Cloud Architect

Franklin Fitch; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Azure enterprise projects

Job summary

Franklin Fitch is seeking a Cloud Architect to lead the design of an Azure-first hybrid infrastructure. The role requires deep hands-on Azure expertise and experience bridging Azure with on-premises environments.

You will shape infrastructure strategies, standards, and patterns while collaborating with security, networking, and cloud teams. The position offers a hybrid work model with significant ownership over enterprise infrastructure transformation and the opportunity to influence long-term

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience across infrastructure engineering, architecture, or enterprise technology.
• Hands-on experience with Microsoft Azure infrastructure.
• Experience across Azure and on-premises hybrid environments.
• Strong knowledge of Azure networking (VNets, ExpressRoute, DNS, private endpoints, firewalls, load balancing).
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture and design of a modern Azure-first hybrid infrastructure environment.
• Design and implement Azure infrastructure across networking, compute, storage, security, identity, and resiliency.
• Develop infrastructure standards, reference architectures, technical patterns, and best practices.
• Support the evolution of the organization's virtualization and hybrid infrastructure strategy.
• Work across Azure and on-premises environments to deliver secure, scalable, and resilient infrastructure solutions.
• Develop architecture diagrams and communicate technical decisions to senior stakeholders.

Skills

Azure infrastructure

Hybrid cloud

Networking

Security controls

Troubleshooting

Architectural communication

Tools

Azure VMware Solution

Job description

Cloud Architect | Hybrid | Up to $200,000 depending on experience

Our client is looking for their next cloud architect to join the team! This is an exciting opportunity to join during a significant period of transformation and play a key role in shaping the organization's future infrastructure strategy.

What You'll Do

• Lead the architecture and design of a modern Azure-first hybrid infrastructure environment
• Design and implement Azure infrastructure across networking, compute, storage, security, identity, and resiliency
• Develop infrastructure standards, reference architectures, technical patterns, and best practices
• Design and support Azure networking, including VNets, routing, DNS, ExpressRoute, private endpoints, firewalls, load balancing, and segmentation
• Help drive the transition from legacy data center infrastructure toward modern colocation and Azure-based environments
• Support the evolution of the organization's virtualization and hybrid infrastructure strategy
• Work across Azure and on-premises environments to deliver secure, scalable, and resilient infrastructure solutions
• Develop architecture diagrams and clearly communicate technical decisions to senior stakeholders
• Act as a senior escalation point for complex infrastructure issues and critical incidents
• Lead troubleshooting and root-cause analysis across cloud, networking, compute, storage, virtualization, and hybrid infrastructure
• Use Infrastructure as Code and automation to improve consistency and scalability
• Remain hands-on with designing, building, configuring, implementing, and troubleshooting infrastructure
• Partner with infrastructure, networking, security, and cloud teams to deliver major technology initiatives

What You'll Bring

• 10+ years of experience across infrastructure engineering, architecture, or enterprise technology
• Deep hands-on experience with Microsoft Azure infrastructure
• Strong experience working across Azure and on-premises hybrid environments
• Strong Azure networking knowledge, including VNets, routing, DNS, ExpressRoute, private endpoints, firewalls, and load balancing
• Solid understanding of enterprise networking, security, compute, storage, and virtualization
• Experience with Azure VMware Solution or similar enterprise virtualization technologies is highly beneficial
• Strong knowledge of identity, RBAC, security controls, governance, and infrastructure resiliency
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code
• Strong troubleshooting and root-cause analysis skills
• Ability to create architecture diagrams, technical standards, and repeatable infrastructure patterns
• Strong communication skills and the ability to explain complex technical concepts to senior leadership
• A genuinely hands-on approach, with the ability to personally design, build, configure, implement, and troubleshoot infrastructure
• A background as either a senior infrastructure engineer ready to move into architecture or a hands-on infrastructure architect who has remained technically close to the environment

What's In It For You

• Hybrid working model: 3 days onsite and 2 days remote
• Opportunity to play a key role in a major enterprise infrastructure transformation
• Significant ownership over future Azure and hybrid infrastructure architecture
• The chance to influence technical standards, architecture patterns, and long-term infrastructure strategy
• Exposure to a complex enterprise infrastructure environment spanning Azure, networking, virtualization, security, compute, and storage
• The opportunity to work alongside experienced infrastructure and technology teams on high-impact projects
• Participation in an on-call rotation approximately every 6–7 weeks, with after-hours support required only for critical incidents