Infrastructure Cloud Architect

The Infrastructure Cloud Architect is a senior hands-on technical leadership role responsible for maturing scaling and operationalizing the Firms Azure-first hybrid cloud infrastructure platform. The Firm has established core Azure cloud capabilities and is expanding adoption across additional technology and business areas. This role will help evolve the platform strengthen standards and governance improve operational maturity and lead delivery of secure resilient and cost-effective infrastructure solutions.

This is an infrastructure-focused cloud architecture role requiring deep Azure experience across hybrid cloud networking identity security compute storage governance automation monitoring and platform services. The successful candidate will remain close to the technology lead complex implementation and support efforts mentor technical teams and partner with Infrastructure Security Data/AI Business Applications Modern Work/M365 and other stakeholders to support current and emerging cloud infrastructure needs.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide hands-on technical leadership for complex Azure infrastructure initiatives remaining actively involved in architecture design Infrastructure as Code (IaC) development implementation automation deployment troubleshooting operational support and senior-level technical decision-making.
• Architect implement support and continuously improve Azure infrastructure solutions across hybrid cloud networking identity compute storage security governance automation monitoring and platform services.
• Design build deploy maintain and continuously improve core Azure infrastructure capabilities including VNets hub-and-spoke networking routing DNS ExpressRoute site-to-site VPNs hybrid connectivity architectures private endpoints Azure Firewall and/or network virtual appliances (NVAs) load balancing identity integration landing zones policy monitoring backup and disaster recovery solutions.
• Mature and operationalize the Firms existing Azure-first hybrid cloud platform by improving standards processes documentation governance automation resiliency observability supportability and cost management practices.
• Partner with technology and business stakeholders including Infrastructure Security Data/AI Business Applications and Modern Work/M365 to understand current and emerging requirements and translate them into practical cloud infrastructure solutions.
• Assess whether existing cloud infrastructure patterns meet stakeholder needs and recommend new or revised architecture patterns where additional capabilities scale security resiliency or operational maturity are required.
• Define maintain and enforce cloud infrastructure reference architectures design patterns security controls resiliency standards operational models and cost optimization practices.
• Drive adoption of Infrastructure as Code automation platform engineering practices self-service capabilities and repeatable deployment patterns to improve consistency speed reliability and operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with Security Operations Engineering application and data teams to ensure cloud solutions meet requirements for availability disaster recovery compliance performance and supportability.
• Evaluate cloud platform capabilities vendor solutions and emerging technologies to inform implementation plans modernization priorities and infrastructure roadmap decisions.
• Mentor infrastructure engineers and other technical teams on cloud architecture principles Azure best practices infrastructure modernization and modern delivery methods.
• Participate in the teams rotating on-call schedule and serve as a senior escalation point for complex cloud infrastructure issues incident response root cause analysis and resiliency improvements.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

Required:

• Bachelors degree in Computer Science Engineering Information Systems or related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive IT infrastructure experience including experience in infrastructure architecture engineering cloud platforms or enterprise technology delivery.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience designing implementing operating or supporting Microsoft Azure infrastructure solutions.
• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering cloud infrastructure foundations including networking identity security compute storage governance monitoring automation and hybrid connectivity; experience limited primarily to application architecture or application migration is not sufficient for this role.
• Strong hands-on experience with Azure networking and hybrid connectivity including VNets routing DNS ExpressRoute private endpoints firewalls load balancers network segmentation and connectivity between cloud and on-premises environments.
• Practical knowledge of Infrastructure as Code and automation using tools such as Bicep Terraform ARM templates PowerShell Azure CLI or similar technologies.
• Solid understanding of cloud security and governance principles including identity and access management encryption policy management compliance Zero Trust concepts and secure-by-design architecture.
• Demonstrated ability to develop implement and apply cloud architecture standards design patterns reference architectures operational practices and governance frameworks.
• Experience leading technical delivery of infrastructure or cloud initiatives including coordination across engineering security operations application data and business stakeholders.
• Strong operational experience supporting enterprise production environments including platform reliability incident response root cause analysis disaster recovery monitoring and supportability.
• Exceptional communication presentation consulting and relationship-building skills with the ability to engage technical teams business stakeholders senior leadership and executive management.
• Proven ability to translate business and technology requirements into cloud infrastructure designs implementation plans standards and roadmap recommendations.

Preferred:

• Masters degree in Computer Science Engineering Information Systems or related field.
• Azure-focused certifications such as Azure Solutions Architect Expert Azure Administrator Associate Azure Network Engineer Associate or Azure Security Engineer Associate.
• Experience with Azure VMware Solution Azure Kubernetes Service Azure Container Apps Docker or other container and virtualization platforms.
• Exposure to supporting cloud infrastructure needs for Data AI/ML analytics enterprise applications or Modern Work/M365 platforms.
• Knowledge of platform engineering DevOps practices CI/CD pipelines GitOps or self-service infrastructure capabilities.
• Working knowledge of Azure Well-Architected Framework Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework landing zones FinOps or cloud operating models.
• Familiarity with multi-cloud environments including AWS and/or Google Cloud Platform.
• Security cloud or IT service management certifications such as CISSP CCSP CISM or ITIL Foundations.
• Background in professional services legal financial services accounting consulting or other highly regulated industries.
• Experience with vendor evaluation solution selection technical roadmaps or technology investment recommendations.

Other Skills and Abilities:

The successful candidate will also demonstrate:

• Strong ownership and accountability in a senior technical leadership role.
• Ability to balance hands-on execution with architecture standards stakeholder alignment and longer-term platform maturity.
• Strategic thinking with the ability to connect business priorities technology direction and practical execution.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence decisions without direct authority.
• Strong organizational skills attention to detail and ability to manage multiple initiatives with competing priorities.
• Advanced problem-solving and analytical abilities.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively across teams functions and levels of leadership.
• Discretion in handling confidential information.
• Ability to perform under pressure in a fast-paced professional services environment.

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The target salary range for this role is:

Salaries vary by location and are based on numerous factors including but not limited to the relevant market skills experience and education of the selected candidate. Our compensation package also includes bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits program. Benefits information can be found at perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform the Duties and Responsibilities above satisfactorily and meet the requirements. The requirements listed above are representative of the minimum knowledge skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. If you need such an accommodation please email (current employees should contact Human Resources).

Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.