Cloud Solutions Architect – Azure

Cloud Solutions Architect – Azure (Contract)

Location: Reading

Travel: Dublin on occasion

Duration: Initial 6 Months

Contract Type: Day Rate (Inside IR35)

We’re looking for an experienced Cloud Solutions Architect to lead the design and delivery of enterprise‑grade Microsoft Azure solutions as part of a major cloud migration and modernisation programme. You’ll define target architectures, guide migration patterns, and ensure solutions are secure, scalable, and aligned to organisational strategy.

This role blends deep technical expertise with strong architectural leadership and the ability to translate complex cloud concepts into clear business outcomes.

• Define the target Azure architecture
  , selecting the right mix of IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS
• Shape migration strategies (rehost, replatform, refactor, replace) and roadmap planning
• Provide architectural oversight across engineering, Dev Ops, data, and platform teams
• Design secure, resilient Azure landing zones aligned to governance and CAF standards
• Ensure compliance with GDPR
  , ISO 27001
  , and enterprise security policies
• Optimise for performance, scalability, and cost using Azure‑native tools
• Promote Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Bicep, ARM) and automation best practices
• Communicate complex technical designs to senior stakeholders in business‑friendly language
• Evaluate emerging Azure services and recommend innovative solutions

• 7–10+ years in IT, with 3–5+ years designing Azure cloud solutions
• Strong expertise across computer, networking, storage, identity, and security
• Proven experience delivering Azure migration and modernisation programmes
• Familiarity with Dev Ops, CI/CD, and container platforms (AKS, Docker)
• Experience with cloud governance, landing zones, and hybrid/cloud architectures
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to lead through influence across multidisciplinary teams
• Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ‑305)
• TOGAF or similar architecture frameworks

You’ll shape the cloud foundations that enable large‑scale modernisation, reduce technical debt, and improve resilience across the organisation playing a key role in one of the most significant technology transformations underway.