Principal Cloud Solutions Architect - Azure Specialist

Placements24; Mtubatuba Local Municipality; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-first culture

Home office stipend

Health insurance

Flexible hours

Professional development

Tech allowance

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Cloud Solutions Architect (Azure) for a fully remote role. You will lead the design of enterprise-scale Azure solutions, guiding engineering teams and defining architectural roadmaps in a remote-first culture.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in IT infrastructure with 5+ years in Azure, strong security and compliance knowledge, and proven mentorship capabilities. This role offers global enterprise exposure and advanced cloud projects.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 10+ years IT infrastructure with 5+ years on Azure.
• Deep expertise in core Azure services (Compute, Storage, Networking, Databases, AI/ML, Security).
• Experience with large migrations and cloud-native apps on Azure.
• Strong hybrid cloud understanding and IaC/CI/CD.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and implementation of enterprise Azure solutions.
• Develop roadmaps, standards, and best practices for Azure.
• Provide architectural guidance to engineering teams.
• Architect highly available, disaster-resilient cloud infra.
• Mentor junior architects and engineers.
• Stay current with Azure advancements and trends.

Skills

Azure expert

Cloud architecture

Leadership

Communication

Education

Master's degree in CS/Engineering or equivalent

Tools

Terraform

ARM templates

CI/CD pipelines

ISO 27001 knowledge

Job description

About the Role

Join our client, a globally recognized leader in data analytics and AI solutions, as a Principal Cloud Solutions Architect, specializing in Microsoft Azure. This is a pivotal, fully remote role where you will be at the forefront of designing and implementing cutting-edge cloud infrastructure and solutions for our enterprise clients worldwide. As a remote-first organization, we empower our architects to deliver exceptional results from anywhere, fostering a culture of autonomy and innovation. You will leverage your deep expertise in Azure services to architect highly available, scalable, and secure cloud environments, driving transformative projects that solve complex business challenges. This position demands a visionary leader who can guide technical strategy, mentor teams, and champion best practices in cloud architecture. If you are passionate about cloud technology and driven to solve complex problems, this opportunity is for you.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of complex, enterprise-grade solutions on the Microsoft Azure platform.
• Develop and maintain architectural roadmaps, standards, and best practices for Azure cloud environments.
• Provide expert technical guidance and architectural oversight to engineering and development teams.
• Architect highly available, disaster-resilient, and scalable cloud infrastructures.
• Define and implement robust security controls and compliance strategies within Azure.
• Evaluate and recommend Azure services and third-party tools to meet business and technical requirements.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across various departments to understand needs and translate them into effective cloud solutions.
• Conduct architectural reviews, performance tuning, and cost optimisation initiatives for Azure deployments.
• Mentor junior architects and engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence.
• Stay current with the latest Azure advancements and industry trends.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 10+ years of experience in IT infrastructure, with a minimum of 5 years focused on cloud architecture and design, specifically on Microsoft Azure.
• Deep expertise in core Azure services (Compute, Storage, Networking, Databases, AI/ML, Security).
• Proven experience architecting and implementing large-scale migrations and cloud-native applications on Azure.
• Strong understanding of hybrid cloud strategies and integration patterns.
• Experience with infrastructure as code (IaC) tools (e.g., Terraform, ARM templates) and CI/CD pipelines.
• Excellent knowledge of Azure security best practices, compliance frameworks (e.g., ISO 27001, SOC 2), and identity management.
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills.
• Outstanding communication, presentation, and leadership abilities.
• Proficiency in working effectively in a fully remote environment.

Benefits

• Highly competitive compensation package, reflecting the seniority of the role.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• Generous paid time off and flexible working hours.
• Significant opportunities for professional development, training, and certifications.
• Access to leading-edge cloud technologies and challenging projects.
• A collaborative and innovative remote-first work culture.
• Home office stipend and technology allowance.