Consulting Principal - Enterprise Architect – Hybrid Cloud

Cognizant; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognizant Consulting is seeking an Enterprise Architect – Hybrid Cloud to lead target-state architecture across public sector hybrid estates, focusing on core cloud capabilities. You will collaborate with Architecture Review Boards, security, data, and business teams to drive measurable modernization outcomes.

Role requires 10+ years in enterprise or solution architecture, deep hyperscaler knowledge, and hands-on containerization.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of enterprise or solution architecture experience in a consulting or SI environment.
• Deep technical knowledge of at least one hyperscaler (AWS, Azure or GCP).
• Hands-on understanding of containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Strong cloud security concepts incl. RBAC, identity governance and least-privilege design.
• Strong stakeholder communication skills and governance navigation.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the target-state hybrid cloud architecture across public, private, and on-premise environments.
• Embed security concepts from the outset, including RBAC and identity governance.
• Develop and maintain the hybrid cloud roadmap aligned with digital strategy.
• Present and defend designs at Architecture Review Boards and governance forums.
• Translate strategic objectives into actionable tasks for delivery and engineering teams.

Skills

Enterprise architecture

Hybrid cloud architecture

Containerization & orchestration

RBAC & identity governance

Stakeholder communication

Education

TOGAF certification

Cloud vendor certifications (AWS/Azure/GCP)

CKA / container platform certs

Tools

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

About Cognizant Consulting

Cognizant Consulting is more than Cognizant's consulting practice, we're a global community of 5,000+ experts dedicated to helping clients reimagine their business. Blending our deep industry and technology advisory capability, we create innovative business solutions for Fortune 500 clients. And now, we're looking for our next colleague who'll join us in shaping the future of business. Could it be you?

About the role

As an Enterprise Architect – Hybrid Cloud, you will make an impact by defining and driving the target-state cloud architecture across a public sector client's hybrid estate, with a core focus on foundational cloud capability (compute, storage, network, identity and platform services), ensuring architecture decisions align to organisational strategy and public sector security and compliance obligations and translate into measurable modernisation outcomes. You will be a valued member of the Enterprise Services – Public Sector Client team and work collaboratively with Architecture Review Boards, Design Authorities, security, data and business architecture functions, delivery leads and operational teams, and clients.

In this role, you will

• Define and own the target-state hybrid cloud architecture (public cloud, private cloud and on-premise), leading core design across compute, storage, network, landing zones, containerization and platform services
• Embed security concepts from the outset, particularly role-based access control (RBAC), identity governance and least-privilege design, ensuring architecture meets information security, data protection and public sector compliance requirements
• Develop and maintain the hybrid cloud roadmap using right-to-left, objective-led planning, keeping it aligned with the wider digital and technology strategy
• Present and defend architecture designs at Architecture Review Boards, Design Authorities and technical governance forums, navigating public sector governance and assurance processes
• Translate strategic objectives into clear, actionable tasks for delivery and engineering teams, tracking roadmap progress and proactively resolving risks, dependencies and blockers

Work model

At Cognizant, we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role's business requirements, this is a hybrid position requiring 3 days a week in a client or Cognizant office in London. Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance through our various wellbeing programs.

The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting. This may change based on the project you're engaged in, as well as business and client requirements. Rest assured; we will always be clear about role expectations.

What you must have to be considered

• 10+ years' experience in enterprise or solution architecture, including significant hybrid / core cloud architecture experience, operating at Associate Director / senior architect level within a consulting or systems integrator environment
• Deep technical knowledge of at least one major hyperscaler (AWS, Azure or GCP) and hybrid connectivity patterns, with proven experience designing landing zones and core cloud building blocks (compute, storage, network)
• Hands-on understanding of containerization and orchestration (e.g. Docker, Kubernetes) within cloud-native and hybrid architectures
• Strong grasp of cloud security concepts, particularly role-based access control (RBAC), identity governance and least-privilege design, plus working knowledge of business, data/information and security architecture principles
• Strong stakeholder communication skills, flexing between technical depth and business framing, with demonstrated experience navigating formal governance and design assurance processes

These will help you succeed

• Public sector experience, including familiarity with government cloud policy and security classifications
• TOGAF (or equivalent enterprise architecture framework) certification
• Cloud vendor certifications at architect level (AWS / Azure / GCP)
• Container platform certifications (e.g. CKA) or hands-on Kubernetes delivery experience
• Experience with FinOps, sustainability or platform engineering initiatives

We're excited to meet people who share our mission and can make an impact in a variety of ways. Don't hesitate to apply, even if you only meet the minimum requirements listed. Think about your transferable experiences and unique skills that make you stand out as someone who can bring new and exciting things to this role.

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