Cloud Infrastructure Engineer

The Cloud Infrastructure Engineer at Apify plays a vital role in enhancing our scalable cloud architecture. This includes identifying system bottlenecks, optimizing performance, and improving the developer experience within our web automation platform. You’ll be working on both infrastructure improvements and automation processes, all while utilizing a robust tech stack that includes AWS and Kubernetes.

To be a successful Cloud Infrastructure Engineer at Apify, candidates should possess solid experience with Linux and networking, as well as a proven track record in building infrastructures on AWS. Familiarity with container technologies like Docker and Kubernetes is essential, along with a strong focus on infrastructure as code, using tools like CloudFormation and Terraform.

At Apify, Cloud Infrastructure Engineers utilize a broad tech stack to perform their duties effectively. This includes AWS for cloud services, Kubernetes for orchestration, and a variety of monitoring tools like New Relic and Sentry. Engineers also engage with version control and project management tools, such as GitHub and ZenHub, to ensure smooth collaboration.

The work environment at Apify is designed to foster creativity and personal growth. As a Cloud Infrastructure Engineer, you'll enjoy flexible working hours, options for remote work, and the freedom to manage your workload without stringent oversight. Moreover, the office is pet-friendly and offers many exciting team-building events to encourage collaboration and camaraderie.

Apify actively promotes professional development for its Cloud Infrastructure Engineers by providing a generous training budget and opportunities to attend conferences. This commitment to continuous learning also includes internal 'Eat & Learn' sessions where team members can share knowledge across departments, enhancing overall skill sets.

When answering this question, detail specific projects where you've used AWS services. Include examples of how you built, deployed, or managed cloud infrastructure using AWS. Mention any particular AWS services you're proficient with, like EC2, S3, or Lambda, and discuss any challenges faced and how you overcame them.

Outline a systematic approach to identifying performance issues. You might explain using monitoring tools like New Relic or Prometheus to gather metrics, analyzing logs, and hypothesizing potential causes of the bottlenecks. Emphasize your ability to carry out experiments and adjustments based on data analysis.

Discuss how you've implemented IaC in previous projects, highlighting the tools you used, such as Terraform or CloudFormation. Explain the benefits of IaC, such as version control, consistency in deployments, and ease of collaboration. Be sure to share specific outcomes or efficiencies gained through the use of IaC.

Give a detailed example of a project where you used Kubernetes to orchestrate containers. Discuss your role, the goals of the project, how you handled deployment, scaling, and monitoring, and the end results. Highlight any challenges faced and how you resolved them to ensure project success.

Show your commitment to continuous learning by discussing the resources you utilize, such as blogs, forums, courses, and community meetups. Mention specific thought leaders or communities you follow and how you implement new ideas or tools into your work at Apify.

Emphasize the importance of observability for maintaining system health and performance. Explain how observability metrics help in identifying issues proactively and improving user experience. Use examples of specific tools you've used, such as Grafana or Sentry, and describe how they enhanced transparency in deployed applications.

Be honest about specific challenges, such as managing service outages, dealing with security concerns, or ensuring compliance with regulations. Discuss how you addressed these challenges, what strategies you implemented, and the lessons learned that improved your future automation initiatives.

Talk about the methods you use to ensure alignment with development teams, such as regular meetings, shared repositories, and collaborative tools like GitHub. Highlight the value of effective communication and how it contributes to smoother, faster deployment cycles at Apify.

Explain your ability to manage your time and tasks by discussing a prioritization framework you use (like the Eisenhower Box or MoSCoW method). Share how you assess the urgency and importance of each task, and provide an example where your prioritization led to meeting a crucial project deadline.

Discuss the best practices you adhere to for cloud security, including regular security audits, compliance checks, and using tools for vulnerability scanning. Elaborate on how you collaborate with other teams to ensure security policies are integrated from development to deployment in the infrastructure.