Infrastructure/Cloud Architecture Engineer

Cruit Group; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 125,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

A leading global professional services firm in Chicago seeks a Cloud and Infrastructure Architecture Engineer. This role involves designing and implementing advanced cloud solutions, managing infrastructure, and supporting IT operations. Candidates should have a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field, plus 5+ years of experience and strong knowledge of cloud technologies, especially Microsoft Azure. The position is full-time with a salary range of $125,000 to $165,000, depending on experience.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in cloud environments.
• Experience with cloud automation and migration.
• Strong understanding of security best practices.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize cloud-based systems.
• Troubleshoot incidents and provide escalation support.
• Work with vendors on new infrastructure tests.

Skills

Cloud automation

Information security best practices

Problem-solving skills

Customer service skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Sciences or related field

Tools

Microsoft Azure

VMware

Cisco UCS

PowerShell

Job description

If your professional benchmarks are defined by exceptional client service, proactive initiative, deep professionalism, responsiveness, and technological adaptability, you are the kind of individual we are seeking to join the Information Technology department of a leading global professional services firm.

This critical role, Cloud and Infrastructure Architecture Engineer, will be focused on advancing our organization's cloud adoption journey. You will be responsible for designing and implementing next-generation cloud-based solutions, managing both cloud and on-premise infrastructure services, and acting as a high-level technical escalation point for the IT Operations team on complex and challenging technical incidents.

Key Responsibilities

Cloud and Architecture

• Design & Optimization: Ensure the effective design of data storage and processing functions, adhering strictly to firm-wide security policies and best practices in cloud security.
• Performance & Uptime: Drive application performance, uptime, and scale, setting high standards for thoughtful design and code quality within the infrastructure.
• Vulnerability Management: Identify, analyze, and resolve infrastructure vulnerabilities and deployment issues across both legacy and cloud environments.
• Implementation & Security: Implement and manage complex cloud environments in strict adherence to company security guidelines and established guardrails.
• Cost Management: Responsible for continuously optimizing the use of cloud resources to balance high performance with responsible cost management.
• Transformation: Work collaboratively with the Platform Engineering team to assess current technologies and prepare for strategic cloud transformation initiatives.
• Best Practices: Develop, maintain, and document comprehensive infrastructure best practices, guidelines, and guardrails for both on‑premise and cloud technologies.
• Automation: Partner with Platform Engineering to provide robust automation enhancements that ensure environmental consistency, simplify large tasks, enforce compliance, and support life cycle management.
• System Deployment: Develop and deploy modular, scalable, and secure cloud-based systems.
• Vendor Relations: Work with vendor partners to test and benchmark new infrastructure solutions, reporting findings to architecture teams and management.

Operations and Service

• Incident Response: Troubleshoot critical incidents, identify root causes, fix and document problems, and implement permanent preventative measures.
• Service Continuity: Work with application and Infrastructure teams to ensure new and existing systems comply with Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery (BC/DR) guidelines, maintain documented plans, and are regularly tested.
• Knowledge Transfer: Educate IT teams on the implementation of new cloud-based initiatives and provide necessary associated training.
• Escalation Support: Act as a final escalation point for the IT Operations team for advanced technical issues.
• Compliance: Ensure strict adherence to all team, departmental, and firm policies, including change management procedures.

Professional Traits

• Demonstrate exceptional problem-solving skills, proactively identifying and resolving issues before they impact business productivity.
• Complete all administrative tasks (time tracking, project updates, documentation, etc.) accurately and on time.
• Foster trust and build strong working relationships with other Information Technology teams across the firm.

Qualifications

Education/Professional Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Sciences, Information Technology, or a related field. Equivalent education and/or experience directly related to the job functions will be considered.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of related, hands‑on experience required.
• Prior Experience: Proven track record in on‑premise to cloud transformation required.
• Certifications: Microsoft Azure Certifications preferred.
• Environment: Prior experience working effectively in a global enterprise environment preferred.

Technical Skills (Required And Preferred)

• Private Cloud Datacenter: Experience with VMware, Cisco UCS, Dell EMC, or similar technologies (Required).
• Private Cloud Networking: Experience with Cisco ACI, F5 load balancing, Palo Alto firewall, SDWAN, or similar technologies (Required).
• Information Security: Strong knowledge of Information Security best practices and principles (Required).
• Public Cloud Automation: Experience automating into major public cloud providers (Required).
• Cloud Remediation: Experience assessing cloud environments for drift/misconfiguration and implementing remediation workflows via automation (Required).
• Microsoft Azure: Hands‑on experience with Microsoft Azure services (Required).
• Cloud Migration: Experience with Azure Migrate or equivalent tools.
• Operating Systems: Experience with Windows Server (including AD) and/or Linux.
• Automation/IaC: Familiarity with PowerShell, Kubernetes, and/or Terraform.

Desired Performance Traits

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate professionally with all levels of the organization and outside vendors.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively in diverse team environments and support demanding needs.
• Ability to prioritize and manage stress effectively while meeting deadlines with shifting priorities.
• Self‑starter with a high level of initiative and commitment to continued advancement.
• Strong customer service skills, organizational ability, and attention to detail.
• Comfortable working within Agile methodologies and structured operational practices.
• High level of discretion, comfortable handling sensitive information and maintaining confidentiality.

Compensation Range

The typical pay scale for this position is between $125,000 and $165,000 annually. The actual compensation package will be determined based on the candidate’s specific education, experience, skills, and internal pay alignment.

Seniority level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

• Engineering and Information Technology

Industries

• Staffing and Recruiting