Azure Cloud Solution Architect

This is a remote position.

We are seeking an experienced Azure Cloud Solution Architect to lead the development and enhancement of cloud-based solutions. This role will be responsible for architecting scalable, high-performance applications while ensuring seamless integration with enterprise platforms like SAP and Salesforce. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in .NET development, cloud-native technologies, and DevOps practices, along with proven leadership experience managing global, cross-functional teams.

As an Azure Cloud Solution Architect, you will drive the strategic vision for cloud solutions, optimizing performance, security, and total cost of ownership. You will collaborate with stakeholders, product managers, and development teams to deliver innovative solutions that enhance business efficiency and customer experience.

Requirements

Main responsibilities:

• Lead Pricing tool development initiatives, working closely with Product Managers and stakeholders to define and prioritize the product backlog in alignment with the product vision, strategy, and roadmap, ensuring solutions effectively address identified business needs.
  
• Effectively manage the Distributor Enablement tool product backlog, clearly communicating backlog items to stakeholders, product managers, and the scrum team, balancing product development, operational work, and bug fixes to consistently deliver product value.
  
• Develop and maintain release plans for distributor experience tool enhancements, incorporating financial costs and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) considerations into the planning process. Set achievable release goals in coordination with Product Managers and the delivery team, while also managing interdependencies with other teams to ensure aligned release plans and timelines. This approach ensures that financial aspects are integral to strategic decision-making, optimizing both the impact and efficiency of Pricing tool enhancements.
  
• Collaborate continuously with the Scrum team and subject matter experts to refine Product Backlog Items, ensuring the team has a deep understanding necessary for accurate estimation and planning during sprint sessions.
  
• Set clear priorities and sprint goals for the focused scrum team, providing support throughout sprint execution to address impediments and ensure a seamless workflow.
  
• Uphold the quality of Pricing tool deliverables by reviewing sprint backlog items, offering feedback to the scrum team, and actively engaging in agile events to advocate for stakeholder needs effectively.
  
• Coordinate cross-functional resources for the planning and execution of Pricing tool Product Backlog Items, working with professionals from various departments to ensure successful sprint reviews, user acceptance testing, and rollout of distributor experience tool features.
  
• Champion team development and foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the Customer Experience tool team, encouraging knowledge sharing, professional growth, and collaboration to build a high-performing, agile team capable of delivering innovative engagement tool solutions.
  

Key Qualifications and Experiences:

Technical Expertise:

• Cloud Platform Proficiency: Solid experience (minimum 5 years) in architecting, deploying, and managing applications across leading cloud platforms, demonstrating comprehensive knowledge of cloud services including computing, database management, application development, and integration services. Familiarity with cloud-native services (Azure), containerization (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes), and serverless architectures is highly valued.
  
• Embedded Systems and CI/CD: Experience with embedded devices, operating systems, and server-client architecture.  - Proficient in CI/CD and SecDevOps practices.
  
• Architecture Design:  - Experience in Microservices and Event-Driven Architecture.  - Understanding of architecture design principles and patterns. Experience with SQL Server  - Web Services (SOAP/REST) and API development.
  
• .NET Development Skills: Extensive hands-on experience in building scalable, high-performance applications using .NET technologies, with strong capabilities in C#, .NET Core, ASP.NET, and Entity Framework. Knowledge of web technologies and frameworks, such as Blazor or ASP.NET MVC, is also crucial.
  
• Integration with SAP and Salesforce: Demonstrated ability to integrate .NET applications with both SAP and Salesforce platforms, employing APIs and middleware solutions like SAP Process Orchestration or API to facilitate robust data exchange and streamline workflows across these systems.
  
• Security and Compliance: Deep understanding of security practices related to cloud-hosted applications, including implementing secure authentication and authorization mechanisms (e.g., OAuth, OpenID Connect) and ensuring compliance with relevant industry security standards.
  
• Scalability and High Availability: Proven expertise in designing applications that are highly scalable and resilient, leveraging cloud scalability features such as load balancing, auto-scaling, and caching services to ensure optimal performance and availability.
  
• Agile Development Practices: Strong background in Agile methodologies, adept at managing product backlogs, user stories, sprint planning, and releases, particularly within a cloud-hosted application development environment.
  
• Strategic Problem Solving and Analytical Thinking: Ability to address complex technical and integration challenges with a strategic mindset, utilizing analytical and data-driven decision-making to optimize the application's performance and capabilities.
  

• Leadership and Management:
  
• Team Leadership: 7+ years of experience leading large, remote, global IT teams, with 5+ years focused on development lifecycle leadership within a product team framework.
  
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Background in coordinating hardware & software development teams and business owners, with the ability to influence SMEs directly.
  
• Global Team Management: Experience leading multi-cultural and global teams in a matrix organization, adept at influencing stakeholders and working proactively with business and IT peers globally.
  
• Specialized Skills:
  
• Prototyping: Ability to engage in rapid prototype development using iterative techniques.
  
• Vendor and Partner Engagement: Direct experience managing relationships with outsourcing and consulting partners.
  
• Cloud Architecture Design: Deep understanding of cloud solutions and architectures, enabling scalable, flexible, and resilient digital infrastructures that support rapid innovation and development.