Azure Cloud Architect

Job Purpose

Blu Label Unlimited is seeking an experienced Azure Cloud Architect to join our Enterprise Architecture team during a critical period of digital transformation. This role is essential to our New platform modernization initiative, which represents a strategic migration from legacy systems to a modern, cloud-native Azure infrastructure serving customers across multiple touchpoints.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the operational administration, governance, and optimization of Azure subscriptions across the Blu Label Group, while providing architectural guidance for our multi-subsidiary fintech ecosystem encompassing telecommunications, financial services, utilities, and digital distribution operations.

Key Responsibilities

Cloud Architecture & Platform Engineering

• Lead the design and architecture of cloud solutions for clients based on their specific requirements.
• Assess client needs and recommend appropriate cloud services and configurations on private / public and hyperscaler clouds.
• Create detailed technical documentation and diagrams outlining proposed solutions.
• Design and implement scalable, resilient cloud architectures aligned with Azure Well-Architected Framework principles.
• Provide architectural guidance for Blu Sky platform modernization, including TCP-to-REST API transformations.
• Develop and maintain Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using Terraform, ARM templates, and Azure Bicep.
• Design and implement Azure networking solutions including VNets, NSGs, Application Gateway, and Express Route.
• Architect Azure PaaS solutions leveraging App Services, Container Apps, AKS, Functions, and Logic Apps.

Presales Support, Security, Compliance & Fin Ops

• Collaborate with the sales team to understand client objectives and challenges.
• Develop and present compelling technical proposals to clients, demonstrating the value of proposed solutions.
• Participate in client meetings and discussions to answer technical inquiries and address concerns.
• Implement Azure security best practices including Microsoft Defender for Cloud, Key Vault, and security baselines.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements (POPIA, PCI-DSS) and industry standards in cloud deployments.
• Develop and maintain disaster recovery and business continuity strategies for Azure workloads.
• Lead Azure Fin Ops initiatives to optimize cloud spend, implement cost allocation, and drive cost efficiency.
• Establish cloud governance frameworks and enforce architectural standards across Azure subscriptions.

Azure Cloud Operations & Solution Development

• Work closely with the technical teams to translate client requirements into actionable technical solutions.
• Identify and recommend best practices for cloud infrastructure design and optimization.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest cloud technologies and trends to provide innovative solutions.
• Manage and administer Azure subscriptions across Blu Label Group entities, ensuring optimal configuration, security, and compliance.
• Implement and maintain Azure governance frameworks including Azure Policy, RBAC, resource tagging, and management groups.
• Monitor Azure resource utilization, performance, and costs using Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and Cost Management tools.
• Perform regular health checks, capacity planning, and optimization activities across all Azure environments.
• Manage Azure Active Directory (Entra ), identity and access management, and conditional access policies.

Technical Write-ups, Integration & Modernization Support

• Produce high-quality technical write-ups and solution architecture documents that clearly outline proposed technical solutions.
• Articulate the benefits and advantages of the proposed solutions in a way that resonates with clients.
• Support integration architecture initiatives including WSO2 Micro Integrator implementations on Azure.
• Collaborate with development teams on Azure Dev Ops CI/CD pipeline implementations.
• Provide technical guidance for legacy system migrations to Azure cloud-native architectures.
• Design and implement API Management solutions for enterprise integration patterns.
• Participate in architecture review boards and provide cloud architecture recommendations.

Customer Centricity

• Coordinates contact with Business Partners as needed to assist with support activities.
• Establish and maintain a positive professional relationship with Business Partners and customers.
• Maintain regular and timely communications with Business Partners and customers.
• Maintain strong working relationship with customers and Business Partners.
• Work with customers and Business Partners to execute consistent service processes throughout the organization.
• Establish a single point of contact for issue resolution and change management.
• Drive customer centricity in levels of the organization.

Work Collaboratively

• Build a culture of integrity, respect and understanding across the organisation.
• Recognise outcomes which resulted from effective collaboration between teams.
• Build co-operation and overcome barriers to information sharing,…