Job Title: Cloud Solution Architecture Assurance Engineer
Contract Type: 12 months
Day Rate/Budget: Highly competitive/Open – we are seeking the best talent and are willing to compensate accordingly.
The Opportunity
We are undergoing a significant digital transformation, shifting our critical legacy infrastructure to a modern, cloud-native footing. To ensure this transition is secure, efficient, and aligned with best practices, we are seeking a seasoned Cloud Solution Architecture Assurance Engineer.
This is not a passive design and build role; you are the Guardian of the Gateway. You will sit at the intersection of engineering, security, and strategy—acting as the final checkpoint to ensure that every solution deployed into our cloud environment is robust, compliant, and built to last.
What You'll Really Do
1. Governance and Solution Assurance (The Gatekeeper)
- Own the architecture review board process; conduct deep-dive audits of proposed cloud solutions, reviewing infrastructure-as-code (IaC), network topologies, and data flow diagrams prior to production deployment.
- Act as the Approver-in-Chief, ensuring all solutions meet our strict non-functional requirements regarding performance, reliability, and cost-efficiency.
- Identify architectural flaws early in the lifecycle and provide the technical sign-off required to proceed with development.
2. Technical Advisory and Mentorship
- Collaborate closely with DevOps, Engineering, and Product teams to refine their designs. Rather than simply rejecting proposals, you will guide developers toward scalable, native-cloud alternatives.
3. Legacy Modernization & Migration Strategy
- Play a pivotal role in our migration roadmap; evaluate existing on-premise systems and design lift-and-shift, re-platform, or refactor strategies tailored to minimize risk and downtime.
- Drive the adoption of SaaS solutions where appropriate, ensuring seamless integration with our existing identity and data management frameworks.
4. Stakeholder Communication (The Translator)
- Bridge the gap between deep technical infrastructure and business risk. Present complex technical assessments to C-suite executives, board members, and non-technical stakeholders in clear, actionable business language.
- Facilitate workshops to gather requirements, manage expectations, and secure buy-in for major architectural decisions.
The Skills & Experience We Need (Must-Haves)
To be successful in this role, you will need to demonstrate a strong history of working in complex, enterprise-scale environments.
- Experience: A minimum of 7+ years in IT architecture, with at least 3 years dedicated specifically to Cloud Governance, Enterprise Architecture, or Solution Assurance.
- Project Delivery: You have led or been the primary architect on a significant cloud migration or modernization project (moving from on-prem to AWS/Azure/GCP).
- Governance and Auditing: You possess a forensic eye for detail and have a track record of performing architecture audits, risk assessments, and solution assurance reviews.
- Stakeholder Management: You are comfortable handling pushback and navigating political environments. You know how to say no with grace, offering viable alternatives that keep the project moving forward.
- Communication: Fluent in English (written and verbal) with the ability to produce high-quality architecture documentation and present to leadership.
- Mandatory Certification: You must hold at least one active, current certification at the Professional/Expert level from a major cloud provider—specifically AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional, Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert, or Google Professional Cloud Architect. Applications without an active certification will not be considered.
The Technical Toolkit (Additional Bonus Certifications)
While the primary cloud certification is mandatory, the following certifications are highly desirable and will distinguish strong candidates:
- Frameworks: TOGAF Certified (essential for navigating our enterprise landscape).
- Containers: Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) – beneficial as we containerize microservices.
- DevOps: Expert knowledge of CI/CD pipelines (GitLab/GitHub Actions) and automation tools.
- Security: Proficiency in cloud compliance, security groups, IAM policies, and risk management frameworks.
Why Join This Mission
- High Impact: You will be the key decision-maker ensuring the stability and security of systems used by millions.
- Competitive Compensation: We understand the market is competitive; we are willing to meet or exceed market rates for the right individual.
- Renewable Pipeline: This is a 6+6 contract, providing stability in a consultancy landscape.
- Modern Tech Stack: Work with the latest technologies and the autonomy to define best practices.
