Senior Azure Architect

Position Overview : We are seeking an exceptional Senior Azure Architect to lead enterprise-scale cloud architecture initiatives and drive digital transformation across our organization. The ideal candidate will possess deep expertise in Microsoft Azure services, proven experience in designing complex multi-tier solutions, and strong leadership capabilities to guide technical teams and influence strategic decisions. This role requires a visionary technologist who can translate business requirements into scalable, secure, and cost-effective cloud architectures.Key Responsibilities :Solution Architecture & Design : - Design and architect enterprise-scale Azure solutions supporting complex business requirements - Develop comprehensive solution blueprints including technical specifications, architecture diagrams, and implementation roadmaps - Define cloud-native architectures, microservices patterns, and API-first design strategies - Create reference architectures and reusable patterns for development teams - Conduct architecture reviews and provide technical governance across multiple projects - Drive architectural decisions for hybrid and multi-cloud environmentsTechnical Leadership & Strategy : - Lead architectural design sessions and technical workshops with stakeholders and development teams - Provide strategic guidance on cloud adoption, modernization initiatives, and technology roadmaps - Mentor and coach junior architects, solution architects, and senior engineers - Establish architecture standards, best practices, and design principles across the organization - Collaborate with enterprise architects to align cloud solutions with overall enterprise architecture - Drive innovation through evaluation and adoption of emerging Azure services and technologiesStakeholder Engagement & Communication : - Partner with business leaders to understand requirements and translate them into technical solutions - Present architectural designs and recommendations to executive leadership and steering committees - Collaborate with security, compliance, and risk management teams to ensure architectural compliance - Work closely with project managers and delivery teams to ensure successful solution implementation - Engage with Microsoft and technology vendors for strategic partnerships and solution guidanceGovernance & Optimization : - Establish and enforce cloud governance policies, security standards, and operational procedures - Design and implement cost optimization strategies and financial management frameworks - Define monitoring, alerting, and observability standards for cloud-native applications - Create disaster recovery and business continuity strategies for critical workloads - Ensure compliance with industry regulations and organizational security policiesRequired Skills & Experience :Azure Platform Expertise (9+ years) : - Compute Services : Azure VMs, App Services, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), Container Instances, Azure Functions, Logic Apps - Storage & Data : Azure SQL Database, Cosmos DB, Synapse Analytics, Data Lake Storage, Blob Storage, Azure Files - Networking : Virtual Networks, Application Gateway, Load Balancer, Traffic Manager, ExpressRoute, VPN Gateway, Private Link - Identity & Security : Azure Active Directory, Azure AD B2C, Key Vault, Security Center, Sentinel, Conditional Access - Integration : API Management, Service Bus, Event Grid, Event Hubs, Azure Data Factory - DevOps : Azure DevOps, ARM templates, Bicep, Terraform, Azure Resource ManagerArchitecture & Design Skills : - Proven experience designing solutions for enterprise-scale environments (10,000+ users) - Expertise in microservices architecture, distributed systems, and cloud-native design patterns - Deep understanding of software architecture principles, design patterns, and architectural styles - Experience with event-driven architectures, CQRS, and domain-driven design (DDD) - Knowledge of API design principles, RESTful services, and GraphQL implementations - Understanding of data architecture, ETL/ELT processes, and analytics platformsTechnical Leadership Experience j: years in enterprise technology roles with 5+ years in senior architecture positions - Proven track record of leading large-scale cloud transformation initiatives - Experience managing technical teams and driving consensus on complex architectural decisions - History of successful project delivery in Agile/DevOps environments - Demonstrated ability to influence technical direction and drive organizational changeIntegration & Migration Expertise : - Experience with hybrid cloud architectures and on-premises integration patterns - Knowledge of legacy system modernization and application transformation strategies - Understanding of enterprise integration patterns and middleware technologies - Experience with data migration strategies and ETL/ELT pipeline design - Familiarity with SAP, Oracle, mainframe, and other enterprise system integrationsRequired Certifications :Microsoft Azure Certifications : - Required : Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305) - Preferred : Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500) - Preferred : Azure DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400) - Preferred : Azure Data Engineer Associate (DP-203)Additional Certifications : - Preferred : TOGAF 9 Certified - Preferred : AWS Solutions Architect or Google Cloud Architect (multi-cloud experience) - Nice to have : Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) - Nice to have : Microsoft 365 Certified: Enterprise Administrator ExpertAdvanced Technical Requirements :Programming & Scripting : - Languages : Proficiency in C#, .NET, Python, PowerShell, or Java - Infrastructure as Code : Advanced experience with ARM templates, Bicep, Terraform, Pulumi - Scripting : PowerShell, Azure CLI, Bash for automation and management tasks - Database : T-SQL, NoSQL query languages, database performance optimizationSpecialized Knowledge Areas : - AI/ML Integration : Azure Cognitive Services, Machine Learning, AI Builder integration - IoT Architecture : Azure IoT Hub, IoT Central, Edge computing solutions - Big Data & Analytics : Synapse Analytics, HDInsight, Stream Analytics, Power BI integration - Blockchain : Azure Blockchain Service and distributed ledger technologies - Mixed Reality : HoloLens, Azure Mixed Reality servicesSecurity & Compliance : - Deep understanding of zero-trust security models and implementation - Experience with regulatory compliance frameworks (SOC 2, PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR) - Knowledge of threat modeling, security architecture reviews, and risk assessment - Understanding of identity federation, SAML, OAuth, and modern authentication protocols - Experience with security information and event management (SIEM) solutionsIndustry & Domain Expertise :Preferred Industry Experience : - Financial Services (banking, insurance, fintech) - Healthcare and Life Sciences - Manufacturing and Supply Chain - Government and Public Sector - Retail and E-commerceBusiness Acumen : - Understanding of business process optimization and digital transformation strategies - Experience with change management and organizational transformation - Knowledge of IT service management (ITSM) and ITIL frameworks - Understanding of financial models, cost-benefit analysis, and ROI calculationsLeadership & Soft SkillsCommunication & Presentation - Exceptional written and verbal communication skills - Ability to present complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders - Experience creating executive-level presentations and business cases - Strong documentation and technical writing capabilities - Multilingual capabilities preferred for global organizations Strategic Thinking : - Ability to balance technical excellence with business pragmatism - Strategic thinking and long-term technology planning capabilities - Innovation mindset with ability to identify emerging technology opportunities - Risk management and mitigation strategy development - Vendor relationship management and technology evaluation skills Team Leadership : - Experience building and leading high-performing technical teams - Mentoring and career development capabilities for junior staff - Conflict resolution and consensus-building skills - Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management - Change management and organizational influence capabilitiesKey Deliverables & Success Metrics :Architecture Deliverables : - Comprehensive solution architecture documents and technical specifications - Reference architectures and design patterns for organizational reuse - Technology roadmaps and migration strategies - Cost optimization recommendations achieving 20-30% savings - Security and compliance architecture frameworksBusiness Impact : - Successful delivery of enterprise-scale solutions supporting business growth - Reduced time-to-market for new digital initiatives by 40%+\br />- Improved system reliability and availability (99.9%+ uptime) - Enhanced scalability supporting 10x user growth without major rearchitecture - Measurable improvements in operational efficiency and cost managementTeam Development : - Established center of excellence for cloud architecture - Trained and developed junior architects and technical leads - Created comprehensive knowledge base and best practices documentation - Implemented architecture review processes and governance frameworksEducation & Professional Development :Education Requirements : - Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or related field - Master's degree preferred (MBA or MS in Computer Science) - Continuous learning through Microsoft certifications and industry trainingProfessional Experience : - Minimum 10 years in enterprise technology roles - Minimum 5 years in senior architecture or technical leadership positions - Proven track record of large-scale cloud transformation projects - Experience in consulting or professional services environment preferredWorking Arrangements & Expectations :Role Characteristics : - Travel Requirements : Up to 10% travel for client engagements, conferences, and team meetings - On-call Expectations : Availability for critical system issues and major deployments - Collaboration : Work across multiple time zones in global organization - Innovation Time : 20% time allocation for research, prototyping, and innovation projectsCareer Progression : - Clear path to Principal Architect or Chief Technology Officer roles - Opportunities to lead Center of Excellence and Architecture Board - Speaking opportunities at industry conferences and technical events - Potential for consulting and advisory roles with key clients and partners