Principal Cloud Architect

Stratus•,

23h•$100,000 - $135,000•Remote

About The Position

The Principal Cloud Architect is the organization’s senior-most cloud-focused IT leader, responsible for architecting, implementing, governing, and operating the enterprise cloud environment. This role defines the cloud strategy and target-state architecture for the company’s transition from on-premise infrastructure to a pure-cloud model, ensuring scalability, security, reliability, resilience, and cost efficiency. The Principal Cloud Architect leads enterprise cloud transformation initiatives across infrastructure, identity, networking, security, and integrated business systems; serves as the technical authority for Azure architecture and cloud platform standards; and leads a team of Cloud Engineers to deliver modernization, migration, and operational excellence.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or related field; equivalent experience considered.
8+ years of experience in infrastructure, cloud engineering, or cloud architecture roles, including 5+ years in senior cloud architecture or platform leadership positions.
5+ years of hands-on Microsoft Azure architecture, design, and operational experience in enterprise environments.
Proven experience leading cloud transformation from on-premise or hybrid infrastructure to cloud-first or cloud-native operating models.
Experience leading or supporting post-merger or acquisition IT integration, including environment assessment, migration, standardization, and security alignment.
Demonstrated experience leading technical teams, including coaching engineers, reviewing designs, and overseeing architectural and operational delivery.
Advanced experience with Infrastructure as Code and automation tools such as Terraform, Azure CLI, PowerShell, Puppet, or Ansible.
Deep expertise in Azure landing zones, governance, policy management, subscription design, and enterprise-scale cloud operating models.
Strong knowledge of cloud security frameworks, Microsoft Entra ID, hybrid identity, RBAC, privileged access, and zero trust architecture.
Experience designing high-availability, fault-tolerant, self-healing, and disaster recovery solutions for critical business platforms.
Strong experience with Azure DevOps, Git, CI/CD pipelines, monitoring, observability, backup and recovery, and service reliability practices.
Deep understanding of networking, databases, messaging systems, RESTful APIs, and enterprise integration patterns across multiple systems.

Responsibilities

Define and maintain enterprise cloud architecture standards, reference patterns, landing zone design, and governance frameworks.
Own the enterprise cloud transformation roadmap, including migration sequencing, target-state architecture, and operating model design.
Architect, implement, and operate highly available, secure, and resilient Azure solutions aligned with business continuity and disaster recovery requirements.
Lead a team of Cloud Engineers, setting priorities, reviewing designs, mentoring team members, and ensuring high-quality execution of cloud initiatives.
Establish Infrastructure as Code (IaC) standards and automation strategies using Terraform, Azure CLI, PowerShell, and related tooling.
Lead cloud migration and modernization strategies, including assessment, application rationalization, planning, cutover, and architectural design.
Design and govern secure connectivity, identity, and access models across cloud environments, legacy systems, and integrated platforms.
Develop and enforce cloud security, compliance, data protection, backup, recovery, and operational resilience standards.
Provide architectural oversight for enterprise application modernization, platform integration, and cloud adoption initiatives involving multiple interconnected systems.
Partner with DevOps, infrastructure, security, and application teams to implement CI/CD, automation, observability, and service reliability best practices.
Drive cloud financial management practices, including cost optimization, budgeting, forecasting, governance, and performance monitoring.
Lead technical due diligence and post-acquisition integration planning for inherited infrastructure, applications, identity, and data into the enterprise cloud environment.