Lead Cloud Architect

mizuho; United States; Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

Mizuho is seeking a Lead Cloud Architect to own the target-state Azure architecture and governance framework. You will lead the cloud architecture function, drive standards, and work with engineers and auditors in a regulated environment.

The role emphasizes technical leadership without people management, offering opportunity to shape the platform while collaborating across Security, Risk, and Compliance. Hybrid work options are available.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in cloud architecture or infrastructure engineering, with substantial Azure enterprise-scale experience.
• Experience in regulated financial services and exposure to audit/regulatory reviews.
• Proven track record defining target-state architecture and standards adopted by engineering teams.
• Expertise in Azure landing zone design, hybrid networking, private connectivity, and identity architecture.
• Strong IaC, CI/CD automation, and policy-as-code capabilities.
• Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Define the target-state cloud architecture and roadmap from definition through ratification with senior technology leadership.
• Publish standards as clear documentation and consumable patterns, including Terraform modules and blueprints.
• Establish guardrails via Azure Policy and landing zone controls based on Zero Trust principles.
• Partner with Security, Risk, and Compliance to integrate regulatory controls into technical designs.
• Lead modernization, migration, and optimization initiatives across business domains.
• Represent cloud architecture in audit, regulatory, and senior technology forums.
• Raise the technical bar by design reviews, coaching, and pattern evangelism.

Skills

Azure architecture

Regulated financial services

Infrastructure-as-Code

CI/CD automation

Auditor-facing communication

Education

Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification (preferred)

Tools

Terraform

Azure Policy

ExpressRoute

Private Link

Job description

Join Mizuho as a Lead Cloud Architect!

About the role

In this role, you will lead the architecture function within our Cloud Platform team and act as technical deputy to the Head of Cloud Platform. This is a position focused on technical leadership rather than people management: it carries broad technical authority and leads the cloud architecture function. You will report to the Head of Cloud Platform and will work with other cloud architects and engineers. You will own the target-state architecture for our Azure estate and the standards, patterns, and conformance framework that will get us there. The platform operates on an enablement model: guardrails enforced in code, self-serve patterns as the default path, and architecture review reserved for the exceptions. Your job is to make the paved road so good that teams choose it. This is a role for an architect who wants scope: cross-domain technical direction in a regulated financial environment, a seat in regulator- and audit-facing conversations, and a platform still young enough that the target state is yours to define.

What you will own

• The target-state cloud architecture (North Star) and the roadmap toward it, from definition through ratification with senior technology leadership
• Cross-cutting architectural standards: resource organization, network and address space principles, identity patterns, encryption and key management, resilience and recovery
• The service blueprint framework and conformance of published patterns against standards
• Security baselines and their mapping to regulatory control frameworks, including residual gap tracking to closure
• Architect-level change review and architecture decision records for the cloud estate
• Technical leadership of architecture function, in partnership with area technical leads who own delivery

Responsibilities

• Design and evolve secure, compliant Azure landing zone architecture aligned to regulatory and internal audit requirements
• Publish standards as both clear documentation and consumable patterns: reference implementations, reusable blueprints, and Infrastructure-as-Code modules (Terraform) that make the standard the easiest path to follow
• Establish and enforce guardrails through Azure Policy and landing zone controls based on Zero Trust principles
• Partner with Security, Risk, and Compliance to integrate regulatory controls and evidence collection into technical designs
• Lead modernization, migration, and optimization initiatives across business domains
• Represent cloud architecture in audit, regulatory, and senior technology forums
• Raise the technical bar across the team: design review, coaching, and pattern evangelism

Qualifications

• 10+ years in cloud architecture or infrastructure engineering, including significant depth in Azure at enterprise scale
• Proven experience in regulated financial services (banking, capital markets, or insurance), including direct exposure to audit and regulatory review
• Track record of defining target-state architecture and standards that engineering teams adopted in practice, not just on paper
• Expertise in Azure landing zone design, hybrid networking, private connectivity (ExpressRoute, Private Link), and identity (Entra ID) architecture
• Strong command of Infrastructure-as-Code, CI/CD automation, and policy-as-code (Azure Policy)
• Working knowledge of data protection and encryption key management (Key Vault, HSM-backed key management)
• Familiarity with control frameworks (CIS, ISO 27001, NIST) and their translation into technical controls
• Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification preferred

What distinguishes a strong candidate

• You have operated as the most senior technical voice in a domain and can show decisions you owned, including ones you got wrong and corrected
• You treat a challenged standard as input, not insubordination, and know when to hold, amend, or
• You build a defensible picture of an environment before changing anything in it
• You are as credible in front of an auditor as in front of an engineer

The expected base salary ranges from $160k-$225k. Salary offers are based on a wide range of factors including relevant skills, training, experience, education, and, where applicable, certifications and licenses obtained. Market and organizational factors are also considered. In addition to salary and a generous employee benefits package, successful candidates are eligible to receive a discretionary bonus.

Other requirements

Mizuho has in place a hybrid working program, with varying opportunities for remote work depending on the nature of the role, needs of your department, as well as local laws and regulatory obligations. Roles in some of our departments have greater in-office requirements that will be communicated to you as part of the recruitment process .

Company Overview

Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. is the 15th largest bank in the world as measured by total assets of ~$2 trillion. Mizuho's 60,000 employees worldwide offer comprehensive financial services t