Azure Cloud Platform Engineer

Motion Recruitment; Chandler (AZ); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Motion Recruitment is seeking an Azure Cloud Platform Engineer for a contract role in Chandler, AZ (hybrid; also Irving, TX or Charlotte, NC). You will lead cloud initiatives, provide L2/L3 support for Azure environments, and work with cross-functional teams to ensure reliability and performance.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in systems/cloud engineering, hands-on Azure experience (AKS, VMs, Monitor), and strong scripting/IaC skills (Terraform, ARM/Bicep).

Qualifications

• 5+ years of Systems/Cloud Engineering or related experience.
• 5+ years in IT infrastructure or cloud platform support.
• 3+ years hands-on with Azure services (AKS, VMs, Monitor, ARM/Terraform).
• Experience supporting production enterprise Azure environments.
• Strong understanding of Azure networking, identity, and security.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex, high-impact cloud initiatives and provide guidance to tech teams.
• Participate in planning cloud infrastructure and platform services at scale.
• Analyze and optimize technical challenges to improve performance.
• Decide on technical changes, optimizations, and platform enhancements.
• Collaborate with engineering teams on design changes within governance standards.
• Work with cross-functional teams to resolve cloud platform issues and meet goals.
• Provide L2/L3 support for Azure environments focusing on AKS, VNet, Entra ID.
• Support containerized workloads and Kubernetes operations.
• Perform RCA and implement corrective measures.
• Engage in Change and Release Management to minimize disruption.
• Develop automation scripts and IaC for provisioning and support.
• Communicate status updates to stakeholders on incidents and health.

Skills

Systems Engineering

Cloud Engineering

Technology Architecture

IT infrastructure

Cloud platform support

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Azure AKS

Azure Virtual Machines

Azure Monitor

ARM/Terraform deployments

Job description

Outstanding contract opportunity! A well-known Financial Services Company is looking for an Azure Cloud Platform Engineer in Irving, TX, Chandler, AZ or Charlotte, NC (hybrid 3 days on-site). Contract Duration: 6+ Months

Required Skills & Experience

• 5+ years of Systems Engineering, Cloud Engineering, or Technology Architecture experience (or equivalent combination of work experience, military experience, training, or education).
• 5+ years of experience in IT infrastructure or cloud platform support roles.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience with Microsoft Azure services, including:
  • Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)
  • Microsoft Azure Virtual Machines
  • Azure Monitor
  • Azure Resource Manager (ARM/Bicep/Terraform deployments)
• Experience supporting production enterprise Azure environments.
• Strong understanding of Azure networking, identity, and security best practices.
• Experience with incident response, platform troubleshooting, and operational support in a structured ITIL model.

Desired Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Proven experience in a technical lead or senior engineering role.
• Familiarity with containerization and orchestration tools (Docker, Helm, service mesh technologies).
• Experience with monitoring and logging tools such as:
  • Azure Monitor
  • Prometheus
  • Grafana
• Proficiency in scripting languages (Python, Bash, PowerShell).
• Experience with Infrastructure-as-Code and automation tools (Terraform, ARM, Bicep, Ansible).
• Strong understanding of cloud governance, policy enforcement, and cost management.
• Ability to mentor and develop junior engineers.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and within cross-functional teams.
• Preferred Certifications
  • Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
  • Microsoft Certified: Azure DevOps Engineer Expert
  • Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
  • Cloud Native Computing Foundation Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)

What You Will Be Doing

• Lead complex, broad-impact initiatives including provision of high-level systems consultation for technology teams.
• Act as a key participant in large-scale planning of cloud infrastructure and platform services for the Systems Operations functional area.
• Review and analyze complex technical challenges, including escalated support issues related to core business solutions requiring in-depth evaluation of alternatives, enhancements, system reviews, and performance improvements.
• Make decisions regarding technical changes, optimizations, and platform enhancements.
• Consult with engineering teams on change design, ensuring adherence to technical process controls, governance standards, and enterprise architecture guidelines.
• Collaborate with technical peers, cross-functional teams, and mid-to-senior-level managers to resolve cloud platform issues and achieve operational goals.
• Provide L2/L3 support for Azure environments, with a strong focus on:
  • Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)
  • Microsoft Azure Virtual Network (VNet, NSGs, Private Endpoints)
  • Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Entra ID)
• Support containerized workloads and Kubernetes cluster operations.
• Conduct root cause analysis (RCA) and implement corrective and preventative measures.
• Participate in Change and Release Management processes to ensure minimal service disruption.
• Develop and maintain automation scripts and Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) to streamline provisioning and operational support.
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders, providing status updates on incidents, platform health, and project deliverables.