Cloud Platform Architect

Xcede Recruitment Solutions; Greater London; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Xcede Recruitment Solutions is helping a leading global media and entertainment organisation find a Cloud Platform Architect to design and deliver an AWS-based platform for post-production transformation.

Based in London or Manchester, this hybrid role offers an initial 12-month contract outside IR35 with ASAP start. You will own the technical design, drive FinOps, and work with cross-functional teams to deliver secure, scalable cloud infrastructure for media workflows.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on AWS architecture experience.
• Experience designing VDI / remote desktop environments.
• Strong AWS IAM with least-privilege and cross-account roles.
• Proven FinOps experience and cost optimisation.
• Ability to communicate complex cloud concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• AWS Solutions Architect Professional certification or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end AWS platform architecture and design.
• Design storage, compute, networking, identity, security models.
• Architect remote access solutions using AWS DCV, Teradici.
• Work with VPCs, Transit Gateway, cross-region architectures.
• Drive cost optimisation and FinOps from day one.
• Provide technical support during live production.
• Produce architecture documentation and business case for rollout.

Skills

AWS Solutions Architecture

Cloud Platform Engineering

AWS Networking

VDI / Remote Desktop

IAM & Security

FinOps / Cost Optimisation

Cross-region Architectures

Communication

Education

AWS Solutions Architect Professional certification

Tools

Amazon DCV

Teradici

PCoIP

Direct Connect

Job description

Cloud Platform Architect – AWS

Contract:12 month initial contract Outside IR35

Location:London / Manchester (Hybrid)

Start:ASAP / Flexible

We are working with a leading global media and entertainment organisation that is undertaking an excitingcloud-first post-production transformation.

The organisation is developing a new AWS-based platform designed to modernise how its production teams work with media, moving away from fragmented, hardware-dependent infrastructure towards a scalable cloud ecosystem.

As a Cloud Platform Architect, you will take ownership of the technical design and delivery of the AWS platform underpinning this initiative.

You’ll work alongside experienced media, post-production and solutions architects, translating complex creative and technical requirements intohigh-performing, secure and cost-effective AWS infrastructure.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead the end-to-end AWS platform architecture and technical design.
• Design AWS storage, compute, networking, identity, security and operational models.
• Design cloud-based editing environments using VDI and GPU-accelerated workstations where required.
• Architect remote access solutions using technologies such asAmazon DCV, Teradici or similar.
• Design AWS networking across Direct Connect, public internet and hybrid connectivity environments.
• Work with VPCs, Transit Gateway and cross‑region architectures.
• Assess network performance and latency across different connectivity options.
• Design scalable storage architectures for large media files and high-throughput workloads.
• Optimise AWS storage tiers to balance performance and cost.
• Design integration between AWS object storage and filesystem-based applications.
• Implement strong IAM, security and multi‑tenancy controls.
• Ensure appropriate segregation of content between different productions and business entities.
• DriveFinOps and cost optimisation from day one, including tagging, cost allocation, right-sizing and savings strategies.
• Support the build, performance testing and optimisation of the platform.
• Provide technical support during live production.
• Work closely with cyber security, engineering, programme and post‑production teams.
• Produce architecture documentation and contribute to the wider business case for future platform rollout.

Key Skills & Experience Essential

• 5+ years' hands‑on experience in AWS Solutions Architecture or Cloud Platform Engineering.
• Strong AWS networking experience, including:
  
  • VPC
  • Transit Gateway
  • Direct Connect
  • Cross‑region architectures
  • Network and latency optimisation
• Experience designingVDI / remote desktop environments.
• Experience with technologies such asAmazon DCV, Teradici, PCoIP or equivalent.
• Strong AWS IAM experience, including:
  
  • Cross-account roles
  • Permission boundaries
  • Least‑privilege access
  • Resource-based policies
• Strong understanding of AWS cost optimisation andFinOps.
• Experience with tagging, cost allocation, Savings Plans and right-sizing.
• Understanding of multi‑tenancy and logical isolation within cloud environments.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex cloud architecture to non-cloud specialists.
• AWS Solutions Architect Professional certification, or equivalent demonstrable expertise.

Desirable

• Experience within Media & Entertainment, broadcasting, film, television or post-production.
• Experience with high-throughput storage and large-file workloads.
• Experience supporting video editing or media workflows.
• Experience with Avid Nexis, LucidLink or similar media storage technologies.
• Experience working with GPU-accelerated workloads.

If you're an AWS Architect who enjoys solving complex infrastructure challenges and has experience with high-performance, VDI or media environments, we'd be keen to hear from you.