cluster cost reports, and senior leadership briefings.

Requirements:

• Proven experience as a Technical Program Manager in cloud cost management or a related field

• Hands-on experience with Azure Cloud, AKS, PaaS, serverless, and storage/database optimization

• Expertise in Elastic Search cluster management and cost optimization

• Strong knowledge of cloud financial planning, budgeting, and cost governance

• Experience with automation tools such as Terraform/Bicep and KQL monitoring

• Familiarity with Azure Advisor, Reservations, Savings Plans, Spot VMs, and Azure Hybrid Benefit

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and presentation skills

• Strong collaboration and mentorship abilities; experience working with cross-functional teams

• Ability to translate complex technical and financial data into actionable insights.

We offer*:

• Flexible working format - remote, office-based or flexible

• A competitive salary and good compensation package

• Personalized career growth

• Professional development tools (mentorship program, tech talks and trainings, centers of excellence, and more)

• Active tech communities with regular knowledge sharing

• Education reimbursement

• Memorable anniversary presents

• Corporate events and team buildings

• Other location-specific benefits

*not applicable for freelancers