Principal Cloud Architect

Northern Trust • Chicago, IL

1d

About The Position

Northern Trust is seeking a visionary and highly experienced Principal Cloud Architect to lead the design, development, and implementation of scalable, secure, and resilient cloud solutions. This role is pivotal in shaping our cloud strategy, driving innovation, and ensuring alignment with business goals. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in cloud architecture, a strong understanding of enterprise IT, and a passion for mentoring and guiding technical teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in IT, with at least 5 years in cloud architecture roles.
• Deep expertise in one or more major cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Strong knowledge of cloud security, networking, DevOps, and automation.
• Experience with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and serverless architectures.
• Proven track record of leading large-scale cloud transformation initiatives.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.

Nice To Haves

• Cloud certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect).
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, ARM, CloudFormation).
• Familiarity with multi-cloud and hybrid cloud environments.
• Strong coding ability in languages such as Python, Go, Java, or similar, with the ability to contribute to infrastructure tooling, automation, or proof-of-concept development.
• Background in regulated industries (e.g., finance, healthcare, government) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of cloud-native and hybrid architectures that meet business, security, and compliance requirements.
• Define and evolve the enterprise cloud strategy, standards, and best practices.
• Serve as a technical leader and advisor across multiple teams, influencing cloud adoption and modernization efforts.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and trends to drive continuous improvement and innovation.
• Establish cloud governance frameworks, cost optimization strategies, and operational excellence.
• Work closely with engineering, security, DevOps, and business stakeholders to deliver end-to-end solutions.
• Coach and mentor architects, engineers, and developers on cloud best practices and architectural patterns.

Benefits

• Retirement benefits (401k and pension)
• Health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability)
• Paid time off
• Parental and caregiver leave
• Life & accident insurance
• Other voluntary and well-being benefits
• Discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees