Lead Cloud Solutions Architect

Placements24; Waukee (IA); On-site; USD 109,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive compensation package

Health insurance

Bonuses

International travel

Professional development budget

Relocation assistance

Company car

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Lead Cloud Solutions Architect to design and lead scalable, secure cloud environments across AWS, Azure, and GCP. You will drive cloud governance, orchestrate migrations, and mentor cloud engineering teams in a fast-paced enterprise setting.

The role requires deep cloud expertise, executive leadership, and a track record of delivering large-scale cloud initiatives with cost efficiency and security in mind.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in CS/IT or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years IT experience with a focus on cloud architecture and infrastructure.
• Proven experience designing and deploying large-scale cloud solutions.
• Deep expertise in at least one major cloud platform (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
• Strong understanding of networking, security, and data management in a cloud context.
• Experience with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and CI/CD pipelines.
• Familiarity with infrastructure automation tools (Terraform, Ansible).
• Excellent leadership, communication, and presentation skills.
• Relevant cloud certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional, Azure Solutions Architect Expert).

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and manage scalable, secure cloud environments.
• Lead cloud infrastructure strategy and governance.
• Provide technical leadership to cloud engineering teams.
• Collaborate with development, operations, and security teams to meet business objectives.
• Drive adoption of cloud-native technologies and best practices.
• Oversee Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and automation strategies.
• Ensure security and regulatory compliance within the cloud environment.
• Develop disaster recovery and business continuity plans for cloud services.
• Troubleshoot complex cloud infrastructure issues and optimize costs.
• Evaluate new cloud technologies and services and guide adoption.

Skills

Cloud architecture

Leadership

Communication

Presentation

Cost optimization

Cloud security

Networking

Data management

CI/CD

Docker

Kubernetes

Terraform

Ansible

IaC

AWS

Azure

GCP

Education

Master's degree in CS/IT

Tools

Terraform

Ansible

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a rapidly expanding enterprise software company, is seeking a visionary Lead Cloud Solutions Architect to establish and lead their cloud infrastructure strategy. This critical role, based in Paarl, Western Cape , will involve designing, implementing, and managing scalable, secure, and highly available cloud environments. You will be instrumental in driving the adoption of cloud-native technologies and best practices across the organization. This position requires deep technical expertise in cloud computing platforms, extensive experience in enterprise architecture, and exceptional leadership capabilities. You will collaborate closely with development, operations, and security teams to ensure our cloud solutions meet business objectives and technical requirements. The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker with a passion for innovation and a commitment to operational excellence in a challenging, fast-paced environment. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of our cloud operations and influence major technology decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement robust, scalable, and secure cloud architectures on major cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Develop and enforce cloud governance policies, standards, and best practices.
• Lead the migration of existing on-premises applications and infrastructure to the cloud.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to cloud engineering teams.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to understand business requirements and translate them into technical solutions.
• Evaluate and recommend new cloud technologies and services.
• Oversee the implementation of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and automation strategies.
• Ensure compliance with security and regulatory requirements within the cloud environment.
• Develop and maintain disaster recovery and business continuity plans for cloud services.
• Troubleshoot complex cloud infrastructure issues and implement resolutions.
• Manage cloud costs and optimize resource utilization.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of experience in IT, with a strong focus on cloud architecture and infrastructure.
• Proven experience designing and deploying large-scale cloud solutions.
• Deep expertise in at least one major cloud platform (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
• Strong understanding of networking, security, and data management principles in a cloud context.
• Experience with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and CI/CD pipelines.
• Familiarity with infrastructure automation tools (Terraform, Ansible).
• Excellent leadership, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear business terms.
• Relevant cloud certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional, Azure Solutions Architect Expert).

Benefits

• Highly competitive executive compensation package.
• Executive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous performance-based bonuses.
• Opportunities for international travel and conferences.
• Significant impact on company-wide technology strategy.
• Professional development budget for certifications and training.
• Relocation assistance if applicable.
• Company car or transportation allowance.
• Substantial paid time off and holidays.
• Executive-level retirement plan contributions.