In one embodiment, a method comprises retrieving a request graph specifying request nodes identifying respective requested cloud computing service operations, and at least one request edge specifying a requested path requirements connecting the request nodes; identifying a placement pivot among feasible cloud elements identified in a physical graph representing a data network having a physical topology, each feasible cloud element an available solution for one of the request nodes, the placement pivot having a maximum depth in the physical topology relative to the feasible cloud elements; ordering the feasible cloud elements, according to increasing distance from the placement pivot to form an ordered list of candidate sets of feasible cloud elements; and determining an optimum candidate set, from at least a portion of the ordered list, based on the optimum candidate set having an optimized fitness function in the physical graph among the other candidate sets in the ordered list.