Azure Solution Architect

Job Title: Azure Solution Architect

Location: Remote (Working Hours: UK hours 9 AM to 5 PM)

Employment Type: Contractual | Dedicated UK Client Engagement

Salary: INR 3.50 per month

We are seeking an experienced Azure Solution Architect to provide strategic technical consultancy and hands-on implementation services for our dedicated UK-based client. This role combines architectural design, cloud engineering, and client-facing consultancy to deliver secure, scalable, and cost-effective cloud solutions on Microsoft Azure.

As a trusted advisor, you will work closely with stakeholders to understand business requirements, design enterprise-grade cloud architectures, and lead the implementation of infrastructure and application modernization initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

Architecture and Design:

• Design and architect enterprise-scale cloud solutions using Microsoft Azure, aligned with the Azure Well-Architected Framework
• Develop Azure landing zones and cloud adoption strategies following the Cloud Adoption Framework (CAF)
• Create high-level and detailed technical architecture documents, including network topology, security models, and disaster recovery plans
• Conduct architecture reviews and provide recommendations for optimization, cost management, and performance improvements
  

Implementation and Delivery:

• Build and maintain Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using Bicep, Terraform, and ARM templates
• Design and implement secure networking architectures including VNets, NSGs, Azure Firewall, VPN Gateway, and ExpressRoute
• Deploy and manage containerized workloads using Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), Azure Container Instances, and Docker
• Implement CI/CD pipelines using Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, and related automation tools
• Configure monitoring, logging, and alerting solutions using Azure Monitor, Application Insights, and Log Analytics
  

Cloud Governance:

• Establish and enforce cloud governance policies, RBAC, and Azure Policy frameworks
• Implement security best practices including identity management (Azure AD/Entra ID), Key Vault, and encryption standards
• Ensure compliance with relevant frameworks and standards (ISO 27001, GDPR, etc.)
• Design and implement backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity solutions

Stakeholder Engagement and Consulting:

• Collaborate with business stakeholders, development teams, and operations to gather requirements and translate them into technical solutions
• Conduct workshops, assessments, and knowledge transfer sessions with client teams
• Provide cost estimates, ROI analysis, and cloud financial management recommendations
• Act as the primary technical point of contact for the UK client, providing regular updates and strategic guidance

Documentation and Best Practices:

• Create comprehensive documentation for cloud architectures, configurations, runbooks, and operational procedures
• Develop and maintain architecture decision records (ADRs)
• Champion DevOps culture and cloud-native best practices within client teams
  

Preferred Experience:

• 10+ years of hands-on experience with Microsoft Azure, including enterprise-scale implementations
• 5+ years in a Solution Architect, Cloud Architect, or Senior Cloud Engineer role
• Azure certifications: AZ-305 (Azure Solutions Architect Expert) or equivalent experience; AZ-104 (Azure Administrator) is a strong plus
• Deep expertise in Infrastructure as Code: Bicep, Terraform, and ARM templates
• Strong understanding of Azure core services: Compute: Virtual Machines, App Services, Azure Functions, AKS
• Networking: VNet, NSG, Load Balancer, Application Gateway, Azure Firewall
• Storage: Blob Storage, Azure Files, managed disks
• Data: Azure SQL, Cosmos DB, data migration strategies
• Proven experience with cloud networking, including hybrid connectivity and multi-region architectures
• Proficiency in scripting languages: PowerShell, Azure CLI, Bash, Python
• Hands-on experience with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices (Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, Jenkins)
• Strong knowledge of containerization and orchestration: Docker, Kubernetes, AKS
• Experience with monitoring and observability: Azure Monitor, Application Insights, Grafana, or similar
• Understanding of cloud security frameworks, identity management (Azure AD/Entra ID), and RBAC
• Experience designing backup, disaster recovery, and high-availability solutions
  

Desirable:

• Experience with AWS or multi-cloud architectures
• Additional certifications: AZ-400 (DevOps Engineer), AZ-500 (Security Engineer), or AWS Solutions Architect
• Knowledge of FinOps practices and cloud cost optimization strategies
• Experience with Azure landing zones and large-scale cloud migrations
• Familiarity with compliance frameworks (ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR, PCI-DSS)
• Experience in financial services, insurance, or regulated industries
• Background in Agile/Scrum methodologies
  

Soft skills:

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Proven ability to work independently in a remote environment
• Client-facing experience with consultancy or professional services background
• Collaborative mindset with cross-functional teams (development, operations, security, business)
  

Working Arrangements:

• Core Hours: British Summer Time (BST) / Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) - typically 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM UK time
• Flexibility: Indian Standard Time (IST) hours available for team collaboration as needed (occasional overlap expected)
• Remote-first: Fully remote position with video conferencing for client meetings
• Availability: Occasional evening calls may be required for client alignment; minimal on-call expectations
  

What we offer:

• Opportunity to work with a prestigious UK client in a strategic advisory role
• Autonomy and ownership over technical decisions and architecture
• Exposure to complex, enterprise-scale Azure environments
• Collaborative, professional team culture
• Competitive contract rates (commensurate with experience)
• Potential for contract extension and long-term engagement