Azure Architect

**Job Title**: Azure Architect
**Location**: Pune (Work from Office)
**Employment Type**: Full-Time Employee at Canarys
**Budget**: Up to 28 LPA
**Experience Required**: 10+ years
**Notice Period**: Immediate to 15 days
**Interview Process**: 2 Rounds (Client Interview / F2F)
**Background Check**: Required

**Job Summary**:
We are seeking an experienced **Azure Architect** to design, implement, and oversee the deployment of AI and cloud-based solutions within a Microsoft Azure environment. This position requires a seasoned professional with 10+ years of relevant experience, who can effectively architect and manage AI workloads on Azure while ensuring scalability, security, and reliability. The Azure Architect will work closely with cross-functional teams to design a robust cloud environment, establish best practices, and optimize Azure resources for advanced AI projects.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- **Solution Design and Architecture**:

- Lead the architecture, design, and deployment of AI solutions on Microsoft Azure, ensuring optimal performance, scalability, and security.
- Define and develop end-to-end cloud architecture strategies that align with business objectives and best practices.
- Collaborate with AI and development teams to design solutions that meet requirements for data processing, analytics, and AI model deployment.
- **Cloud Infrastructure Setup and Management**:

- Oversee the setup and configuration of Azure services, including virtual networks, virtual machines, storage accounts, and databases, in a cost-effective and secure manner.
- Utilize Azure services such as Azure Machine Learning, Azure Data Lake, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) to support AI workloads.
- Design scalable, high-performance, and fault-tolerant infrastructure, employing best practices in cloud resource management, monitoring, and optimization.
- **Data Security and Compliance**:

- Implement and maintain security protocols to safeguard data, adhering to regulatory compliance requirements and industry best practices.
- Set up Identity and Access Management (IAM) policies, encryption, and role-based access control (RBAC) to ensure data security across Azure environments.
- **Performance Optimization and Cost Management**:

- Continuously evaluate and optimize cloud resources for performance, cost, and efficiency.
- Implement automation scripts to manage and monitor the cloud environment, using Azure Automation, Azure Monitor, and other Azure-native tools.
- **Documentation and Best Practices**:

- Document architectural decisions, solution designs, and deployment plans to ensure transparency and alignment across the organization.
- Develop and enforce best practices, guidelines, and governance for cloud deployments, ensuring consistency in implementations.
- **Troubleshooting and Support**:

- Provide technical guidance and troubleshooting expertise for Azure-based solutions, especially AI and machine learning workloads.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders to troubleshoot and resolve infrastructure-related issues promptly.
- **Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement**:

- Work closely with project managers, developers, data scientists, and IT teams to support project objectives and align cloud architecture with business needs.
- Participate in regular stakeholder meetings, providing updates on the architecture, deployment status, and any issues encountered.

**Required Skills**:

- **Azure Expertise**: Extensive hands-on experience with Azure services, including Azure Machine Learning, Azure Synapse, Azure Data Lake, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), and Azure Storage.
- **AI & ML Infrastructure**: Proven experience in deploying AI/ML workloads on Azure, utilizing services such as Azure Machine Learning and integrating AI models with cloud architecture.
- **Infrastructure as Code (IaC)**: Proficiency in IaC tools such as **Azure Resource Manager (ARM) Templates, Terraform, or Bicep** for deploying and managing cloud resources.
- **Security and Compliance**: Strong knowledge of Azure security best practices, including IAM, RBAC, encryption standards, and familiarity with data privacy regulations.
- **DevOps and Automation**: Experience with Azure DevOps for CI/CD pipeline creation, along with automation tools (e.g., Azure Automation, Azure Monitor) for performance monitoring.
- **Data Management**: In-depth understanding of data warehousing, ETL, and data lakes within Azure, with experience in managing large-scale data processing for AI.
- **Problem-Solving**: Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, with the ability to resolve issues related to cloud architecture and resource performance.
- **Documentation and Communication**: Excellent documentation skills and the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

**Preferred Qualifications**:

- **Certifications**: Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert or equivalent.
- **AI/ML