Cloud Architect
Solution Architect (Multi-Cloud)Plano TX (All 5 Days Onsite)Contract Job Description:Core Expertise: Cross-Cloud Architecture (GCP & Azure/AWS), IaC, Security & GovernanceRole OverviewWe are seeking a Multi-Cloud Solution Architect to lead the strategic design and integration of our global cloud infrastructure. You will be the visionary responsible for ensuring our applications are resilient, portable, and optimized across Google Cloud (GCP) and Microsoft Azure/AWS. The ideal candidate is a “Cloud Polyglot” who understands the nuances of different cloud providers and can build a cohesive platform that leverages the best-of-breed services from each, while maintaining a unified security and compliance posture.Key Responsibilities1. Strategic Cloud Architecture? Cross-Platform Design: Design and implement high-availability architectures that span multiple cloud providers to ensure business continuity and disaster recovery.? Interoperability: Architect seamless connectivity between clouds (e.g., VPN Tunnels, Interconnect/ExpressRoute) to allow for fluid data and workload movement.? Vendor Neutrality: Drive strategies to reduce vendor lock-in by utilizing containerization (K8s) and open-standard tooling.2. Infrastructure as Code & Automation? Unified IaC: Standardize infrastructure provisioning using Terraform or Pulumi to manage resources across disparate cloud environments from a single source of truth.? Automated Governance: Implement automated policy-as-code (Sentinel, OPA) to ensure consistent security and compliance guardrails across all cloud tenants.3. Security, Identity & Compliance? Identity Federation: Architect unified identity and access management (IAM) strategies, integrating Azure AD (Entra ID) with GCP/AWS IAM.? Defense-in-Depth: Design cross-cloud security perimeters, including centralized logging, WAF (Cloud Armor/Azure WAF), and unified encryption standards.4. FinOps & Cost Optimization? Cloud Economics: Analyze and optimize multi-cloud spend, identifying the most cost-effective provider for specific workloads (Compute vs. Data vs. AI).? Chargeback/Showback: Implement tagging and resource-grouping standards to provide granular cost visibility across the multi-cloud footprint.Technical Requirements? 10+ Years in IT Infrastructure: A proven track record evolving from traditional data centers to complex multi-cloud environments.? Multi-Cloud Mastery: Expert-level knowledge in GCP (primary) and Azure/AWS (secondary). Professional Architect certifications in at least two clouds are highly preferred.? Container Orchestration: Deep experience with Kubernetes (GKE/AKS/EKS) and service mesh technologies (Istio/Linkerd).? DevOps Excellence: Mastery of CI/CD patterns and tools (GitHub Actions, GitLab, Jenkins) in a multi-cloud context.? Networking Expertise: Advanced knowledge of BGP, DNS, Global Load Balancing, and SD-WAN.Professional Attributes? The “Bridge-Builder”: Ability to explain complex multi-cloud trade-offs to stakeholders, balancing technical excellence with business ROI.? Pragmatic Visionary: You stay ahead of cloud trends but prioritize the stability and security of the production environment.? Problem Solver: A history of resolving high-stakes architectural bottlenecks in distributed, cross-cloud systems.