Azure Cloud Architect

• 6-month Contract with possibility of extension and/or conversion
• Hybrid (Charlotte area), but remote until office space becomes available.
• Looking for experienced Cloud Platform Architects focused on all aspects of infrastructure, including networking, security, performance, pricing, etc.
• People management and team leadership are key for this role.

As an Azure Cloud Platform Architect, you will play a pivotal leadership role in designing and optimizing all aspects of cloud infrastructure while leading a team of architects. This position requires a balance of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and leadership skills to drive cloud adoption, security, performance, and cost efficiency.

1. Infrastructure Leadership & Strategy

• Lead the end-to-end architecture and governance of Azure cloud infrastructure, ensuring scalability, security, and compliance.
• Develop and enforce cloud best practices, standards, and frameworks for networking, security, performance, and cost optimization.
• Evaluate emerging Azure technologies, tools, and services, ensuring the organization remains at the forefront of innovation.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders, DevOps teams, and security teams to align cloud infrastructure strategies with business goals.

2. Networking & Security Oversight

• Provide technical leadership in designing robust Azure networking solutions (VNets, ExpressRoute, NSG, Load Balancers, etc.).
• Oversee network segmentation, micro-segmentation, and hybrid connectivity strategies to ensure secure, high-performance environments.
• Implement Zero Trust Security models, ensuring least-privilege access, encryption, and threat protection using Azure security services.
• Guide compliance efforts with industry standards such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST, and HIPAA.

3. Performance Optimization & Cost Management

• Optimize cloud performance, availability, and reliability by leveraging Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and AI-based performance tuning tools.
• Implement cost control mechanisms, such as reserved instances, savings plans, and auto-scaling policies to reduce operational expenses.
• Drive cloud financial governance (FinOps) by analyzing usage trends, setting up budget alerts, and ensuring efficient resource utilization.
• Collaborate with finance teams to define chargeback/showback models for cost accountability.

4. Leadership & People Management

• Lead a team of Cloud Architects, providing technical mentorship, career development, and performance coaching.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning, ensuring the team stays ahead of cloud trends and certifications.
• Drive cross-team collaboration with development, security, and operations teams to accelerate cloud adoption.
• Manage resource allocation, team structure, and hiring efforts to build a high-performing cloud architecture team.

5. Stakeholder Communication & Executive Engagement

• Serve as the primary technical advisor for senior leadership and business executives, translating cloud strategies into business value.
• Develop roadmaps, architecture blueprints, and executive-level presentations to communicate cloud transformation strategies.
• Work closely with vendor partners (Microsoft, cloud providers, security vendors) to optimize cloud solutions and leverage enterprise agreements.