Azure Platform Architect

Role :  Azure Platform Architect - Optimization & Cost Transformation

Location : Remote

Duration : Long term contract

Job Summary :  The Azure Platform Architect will be a senior technical leader responsible for deeply analyzing client current Azure footprint, identifying areas for performance tuning and cost optimization, and designing detailed execution roadmaps for target state architectures. This role requires a strong focus on fine-tuning Azure services, particularly in networking (V-nets, load balancing), compute, storage, and ensuring infrastructure constraints are addressed effectively. The ideal candidate will work collaboratively with various technical and business teams to implement recommendations and champion FinOps best practices within the organization.

Key Responsibilities :

Current State Architecture Review & Optimization :

Conduct in-depth reviews of existing Azure platform architectures, configurations, and resource utilization to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement.

Analyze performance metrics across various Azure services to recommend fine-tuning and optimization mechanisms for improved reliability, scalability, and efficiency.

Assess existing configurations within our client Azure tenant (subscriptions, resource groups, policies, etc.) to identify opportunities for optimization.

Propose and implement immediate and long-term solutions for performance enhancement, including but not limited to, optimizing Virtual Networks (V-nets), Network Security Groups (NSGs), User Defined Routes (UDRs), Load Balancers (Azure Load Balancer, Application Gateway, Front Door, Traffic Manager), and other networking components.

Provide expert guidance on compute (VMs, App Services, Functions, AKS) and storage (Blob, Files, SQL DB, Cosmos DB) optimization.

Target State Architecture Definition & Roadmap :

Collaborate with stakeholders to define target state Azure platform architectures that align with business objectives, performance requirements, and cost targets.

Develop detailed execution roadmaps for implementing target state architectures, focusing on phased delivery and measurable outcomes.

Design robust and scalable Azure solutions with a keen eye on optimizing load balancing mechanisms, V-net structures, and addressing potential infrastructure constraints proactively.

Ensure target state architectures incorporate security best practices, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning.

Cost Optimization and TCO Reduction :

Perform comprehensive cost analysis of Azure billing and usage data to identify significant cost drivers and optimization opportunities.

Develop and maintain a robust Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) model for Azure, providing clear visibility into cloud spend by application, service, business unit, and environment.

Implement and enforce a scalable resource tagging strategy to enable accurate cost attribution and reporting.

Leverage Azure Cost Management + Billing, Azure Advisor, and other tools to monitor spend, forecast costs, set budgets, and configure alerts.

Provide recommendations and lead initiatives to reduce Azure TCO through right-sizing resources, leveraging reserved instances, savings plans, auto-scaling, and utilizing cost-effective Azure services.

Partner with finance and engineering teams to integrate FinOps principles into the cloud governance strategy, driving financial accountability and efficient resource consumption.

Collaboration & Mentorship :

Work closely with development, operations, security, and other architectural teams to ensure architectural consistency, adherence to best practices, and successful implementation of solutions.

Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and guidance to junior architects and engineers on Azure best practices, performance optimization, and cost management.

Communicate complex technical concepts and recommendations clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Required Skills and Experience :

Experience :

10+ years of progressive experience in IT architecture, with at least 5-7 years focused specifically on Microsoft Azure cloud platforms.

Proven experience in reviewing, optimizing, and designing complex Azure architectures for enterprise-level applications.

Extensive experience with Azure networking services, including V-nets, subnets, NSGs, UDRs, Azure Load Balancer, Azure Application Gateway, Azure Front Door, Azure Traffic Manager, and VPN Gateway / ExpressRoute.

Demonstrable experience in Azure cost management and optimization, including strong familiarity with Azure Cost Management + Billing, Azure Advisor, and developing TCO models.

Hands-on experience with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using tools like Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates, Terraform, or Bicep.

Experience with Azure monitoring and logging solutions (Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, Application Insights) for performance analysis and troubleshooting.

Experience with Azure DevOps for CI / CD pipelines and automation.

Strong understanding of security best practices in Azure (Azure AD, RBAC, Key Vault, Azure Security Center).

Technical Skills :

Deep expertise in Azure IaaS, PaaS, and Serverless services.

Proficiency in designing and optimizing highly available, scalable, and resilient Azure solutions.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to diagnose complex performance and cost issues.

Knowledge of scripting languages such as PowerShell, Python, or Azure CLI.

Understanding of database services in Azure (Azure SQL DB, Cosmos DB, etc.) and their optimization.

Familiarity with containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes / AKS) and their associated networking and optimization considerations.

Excellent understanding of the Azure Well-Architected Framework (Cost Optimization, Performance Efficiency, Reliability, Security, Operational Excellence).

Soft Skills :

Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.

Ability to influence and drive change across various teams and levels of the organization.

Strong collaboration and teamwork abilities.

Strategic thinking with a practical, hands-on approach.

Results-oriented with a strong focus on delivering measurable improvements.

Preferred Qualifications :

Microsoft Certified :  Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305).

Microsoft Certified :  Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104).

Experience with FinOps methodologies and frameworks.

Background in regulated industries or organizations with stringent compliance requirements.

Education :

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field. Master's degree is a plus.