Senior Azure Cloud Architect

Zachary Piper Solutions is seeking a Senior Azure Cloud Architect to support a high-visibility federal mission focused on designing, securing, and modernizing enterprise cloud infrastructure within a highly regulated environment. The Senior Azure Cloud Architect will serve as a senior technical leader supporting Azure architecture, cloud migrations, networking, identity, infrastructure automation, and cybersecurity initiatives. This position requires an Active Secret Clearance and Security+ certification and is hybrid in Washington, D.C.!

Responsibilities of the Senior Azure Cloud Architect:

• Design, architect, and implement secure, scalable Microsoft Azure environments supporting federal mission requirements
• Develop enterprise cloud architecture solutions across compute, storage, networking, identity, security, monitoring, and governance
• Design and troubleshoot complex Azure networking environments, including VNets, subnets, NSGs, routing, Azure Firewall, VPN, ExpressRoute, and load balancing
• Architect and implement Microsoft Entra ID solutions, including RBAC, Conditional Access, identity governance, authentication, and enterprise identity integrations
• Lead and support on-premises to Azure cloud migrations, including migration planning, dependency mapping, replication, failover testing, cutovers, and post-migration validation
• Utilize Azure Site Recovery (ASR) to support disaster recovery, workload replication, and migration initiatives
• Develop and maintain Infrastructure as Code (IaC) solutions using Terraform, Bicep, and/or ARM templates
• Automate cloud infrastructure deployment, configuration, and operational processes using PowerShell, Ansible, Azure DevOps, and/or GitHub Actions
• Develop and maintain cloud architecture diagrams, network diagrams, and technical documentation using Microsoft Visio
• Ensure Azure environments comply with applicable federal security requirements and DISA STIGs
• Collaborate with government stakeholders, engineers, system administrators, cybersecurity teams, and other technical personnel to develop and implement cloud solutions
• Lead technical discussions, architecture reviews, design sessions, and customer-facing presentations
• Provide technical direction and mentorship to engineering teams while serving as a senior subject matter expert for Azure cloud architecture
• Troubleshoot complex infrastructure, networking, identity, security, and cloud connectivity issues
• Support the continuous modernization, optimization, and hardening of enterprise cloud environments

Qualifications for the Senior Azure Cloud Architect:

• 10+ years of professional IT, infrastructure, cloud, or engineering experience
• 5+ years of hands-on Azure experience within DoD IL5/IL6 or comparable high-security government environments
• Extensive experience designing and implementing Azure cloud architectures in enterprise or federal environments
• Strong hands-on experience with Azure networking, including VNets, subnets, NSGs, routing, Azure Firewall, VPN, ExpressRoute, and load balancing
• Strong experience with Microsoft Entra ID, including RBAC, Conditional Access, identity governance, and enterprise identity architecture
• Experience with Azure Site Recovery and enterprise cloud migration initiatives
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code tools such as Terraform, Bicep, and/or ARM
• Experience with Azure DevOps and/or GitHub Actions for infrastructure automation and CI/CD
• Strong scripting and automation experience using PowerShell and/or Ansible
• Experience securing and hardening cloud environments in accordance with DISA STIGs and federal security requirements
• Active Secret Clearance
• CompTIA Security+ certification
• Experience creating and maintaining technical architecture and network diagrams using Microsoft Visio
• Ability to work onsite in Washington, D.C. at least 3 days per week
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interact directly with government customers and technical stakeholders
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to troubleshoot complex cloud, networking, identity, and infrastructure challenges

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience architecting Azure Government environments
• Azure Solutions Architect Expert or other relevant Microsoft Azure certifications
• Experience supporting federal or high-security government cloud programs
• Experience with Azure landing zones, governance, policy, and enterprise-scale cloud implementations
• Experience with Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, Defender for Cloud, Sentinel, or other Azure security and monitoring capabilitiesExperience with cloud disaster recovery and business continuity planning
• Experience with database or data management environments
• Familiarity with Agile development and engineering methodologies
• Experience leading technical teams or serving as a cloud architecture SME
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear recommendations for customers and leadership
• Experience leading architecture reviews, customer meetings, and technical presentations

Compensation for the Senior Azure Cloud Architect includes:

• Salary: $200,000 - $230,000
• Comprehensive Benefits Package including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), PTO, and Paid Holidays