Principal Cloud Architect

About the role:

The Principal Cloud Architect is a senior role, reporting to the Cloud Operations Manager as part of our DevOps team within our Product and Technology business. The DevOps team is responsible for the high level Architecture, Design and Operation of the Zellis Cloud Estate, built on Microsoft Azure, and best-in[1]class architectural foundations. The role advises, governs and directs Zellis technical teams from a high-level cloud architecture and design perspective. This role will be deeply involved in hands-on project delivery, from initial design through to the implementation phase, working closely with software engineering, DevOps, and CloudOps teams.

Essential Skills:

• A strong technical leader with demonstrable experience of defining, implementing and documenting the architecture technology, governance strategies and frameworks for large scale solutions within a commercial software environment.
• Extensive hands-on experience with modern DevOps practices such as IaC and versioning, pipeline deployments and platform and application observability.
• A deep understanding of core Azure platform services such as Azure SQL, AKS, FrontDoor, WAF, Storage, KeyVault, ASP’s, VNet, Entra and IAAM.
• A good understanding of general networking principles applied within a complex multi tenanted cloud architecture.
• Good understanding of IT Security best practices, compliance and audit standards, and their influence on architectural design and governance.

Responsibilities

• Create, own and maintain a high-level cloud architectural strategy and roadmap building on best-in-class architectural foundations such as the Microsoft Azure well architected framework.
• Provide recommendations on our cloud approach and overall adoption as an input to the overall Zellis Technology Strategy and Technology roadmap.
• Provide technology governance (frameworks and guardrails) that support our Zellis cloud estate to adopt best practice.
• Act as a champion for modern SaaS architecture and design principles.
• Where appropriate, be hands-on and contribute to initial cloud technology implementations working closely with Software Engineering teams, DevOps and Cloud Ops.
• Lead the design and delivery of cloud projects from conception through to successful completion, on time and within budget.
• Participate in the Technology Design Authority, attended by technology leads across the business, to drive and embed the technology strategy for the organization and ensure designs adhere to the strategy.
• Lead the design and documentation of the teams architectural frameworks and guard rails
• Contribute and facilitate architectural reviews of key projects ensuring they align or are on a path to aligning with the agreed cloud strategy.
• Create an environment for innovation and new ideas, ensuring all team members feel empowered to challenge existing methods and thinking.
• Work in conjunction with the Zellis Chief Information and Security Officer, ensuring Zellis cloud services are aligned with an appropriate risk-based security posture and adhere to the agreed Zellis security standards.