Cloud Architect

Position Summary:

The client is seeking a strategic and technically adept Enterprise Architect to lead the development of enterprise-wide architecture standards, drive cloud modernization, manage technical debt, and oversee the Architecture Review process for all technology procurement. This role is critical in ensuring architectural integrity, reducing redundancy, and aligning technology investments with business strategy—while also providing deep technical leadership in Azure and hybrid cloud environments.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Enterprise Architecture Standards & Governance

• Define, publish, and maintain architecture standards across application, data, infrastructure, and integration domains.
• Establish reusable reference architectures and enforce adherence through solution reviews and design checkpoints.
• Collaborate with domain architects and engineering leads to ensure consistency and alignment across platforms.
• Proficient with AI Technologies and its upcoming standards.

2. Cloud Architecture & Platform Strategy

• Design scalable, resilient, secure, and cost-optimized cloud solutions, primarily on Azure and AI Technologies.
• Develop cloud governance frameworks, landing zones, and implementation guides.
• Lead hybrid and multi-cloud integration strategies (Azure, GCP, AWS).
• Evaluate emerging technologies (AI, observability, data platforms) for enterprise readiness.

3. Technical Debt Management

• Maintain a technical debt inventory across the enterprise portfolio.
• Partner with product and platform teams to prioritize remediation efforts based on risk, cost, and strategic value.
• Integrate technical debt metrics into planning and funding cycles.

4. ARB Leadership & Technology Procurement Oversight

• Chair the Architecture Review Board (ARB) and serve as the final gatekeeper for all technology procurement.
• Review incoming tech requests for alignment with standards, security, and operational readiness.
• Collaborate with procurement, legal, and cybersecurity teams to embed architectural governance into sourcing workflows.

5. Infrastructure as Code (IaC) & Automation

• Implement IaC using Terraform, Azure ARM, or Pulumi.
• Build CI/CD pipelines using GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD, or Jenkins.
• Automate configuration management with Ansible, Chef, or Puppet.

6. Security, Compliance & Performance Optimization

• Apply cloud security best practices (IAM, RBAC, WAF, NSG, Key Vault, Defender for Cloud).
• Implement zero-trust architectures and align with CIS, NIST, ISO 27001.
• Optimize cloud environments using Azure Advisor, Cost Management, and FinOps principles.

7. Application Lifecycle & Portfolio Rationalization

• Support application rationalization and lifecycle management through architecture-led assessments.
• Partner with ServiceNow APM and CMDB teams to ensure accurate inventory and lifecycle governance.
• Contribute to enterprise dashboards and reporting frameworks for architecture KPIs.

8. Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Work closely with cross-functional teams (Network, DevOps, Cybersecurity, Finance, Procurement).
• Translate complex technical concepts into business-friendly language.
• Participate in strategic planning, cloud strategy sessions, and enterprise decision-making.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Skill Area Years of Experience
• Azure Cloud Platform 7–9 years
• GCP (Google Cloud) 1–2 years (preferred)
• AWS / OCI 1–2 years (preferred)
• Hybrid On-Prem / Cloud 4–6 years
• Cloud Networking 4–6 years
• Cloud Security 2–3 years
• Cloud FinOps 1–2 years
• Microsoft Visio 2–3 years
• ARB / Governance Leadership 3+ years
• Technical Procurement Oversight 2+ years

Preferred Certifications:

• Cloud Certifications: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, AWS/GCP Architect (Nice to have)
• TOGAF (Enterprise Architecture Framework) preferred
• ITIL (Service Management)

Pay: $65.00 per hour

Work Location: Hybrid remote in New York, NY 10004