Senior Solutions Architect - Microsoft Azure

Start Date: As soon as possible

Location: Remote (in office JHB 1-2 times per month or as needed)

Duration: 12 months

Job Summary: We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect to join our dynamic team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for designing and implementing Azure-based solutions that meet business requirements and align with our strategic vision. This role requires a deep understanding of cloud architecture, best practices, and emerging technologies

As a Senior Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect, you will collaborate with stakeholders, leadership, subject matter experts, partners, and clients to design and implement cutting-edge Azure solutions. You will be responsible for ensuring these solutions align with Microsoft standards, including Cloud Adoption Framework (CAF), and comply with best practices in cloud architecture and security. A deep understanding of Azure AI capabilities and integration is essential. This role requires you to lead the systematic investigation, analysis, and documentation of business requirements, while crafting strategic roadmaps that address short, medium, and long-term objectives. You will also conduct feasibility studies, create business cases, and assess risks to deliver proposals for holistic, scalable solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assess current system architectures and collaborate with technical teams to recommend enhancements and improvements.
• Architect and design Azure-based solutions, incorporating IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, DevOps, and Advanced Applications.
• Lead the design and implementation of cloud-based infrastructure solutions that integrate AI capabilities.
• Provide technical leadership to ensure Azure solutions meet compliance with Microsoft's Cloud Adoption Framework (CAF) and other governance standards.
• Develop and document solution roadmaps aligned with business goals, including short, medium, and long-term cloud adoption strategies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to guide the successful deployment of Azure AI technologies, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
• Support other Architects and Technical Specialists across multiple enterprise projects, ensuring high-quality design and delivery of Microsoft technologies.
• Resolve complex technical issues and provide mentorship and guidance to operational and technical teams.
• Deliver technical presentations, share best practices, and represent the client at conferences and technical talks.
• Conduct continuous research on emerging cloud technologies, identifying opportunities for innovation.
• Develop technical documentation, including project specifications, flowcharts, and deployment plans, to support ongoing development and future project requirements.
• Oversee full deployment lifecycle (DLC) and ensure adherence to industry standards and best practices.
• Manage stakeholder communications, providing updates on solution development, project costs, and progress.
• Lead change management and adoption processes to ensure successful implementation and optimization of Azure solutions.
• Collaborate on pricing models and cost management strategies for cloud solutions.

Qualifications:

• Grade 12 / (NQF4)
• Tertiary qualification in Information Technology (NQF 6) or equivalent years of experience with relevant technical certifications.

Experience:

• 10+ years of enterprise IT systems integration experience, including 5+ years of hands-on cloud solution architecture design and deployment with 4+ years on the Microsoft Azure platform.
• Proven experience in architecting complex, large-scale enterprise solutions within Microsoft Azure, leveraging IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, and DevOps.
• 5+ years of production deployment, support, and maintenance of Microsoft Active Directory infrastructures (Group Policies, DNS, user role delegation, etc.).
• Extensive experience designing and implementing cloud-native applications and infrastructure, particularly leveraging Azure AI for business solutions.