FinOps Program Manager

About the Role

The FinOps team at Plaid operates at the intersection of engineering, product, and finance, ensuring that spending decisions are aligned with product strategy and business priorities. This role is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about driving business growth and optimizing spend in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

As a FinOps Program Manager at Plaid, you will be working closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering, product, and finance. You will be responsible for building and maintaining forecasts, identifying trends and anomalies, and developing strategies to optimize spend. You will also be partnering with engineering teams to incorporate cost considerations into roadmaps, architectural decisions, and execution plans.

What You Will Do

• Monitor and analyze engineering spend across cloud, AI/ML, data platforms, and SaaS, identifying trends, anomalies, and optimization opportunities
• Build and maintain forecasts for engineering spend, partnering with finance and engineering leaders to understand drivers, assumptions, and risks
• Partner with engineering, product, and TPMs to incorporate cost considerations into roadmaps, architectural decisions, and execution plans
• Lead cost optimization initiatives, such as rightsizing, commitment strategies, and workload efficiency improvements, in collaboration with engineering owners
• Create and maintain dashboards and reporting that make spend understandable and actionable for both engineers and executives
• Implement FinOps practices and processes, including showback/chargeback models, unit economics, and cost ownership frameworks
• Partner on tooling and automation, working with data and engineering teams to improve cost visibility, forecasting accuracy, and operational efficiency
• Drive alignment and behavior change, helping teams balance cost, performance, reliability, and velocity through data-driven decision making

What We Are Looking For

• 6-10+ years of relevant experience working at the intersection of engineering, infrastructure, data, or finance in a cloud-native or SaaS environment
• Proven experience partnering closely with engineering teams to influence decisions involving cloud infrastructure, data platforms, AI/ML workloads, or SaaS spend
• Working understanding of modern cloud-native architectures, including core components such as compute, storage, networking, data pipelines, and managed services
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify trends and anomalies in large datasets
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with both engineers and executives
• Experience with cost optimization initiatives, including rightsizing, commitment strategies, and workload efficiency improvements
• Strong understanding of financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis

Nice to Have

• Experience with cloud providers such as AWS, GCP, or Azure
• Knowledge of containerization technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes
• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and version control systems such as Git
• Experience with data visualization tools such as Tableau or Power BI
• Certification in cloud computing, such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect or GCP Certified Professional Cloud Architect

Benefits and Perks

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Opportunity to work with a fast-growing and innovative company
• Collaborative and dynamic work environment
• Professional development opportunities, including training and education programs
• Flexible working hours and remote work options
• Access to the latest technologies and tools
• Recognition and reward programs for outstanding performance
• Comprehensive health and wellness programs, including medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous parental leave policy and family-friendly benefits
• 401(k) or other retirement savings plan with company match
• Paid time off and holidays, including a flexible vacation policy
• Employee assistance programs, including mental health support and counseling services

• Tip: Highlight your experience with cloud infrastructure and digital spend in your resume and cover letter.
• Be prepared to discuss your approach to cost optimization and how you have driven business growth in previous roles.
• Showcase your analytical skills by providing examples of how you have identified trends and anomalies in large datasets.
• Demonstrate your ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both engineers and executives.
• Research Plaid's products and services, and be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to the company's mission and goals.
• Practice your problem-solving skills, as you may be asked to complete a case study or problem-solving exercise as part of the interview process.
• Be prepared to discuss your experience with agile development methodologies and version control systems such as Git.