Azure Cloud Principal Architect

R3 • Frederick, MD

9d

About The Position

At R3, we are committed to providing our clients with best-in-class solutions for all of their IT needs. We are relentless in our pursuit of excellence and dedicated to providing our clients with unsurpassed quality, service, and value day in and day out. As we continue to grow and innovate, we are seeking passionate and dedicated individuals to join our team. If you’re ready to join our mission of setting the standard for IT excellence, we are looking for a talented Azure Cloud Principal Architect to join our team. As the Azure Cloud Principal Architect, you are responsible for defining cloud strategy, architecture vision, and long-term technical direction for Azure solutions across the organization and client base. This role represents the highest level of technical authority, blending deep Azure expertise with executive-level advisory, leadership, and influence. You guide large-scale cloud initiatives, shape standards and best practices, and partner closely with executive stakeholders to align cloud investments with business outcomes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field preferred
• 10+ years of experience in cloud architecture and infrastructure design, with 5+ years in Azure
• Extensive experience designing enterprise-scale Azure solutions
• Proven ability to influence strategy and technical direction at an organizational level
• Proven experience designing and implementing Azure Landing Zones aligned with the Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework (CAF)
• Strong understanding of Azure governance models, including management groups, subscriptions, resource organization, and naming standards
• Hands-on experience establishing governance and operational best practices across multi-subscription and multi-environment Azure estates
• Demonstrated expertise with Azure Policy, initiatives, and assignments to enforce security, compliance, and cost controls
• Familiarity with compliance frameworks (e.g., CIS, NIST, ISO 27001, SOC 2) and translating requirements into enforceable Azure controls
• Ability to design scalable, secure, and compliant cloud architectures that support enterprise workloads
• Experience collaborating with security, networking, and platform teams to operationalize governance standards
• Demonstrated experience implementing and managing Azure Policy, policy-as-code, and compliance frameworks to enforce governance and security standards
• Hands-on experience with Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) using Bicep and/or Terraform (preferable) for scalable and repeatable Azure deployments
• Proven ability to build and maintain CI/CD pipelines using Azure DevOps
• Experience driving operational efficiency through automation of governance, monitoring, alerting, and remediation processes
• Experience leading or supporting on-premises to Azure migrations, including workload assessment, compatibility planning, and performance optimization
• Strong understanding of Azure networking architecture, including Azure Firewall, Private Endpoints/Private Link, VPNs, and hybrid connectivity solutions
• Ability to advise customers on performance optimization, resiliency, high availability, and scalability across distributed and hybrid cloud environments
• Strong executive communication and leadership skills
• Visionary and strategic cloud architecture leadership
• Exceptional problem-solving and decision-making capabilities
• Executive-level communication and advisory skills
• Ability to balance innovation, risk, and operational excellence
• Strong mentorship and organizational influence

Nice To Haves

• Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification (AZ-305) strongly preferred
• Hands-on experience with Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) using Bicep and/or Terraform (preferable)

Responsibilities

• Define, own, and evolve the overall Azure cloud architecture vision, strategy, and technical roadmap
• Lead the design and delivery of enterprise-scale Azure solutions, migrations, and cloud transformations
• Serve as the highest-level technical authority and escalation point for Azure architecture and solution decisions
• Partner with executive leadership, clients, and key stakeholders to align cloud strategy with business objectives and outcomes
• Design, implement, and oversee secure, scalable, and resilient Azure-based cloud infrastructure and solutions
• Establish, maintain, and enforce Azure architecture standards, governance models, and security frameworks
• Provide technical leadership on DevOps practices, automation, and infrastructure-as-code initiatives
• Guide the adoption of best practices for cloud security, compliance, monitoring, and operational excellence
• Lead complex troubleshooting, incident response, and root-cause analysis for high-impact or business-critical issues
• Mentor, coach, and provide technical leadership to senior engineers, architects, and cross-functional teams
• Support and guide cloud modernization, optimization, and cost-management initiatives
• Evaluate emerging cloud technologies and recommend strategic adoption where appropriate
• Collaborate with project managers to support planning, resource alignment, and successful delivery of cloud initiatives
• Document architecture designs, decisions, and standards using established tools and templates
• Stay current with Azure services, industry trends, and evolving cloud best practices
• Architect and advise on secure, compliant, and scalable Azure Landing Zones aligned with the Cloud Adoption Framework (CAF).
• Establish governance and operational excellence across multi-subscription environments.
• Implement Azure Policy, policy-as-code, and compliance frameworks to ensure consistent standards.
• Implement Infrastructure-as-Code using Bicep or Terraform.
• Automate deployments and CI/CD pipelines with Azure DevOps
• Drive operational efficiency through automation of governance, monitoring, and remediation processes.
• Lead migration projects from on-premises to Azure, ensuring workload compatibility and performance optimization.
• Advise customers on how to architect secure and efficient networking solutions, including Azure Firewall, Private Link, and hybrid connectivity.
• Provide guidance and solutions to customers on how to optimize performance and resiliency across distributed environments.

Benefits

• Competitive wages to reflect your experience and skills.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to keep you and your family healthy.
• 401(k) with company match to help you plan for the future.
• Flexible time off policies to ensure you maintain a healthy work-life balance.
• We are committed to creating a positive impact on society and contributing to a better world--we're involved in our community and encourage our employees to do the same.
• We are reshaping the industry and the way it thinks about technology and service.
• We strive to be better and encourage our employees to do the same by offering training incentives and bonuses to help you and your career grow.
• The opportunity to be a part of an amazing team.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal