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Principal Consultant-AWS

CDW · Default Location, IL · $156,000–$240,800 a year · Full time

Posted Jul 29, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a gap between what sales promised and what delivery could build. How did you close it?

What they are checking: Whether they can bridge sales and delivery, which the posting names directly.

How would you help an engineer build a growth plan toward becoming an architect?

What they are checking: Whether they invest in developing others, which is part of upskilling the practice.

Tell me about a workshop or training you gave to customers. How did you make it useful?

What they are checking: Whether they can teach in a way that is practical and builds CDW's reputation.

What would you do

How do you get oversight across multiple projects so delivery teams solve the same problem the same way?

What they are checking: Whether they can drive consistency across teams without becoming a bottleneck.

A customer team pushes back on your recommended design and wants to do it their way. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can disagree constructively and know when to defer to the customer.

About the work

Walk me through an AWS workload design you led with a customer. What tradeoffs did you make?

What they are checking: Whether they have deep, hands-on AWS architecture experience and can explain their reasoning.

The posting talks about opinionated approaches. What standard patterns would you push every AWS project to follow?

What they are checking: Whether they have strong views on landing zones, infrastructure as code and security baselines.

What do you look for when you review an SOW for an AWS engagement?

What they are checking: Whether they spot scope, assumption and risk issues before a project is signed.

How would you assess a candidate's real AWS skill in a technical screening interview?

What they are checking: Whether they can separate real experience from memorized answers when hiring engineers.

How do you approach cost optimization for a customer whose AWS bill is growing faster than their business?

What they are checking: Whether they understand FinOps practices and can find savings without hurting reliability.

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The full job description

As published by CDW.

The AWS Principal Consultant engages with clients and internal teams to provide design and engineering activities for AWS projects and solutions. This role is expected to be a thought leader in the areas of technical solutions provided for our customer . The Principal Consultant is also responsible for working with Management to align delivery teams on best practices and upskilling architecture and engineering resources. What you wi ll do: • Professional services delivery for CDW customers globally on major Public Cloud platforms • Aggregate oversight of technical solutions across multiple projects to ensure synergy in our approach and broad visibility to the solutions delivery team • Works closely with other CDW consulting group s for cohesive technical solution approaches focusing on bridging the gap between sales and delivery • Focuses on technical standardization and opinionated approaches for client solutions • Assists management with technical growth plans for engineers and architects • Assists with SOW reviews and approval as needed. • Assists with technical screening for new candidate interviews • Lead technical deployment engineering with customers on workload design on major public cloud vendors. • Provide workshops and training events for customers and industry leaders on emerging technologies in Public Cloud • Training and Mentoring Engineers and Architects to take on Cloud and DevOps projects • Providing Engineering Services for AWS, coordinating engagement strategies, and qualifying technical resource augments • Proficiency in automation tools and technologies relevant to IT operations, such as configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet, Chef), continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD), infrastructure-as-code ( IaC ) tools (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation), and containerization platforms (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes). • Deep understanding of AI and machine learning algorithms, including supervised learning, unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning, deep learning, and natural language processing (NLP) • Continuous learning and staying updated with the latest advancements, research papers, and breakthroughs in AI and related fields. • Oversee team projects to ensure delivery excellence and act as an escalation point. • Ability to analyze complex systems, workflows, and dependencies to design effective automation solutions that address business needs and requirements. • Strong knowledge of DevOps principles and practices, including continuous integration, continuous delivery, infrastructure as code, and automated testing. • Experience in implementing DevOps workflows and pipelines to automate software development, testing, deployment, and operations processes. • Performing Billable work at other DV clients (Consulting Engagements) • Support Pre sales architects on large deals to validate consulting estimates as well as provide needed expertise for Cloud/DevOps projects • Meet Training and certification requirements for selected Vendors (AWS, Hashicorp , Docker, CKA, etc.) • Help develop and mature our Cloud Solutions practice areas in response to client needs and market demand. • Travel estimate is 10% • Internal projects when applicable What we expect of you: • Bachelor's Degree and 7 + years of IT Infrastructure experience, including at least 3 years in large enterprise consulting . Or, 1 0 + years of IT Infrastructure experience, including at least 3 years in large enterprise consulting • The candidate should demonstrate leadership and provide expert advice on technical matters and architecture design. They should be a subject matter expert, staying updated with the latest technology trends, and have the ability to develop IT services offerings. • Proven ability to maintain client relationships as a trusted advisor and mentor engineers for project design and coordination. Excellent communication skills are required , with experience in making technology recommendations. • H istory of building constructive relationships at all organizational levels and the ability to research complex technology solutions and present them to clients. S hould remain calm and productive in situations of change, ambiguity, and risk. • A bility to multitask and prioritize in a fast-paced environment is essential. The candidate should anticipate future trends and create strategies that add value. • W illing ness to travel to other CDW locations or client sites. • A valid U.S. driver’s license is required . • Demonstrated knowledge of public cloud platforms, aware of multi-platform solutions and capabilities • Expertise in automation and infrastructure as code . Deep understanding of Kubernetes architecture, including master and worker nodes, API server, etcd , kubelet , kube -proxy, and container runtimes. • Knowledge of Kubernetes networking concepts, including service discovery, load balancing, network policies, and container networking interfaces (CNI). Pay range: $156,000 - $240,800 depending on experience and skill set Annual bonus target of 10% subject to terms and conditions of plan Benefits overview: https://cdw.benefit-info.com/ Salary ranges may be subject to geographic differentials CDW is committed to being an AI-fluent organization We’re looking for people who bring curiosity, a learner’s mindset, and a willingness to engage with ever-evolving technology and tools. We value adopting AI as a partner, openness to experimentation, and a shared interest in learning together on AI. Our goal is to create a culture where AI enhances—not replaces—human creativity and decision-making. You don’t need to be an expert today; what matters is your readiness to explore, adapt, and grow with us as we integrate AI responsibly and effectively into our work. Additionally, CDW is committed to fostering an equitable, transparent, and respectful hiring process for all applicants. During our application process, our goal is to understand your experience, strengths, skills, and qualifications. As an AI forward company, we see AI not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for new ways of thinking, creating, and communicating. We encourage candidates to embrace an AI mindset, one that’s curious, adaptive, and ready to explore what’s possible. We welcome thoughtful use of AI to expand your perspective and elevate how you share your story, while ensuring your application remains rooted in your own background, judgment, and voice. About Us CDW is a Fortune 500 technology solutions provider that helps businesses, government, education, and healthcare organizations achieve what’s possible through technology. What makes CDW different isn’t just what we do—it’s how we do it. At CDW we act as one—building trust, speaking candidly, and working together to achieve more. We play to win—focusing on what matters most and delivering for our customers. And we think forward—staying curious, moving fast, and continuously learning. We believe meaningful work happens when people feel supported, heard, and empowered to contribute. That’s why we think of ourselves as coworkers, not just employees—working together to solve complex challenges and deliver real impact for our customers and communities. As a full‑stack, full‑lifecycle technology partner, CDW brings deep expertise, strong relationships, and broad industry knowledge to help turn ideas into outcomes. When you join CDW, you become part of a collaborative environment where your work matters, your growth is supported, and your contributions help shape what’s next. Together, we deliver the full promise of what technology can do. Together, we Make Amazing Happen. CDW is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by state and local law.

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