Principal Enterprise Architect - Azure

Enterprise Architect (Azure-Focused)

Level : Principal / Staff

About the Role :

We are seeking a seasoned Enterprise Architect with broad, end-to-end experience across platform engineering, cloud infrastructure, and software delivery.

This is a customer-facing role requiring both deep technical credibility and strong executive communication skills.

You will be a key voice in client architecture discussions, solution design reviews, and technical governance.

Key Responsibilities :

• Define and lead enterprise architecture across platform engineering, cloud infrastructure, application design, and software delivery.

• Design scalable, secure, and resilient Azure-based architectures covering IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS workloads.

• Lead infrastructure-as-code, DevSecOps, CI/CD, and platform modernisation initiatives.

• Engage directly with client stakeholders - CTO, CIO, and senior engineering leaders - to present architecture decisions, trade-off analyses, and roadmaps.

• Drive technical governance: architecture review boards, standards definition, and cross-team alignment.

• Bridge business requirements and technology solutions, ensuring architecture supports long-term organisational goals.

• Mentor and guide solution architects and senior engineers across delivery programmes.

Required Skills & Experience :

• 15+ years across enterprise software engineering, platform engineering, or infrastructure architecture.

• 3 - 4 years in a formal Enterprise Architect or Lead Solutions Architect role.

• Strong Azure expertise : AKS, Azure DevOps, Azure Networking (VNet, ExpressRoute, Private Link), Azure Security Centre, Landing Zones, and Azure Well-Architected Framework.

• Hands-on or design-level experience with infrastructure-as-code (Terraform, Bicep, ARM), containerisation (Docker, Kubernetes), and microservices architecture.

• Familiarity with integration patterns : API gateways, event-driven architecture (Azure Service Bus, Event Grid), and hybrid connectivity.

• Demonstrable experience in customer-facing technical roles - presenting to executive stakeholders, running architecture workshops, and influencing without authority.

• Strong written communication : architecture documentation, decision records, RFP responses.

Preferred Certifications :

• Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305) - strongly preferred.

• Microsoft Azure DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400).

• TOGAF 9 or 10 (Certified level preferred).

• Kubernetes (CKA or CKAD).

• AWS Solutions Architect Associate or Professional (beneficial for multi-cloud contexts).