IT Architect, Microsoft Infrastructure

Ferrara•Chicago, ND

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Technology powers Ferrara’s transformation of iconic brands into a world-class global business. Following a successful S/4HANA go-live, our IT organization is leading the next phase of digital evolution—scaling platforms, advancing data and analytics, and partnering closely with the business to deliver measurable impact. This is a chance to join a highly innovative IT team with strong executive sponsorship and influence across the enterprise. The IT Microsoft Architect is responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing Microsoft-based infrastructure solutions across the enterprise. This role ensures that core Microsoft platforms – such as Active Directory, Windows Server, Infrastructure applications like Microsoft Exchange, Azure, Microsoft365, and associated tools – are stable, secure, scalable, and aligned with the organization’s long-term IT strategy. The architect provides technical leadership, sets architectural standards, and drives modernization initiatives within the Microsoft ecosystem.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent experience.
5-10+ years of experience in IT infrastructure, with significant experience in Microsoft technologies.
Deep technical expertise in: Active Directory & Entra ID (identity, federation, hybrid identity) Windows Server (AD DS, DNS, DHCP, File Services) Microsoft365 & Exchange Online Endpoint lifecycle management PowerShell scripting and automation
Strong understanding of networking concepts (VPNs, DNS, routing, firewalls) as they apply to Microsoft environments.
Experience designing secure, scalable Microsoft infrastructures in enterprise or hybrid-cloud environments.

Nice To Haves

Deep technical experience with: Server virtualization Enterprise Storage Data Protection Azure IaaS and PaaS infrastructure
Relevant Microsoft certifications such as: Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert Microsoft 365 Certified: Enterprise Administrator Expert Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate MCSE (legacy) or equivalent experience
Experience supporting Zero Trust security implementations.
Familiarity with SQL Server architecture, HA/DR, and performance optimization.
Experience integrating Microsoft infrastructure with third-party platforms and enterprise applications.

Responsibilities

Design and develop enterprise infrastructure architectures focused on Microsoft technologies, including: Azure Infrastructure Services (IaaS, PaaS, Virtual Networks, Azure AD) Microsoft 365 (Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Teams, Security & Compliance) Windows Server platforms Active Directory (on-prem, Azure AD, hybrid identity) Endpoint management (Intune, Group Policy, Autopilot) SQL Server environments
Develop high-level and detailed architecture diagrams, reference models, and design documentation.
Define standardized configurations, patterns, and best practices for Microsoft-based solutions.
Contribute to Microsoft-focused infrastructure strategies, including cloud transitions, hybrid identity, Zero Trust, and workspace modernization.
Evaluate emerging Microsoft technologies and guide adoption.
Assess existing infrastructure and lead modernization of legacy systems to cloud or hybrid architectures.
Implement security-by-design principles across Microsoft infrastructure, including identity, access control, encryption, endpoint security, and data retention.
Support governance for Windows Server, Infrastructure applications, Azure resources, Microsoft 365 policies, and privileged access models (PIM, PAM).
Ensure compliance with regulatory, audit, and enterprise standards for identity, access, and data protection.
Provide architectural leadership for projects involving Microsoft infrastructure, cloud migrations, device management improvements, and enterprise security uplifts.
Review infrastructure designs, configurations, scripts, and automation to ensure alignment with enterprise architecture.
Serve as the escalation point for complex technical issues and cross-domain architectural decisions.
Lead workshops, technical discovery sessions, and participate in architecture review boards.
Define infrastructure automation standards using PowerShell, Azure Automation, ARM/Bicep, or Terraform.
Improve operational efficiency through automation, standardized build processes, and configuration management.
Work closely with Platform, Networking, and Cybersecurity teams to optimize performance, reliability, and cost across Microsoft environments.
Collaborate with business units to understand technology requirements and translate them into Microsoft-based architectural solutions.
Communicate architecture decisions, trade-offs, and risks to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Partner with vendors, Microsoft representatives, and systems integrators for solution validation and support.