Senior Azure Specialist

Opkalla•Charlotte, NC

About The Position

Opkalla is seeking a Senior Azure Specialist to join its Microsoft Practice. The role takes ownership of Azure opportunities after the Architecture Team completes initial discovery and pre-sales work, managing engagements through close and handling Azure transfers from other Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) partners or Microsoft Enterprise Agreements (EAs). The specialist analyzes what will transfer, manages and performs or oversees the transfer, and onboards customers’ Azure environments to Opkalla for ongoing support and optimization. The role is also the senior escalation point for complex Azure issues from the Microsoft Practice Support team, with a goal of resolving issues internally and keeping Microsoft escalations below 10% of Azure tickets. The specialist delivers Microsoft FinOps services through recurring and on-demand cost and usage analysis, dashboards, and customer recommendations. They will also lead the design of a future real-time FinOps service in partnership with Opkalla’s development team, defining monitoring, alerts, reports, dashboards, and client meetings. This is a senior, hands-on position requiring deep Azure expertise and the ability to work independently with customers, third-party partners, Microsoft, and internal teams. The specialist will document repeatable procedures and mentor the Microsoft Practice Support team.

Requirements

Current Azure certifications, including at minimum Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104), Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500), and Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate (AZ-700).
5+ years of hands-on production experience administering and supporting Azure environments; certifications alone are insufficient.
Demonstrated experience managing Azure transfers, including CSP-to-CSP and EA-to-CSP transfers.
Experience serving as a senior escalation point for complex Azure issues in a client-facing, MSP, or consulting environment.
Demonstrated experience analyzing cloud spend and delivering cost-optimization recommendations.
Strong working knowledge of Azure Cost Management + Billing, Azure Advisor, and Azure Policy.
Strong engagement and project coordination skills, including driving multiple opportunities through close and customer transitions to completion across customers, Microsoft, third-party partners, and internal teams.
Excellent communication skills and comfort explaining technical processes and recommendations directly to customers.

Nice To Haves

Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305).
Experience with Microsoft Partner Center, CSP, and Microsoft transfer processes.
Experience with third-party cost-management or FinOps tools such as CloudHealth, Flexera, or Turbonomic.
Prior experience in a Microsoft Partner, MSP, or IT consulting environment.

Responsibilities

Take ownership of Azure opportunities handed off by the Architecture Team when clients continue with the sales process and an opportunity is likely to close.
Coordinate next steps among the Technical Advisor, Architecture Team, client, third-party partners, and Microsoft, keeping technical and commercial work on track through close.
Own Azure transfers to Opkalla from another CSP partner or a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement.
Submit and manage transfer requests with Microsoft or the client’s current CSP, and follow up until completion.
Analyze the client’s Azure environment with the client and agree on which components will and will not transfer.
Plan and run transfer processes, performing or overseeing technical steps and tracking related items such as quote updates and terms and conditions.
Onboard transferred Azure environments to Opkalla for ongoing support and optimization.
Explain the transfer and onboarding process to clients and keep stakeholders informed of progress and next steps.
Serve as the escalation point for complex Azure issues from the Microsoft Practice Support team.
Resolve complex Azure cases internally and involve Microsoft when internal expertise is insufficient, targeting a Microsoft escalation rate below 10% of Azure tickets.
Communicate with clients and the support team throughout issue resolution.
Deliver Azure FinOps services, including recurring monthly or quarterly cost and usage reporting and analysis, as well as on-demand analysis.
Produce cost-analysis documents and dashboards using Kallarity AI tooling and interpret the data for clients.
Analyze Azure spending, including pricing-model mix, reserved capacity, and Azure Hybrid Benefit, and recommend changes.
Investigate spending patterns, such as rising Azure SQL spend, and recommend changes to resource design or operating practices.
Scope FinOps engagements with the Microsoft Adoption Specialist and support Kallarity demonstrations for clients.
Lead the design of Opkalla’s future real-time FinOps service, including real-time Azure consumption monitoring and timely alerts, analysis, and consulting.
Work with Opkalla’s development team to build the service’s monitoring, alerts, reports, and dashboard.
Define standard alerts, reports, and client meetings delivered through the Opkalla dashboard.
After launch, respond to alerts, analyze spending spikes, and advise clients on actions to take.
Document repeatable support, onboarding, and transfer procedures so routine work can be handled by the Microsoft Practice Support team.
Guide and mentor the Microsoft Practice Support team on Azure.