Cloud Architect

CSS; United States; Remote; USD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

CSS is seeking a Cloud Architect to lead the evolution of our enterprise Azure platform and to shape the technology foundation of our cloud-first and AI-enabled future.

The role combines enterprise architecture, cloud strategy, and leadership to accelerate modernization across the organization, including governance, reusable services, and platform backlogs. Remote-enabled with US state availability.

Qualifications

• 12+ years progressive IT experience with cloud focus.
• 7+ years enterprise cloud architecture experience.
• Proven ability to define standards, governance, and patterns.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve enterprise cloud architecture for Azure.
• Lead cloud strategy, adoption, and modernization initiatives.
• Prioritize Cloud CoE backlog and roadmap as Product Owner.
• Guide governance, risk, and guardrails for cloud usage.
• Collaborate with architects across domains and senior stakeholders.
• Drive FinOps maturity and cost-optimized patterns.
• Mentor teams and lead cloud community of practice.
• Expand Nimbus CoE with AI-enabled capabilities and integrations.

Skills

Cloud architecture

Enterprise architecture

Stakeholder communication

Executive presence

Agile/SAFe

Platform leadership

FinOps awareness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Engineering/IS

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

Azure

Dynamics 365

Snowflake

Job description

Cloud Architect Target Salary: $140,000 - $160,000 Remote availability in these states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Texas (excluding the Austin area).

Seeking a Cloud Architect to lead the evolution of our enterprise Azure platform and help shape the technology foundation that powers our cloud-first and AI-enabled future. This is a highly visible, strategic role that combines enterprise architecture, cloud platform strategy, and organizational leadership to accelerate modernization across the enterprise.

As the organization's cloud architecture leader, you will define cloud strategy, establish enterprise standards, guide modernization efforts, and ensure our platform enables secure, scalable, resilient, and cost-effective technology solutions. You will also serve as Product Owner for the Nimbus Cloud Center of Excellence (CoE), helping drive cloud adoption, platform maturity, governance, and reusable capabilities that support business and technology outcomes.

This role offers the opportunity to influence enterprise-wide technology decisions, partner with senior technology leaders, and shape key initiatives spanning cloud adoption, AI enablement, data modernization, enterprise integration, and legacy platform transformation. This role is part of the Enterprise Architecture organization, which includes Enterprise Architects, Solution Architects, and Business Process Architects. The team partners closely with: Application Services, Technical Services / Infrastructure, Information Security, Data & AI organization, Product teams and Agile Release Trains.

Role Summary

The Cloud Architect is responsible for defining and evolving the enterprise cloud platform architecture and ensuring it aligns with enterprise technology strategy. This role establishes cloud standards, governance models, and reference architectures while guiding enterprise cloud adoption and modernization initiatives. As Product Owner of the Cloud CoE, you will prioritize platform capabilities, influence investment decisions, and drive continuous improvement of the Azure environment.

What You’ll Do

Cloud Platform Architecture

• Define and maintain enterprise cloud architecture aligned to business and technology strategy
• Develop cloud standards, reference architectures, and design patterns
• Ensure cloud platforms meet requirements for scalability, resiliency, security, and efficiency
• Guide evolution of reusable platform capabilities and services
• Maintain architecture artifacts within enterprise repositories

Cloud Strategy & Adoption

• Support development and execution of enterprise cloud strategy
• Identify opportunities to improve agility, scalability, and operational efficiency
• Guide enterprise cloud adoption and workload migration initiatives
• Evaluate emerging technologies, including AI and advanced cloud services
• Advise teams on appropriate use of Azure capabilities

Cloud Enablement & Platform Leadership

• Serve as Product Owner for the Nimbus Cloud Center of Excellence (CoE)
• Define and prioritize the cloud platform backlog and roadmap
• Partner with engineering teams to deliver platform improvements
• Drive adoption of reusable services, automation, and platform capabilities
• Enable consistent cloud practices across delivery teams

Cloud Governance & Architecture Oversight

• Ensure cloud solutions align with enterprise architecture standards
• Lead architecture reviews and provide strategic guidance
• Define and enforce governance practices and guardrails
• Identify and mitigate architectural risks related to cloud usage

Collaboration & Enterprise Alignment

• Partner with Enterprise Architects on strategic alignment
• Collaborate with Solution Architects on solution design and delivery
• Work with Data, Infrastructure, and Business Process Architects to ensure full alignment across domains
• Influence stakeholders across technology and business teams

Cloud Financial Management & Optimization (FinOps)

• Promote responsible cloud consumption and cost transparency
• Identify opportunities for optimization and efficiency
• Guide teams on cost-effective architecture patterns
• Support enterprise FinOps maturity and accountability

Community Leadership & Enablement

• Lead the Azure Community of Practice
• Mentor architects and engineering teams
• Promote best practices, standards, and knowledge sharing
• Support continuous learning and cloud capability development

Projects Expansion of the Nimbus Cloud Center of Excellence

• Azure landing zones, governance, and platform modernization
• Enterprise cloud adoption and migration initiatives
• AI-enabled cloud platform capabilities
• Dynamics 365 modernization and integration
• Snowflake and enterprise data modernization
• Legacy system transformation and decommissioning
• FinOps maturity and cost optimization initiatives

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field
• 12+ years of progressive IT experience
• 7+ years of cloud or infrastructure architecture experience
• Strong experience designing enterprise solutions in Microsoft Azure
• Proven ability to define architecture standards, governance models, and design patterns
• Experience leading cloud platform or Cloud Center of Excellence initiatives
• Experience serving as a Product Owner or managing platform backlogs
• Experience with enterprise modernization and cloud adoption
• Strong stakeholder communication and executive presence
• Experience working in Agile or SAFe environments
• Experience in regulated industries (insurance, financial services, etc.) preferred

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related field
• Azure certifications (e.g., Azure Solutions Architect Expert)

Scope & Decision Authority

• Acts as the enterprise authority on cloud architecture
• Influences enterprise-wide technology strategy and cloud decisions
• Guides modernization initiatives and cloud adoption efforts
• Ensures alignment of solutions with enterprise cloud standards
• Operates at a platform and strategy level, not application ownership