Lead Cloud Platform Architect, GTCS

Manulife Insurance Malaysia; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 113,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & dental benefits

Pension & savings plans

Paid time off

Job summary

Manulife invites a Lead Cloud Platform Architect to shape and lead our multi-cloud strategy across Azure, AWS, GCP and Alibaba Cloud. You will partner with engineering, security and business leaders to design secure, scalable platforms that enable innovation and growth.

You will guide migration from IaaS to PaaS-first models, drive modern, microservices-based architectures, and promote DevOps, automation and governance to ensure reliable delivery.

Qualifications

• Extensive cloud architecture experience with Azure and multi-cloud environments.
• Proven design and delivery of cloud-native, distributed enterprise-scale systems.
• Strong knowledge of microservices, APIs, CI/CD and event-driven patterns.
• Experience with containers and Kubernetes (AKS).
• Deep understanding of cloud security, landing zones, networking and governance.
• Ability to translate business needs into scalable technical solutions.
• Strong communication and collaboration across teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture and design of cloud-native solutions in a multi-cloud setup (Azure, AWS, Alibaba Cloud, GCP).
• Define scalable platform strategies using PaaS, containers and serverless tech.
• Drive legacy modernization to microservices-based architectures and IaC transitions.
• Design distributed systems with event-driven and API-first patterns.
• Mentor engineers and govern architectural decision records.
• Align architecture with security, compliance and business outcomes.
• Collaborate with AI platform teams for Generative AI integrations and roadmap planning.
• Promote DevOps, observability and automation to improve delivery speed.

Skills

Cloud architecture experience

Enterprise-scale systems

Microservices & APIs

Containers & Kubernetes

Cloud security & governance

Business requirements translation

Effective communication

Tools

Terraform

Bicep

AKS / Kubernetes

Job description

Join our Global Technology & Cyber Security team! (GTCS) At Manulife, we’re transforming how we deliver financial security through modern cloud platforms that support millions of customers across global markets.

We’re looking for a Lead Cloud Platform Architect to help shape and lead our multi-cloud strategy across Azure, AWS, GCP and Alibaba Cloud. In this role, you will partner with engineering, security, and business leaders to design secure, scalable, and cost-efficient platforms that enable innovation and long-term growth. You’ll play a key role in advancing our cloud transformation—modernizing legacy systems, accelerating adoption of cloud-native platforms and emerging agent-based architectures.

Position Responsibilities:

• Lead the architecture and design of cloud-native solutions across a multi-cloud environment. (Azure, AWS, Alibaba Cloud, GCP)
• Design, governors, and scales an organization's core cloud infrastructure, internal developer platforms, and multi-cloud strategies.
• Define scalable platform strategies using PaaS, containers, and serverless technologies.
• Drive the transformation of legacy systems into modern, microservices-based architectures.
• Guide the migration from IaaS to PaaS-first models to improve scalability, efficiency, and cost optimization.
• Design distributed systems using event-driven and API-first approaches.
• Establish reusable architecture patterns, standards, and templates to support consistent delivery across teams.
• Partner with business and technology stakeholders to align architecture decisions with outcomes, security, and compliance requirements.
• Contribute and work with AI platform architecture, including Generative AI, LLM integration, and modern application patterns.
• Promote DevOps, Infrastructure as Code, and automation practices to improve delivery speed and reliability.
• Define observability and monitoring strategies to ensure high system performance and resilience.
• Mentor engineers, lead design reviews, and govern architectural decision records.
• Support the design of AI-enabled platforms using Azure AI services, including Generative AI solutions.
• Stay current with evolving AI technologies and contribute to technical direction and roadmap planning.
• Apply responsible AI principles, including governance, security, and ethical considerations.

Required Qualifications:

• Extensive experience in cloud architecture (typically 10+ years), with a strong focus on Microsoft Azure.
• Proven experience designing and delivering cloud-native, distributed systems at enterprise scale.
• Strong knowledge of microservices, APIs, CI/CD and event-driven architecture.
• Experience working with containers and Kubernetes. (e.g., AKS)
• Deep understanding of cloud security, networking, landing zones and governance principles.
• Experience translating business needs into scalable technical solutions.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence and collaborate across teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in multi-cloud environments.
• Exposure to AI/ML or Generative AI platform design.
• Experience in regulated industries (e.g., financial services, healthcare)
• Familiarity with Infrastructure as Code tools (e.g., Terraform, Bicep) and DevOps practices.

Impact You’ll Have:

• Shape a unified cloud-native strategy across global platforms and markets.
• Enable the delivery of secure, scalable, and resilient digital solutions.
• Accelerate adoption of modern architectures, reducing reliance on traditional infrastructure.
• Contribute to AI-driven innovation that delivers measurable business value.
• Establish scalable standards and patterns used across engineering teams.

When you join our team:

We’ll empower you to learn and grow the career you want.

We’ll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words.

As part of our global team, we’ll support you in shaping the future you want to see.

If you are applying to this role in US, please note the salary range is $127,330 to $236,470 USD.

Additionally, employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance.

The role being advertised is an existing vacancy.

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better.

To learn more about us, https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals.

We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment.

A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies.

To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact [e-mail].

Referenced Salary Location Toronto, Ontario Working Arrangement Hybrid Salary range is expected to be between $113,260.00 CAD - $210,340.00 CAD. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance. The actual salary will vary depending on local market conditions, geography and relevant job-related factors such as knowledge, skills, qualifications, experience, and education/training.

If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact [e-mail] for the salary range for your location.

• Manulife offers eligible employees a wide array of customizable benefits, including health, dental, mental health, vision, short- and long-term disability, life and AD'D insurance coverage, adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits, and employee/family assistance plans.
• We also offer eligible employees various retirement savings plans (including pension and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions) and financial education and counseling resources.
• Our generous paid time off program in Canada includes holidays, vacation, personal, and sick days, and we offer the full range of statutory leaves of absence.
• If you are applying for this role in the U.S., please contact [e-mail] for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.

We use data and analytics technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), and automated processing tools, to analyze and process the information you provide to us or third parties in the application process.

For more information, please refer to our personal information collection statement.

We’re Manulife. And we’re on a mission to make decisions easier and lives better.

Better is what drives us. It’s what inspires us to find new ways to support customers and colleagues in living longer and healthier lives.

Recent awards include:

• 2024 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award Winner
• Manulife Named one of Forbes World’s Best Employers 2023
• Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2023
• We’ve been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers (2024)
• Manulife included in Bloomberg’s 2023 Gender-Equality Index