Cloud Engineer III

OverviewWe are seeking a skilled and innovative Cloud Engineer III to join our client in a remote, contract-to-hire role based in the CST or EST time zones. This position focuses on designing, implementing, and optimizing scalable Azure cloud solutions that support enterprise operations, ensuring reliability, security, and performance across multiple domains. The Cloud Engineer III will provide technical leadership, collaborate across teams, and contribute to long-term cloud strategies.Work ScheduleStandard business hours, Monday through FridayKey ResponsibilitiesLead the design and development of secure, reliable Azure cloud architectures for compute, storage, network, and containerization.Implement and maintain tenant-level Azure security measures, including baselines, access controls, patching, and vulnerability management.Collaborate with business and technical stakeholders to define and communicate cloud strategies, benefits, risks, and costs.Provide expert-level guidance on Azure services, emerging technologies, and industry best practices.Evaluate and recommend Azure architecture patterns to improve scalability, automation, and performance using tools such as Terraform, Ansible, Chef, or Puppet.Partner with developers, operations, security, and data teams to align and deliver effective cloud solutions.Design and implement automation/orchestration solutions to streamline operations and enhance efficiency.Troubleshoot and resolve critical Azure-related issues while maintaining high uptime standards.Conduct regular assessments of cloud environments to identify opportunities for optimization, cost savings, and improved performance.Document solutions, processes, and best practices; train junior engineers and transition support tasks to service teams.Participate in strategic planning, budgeting, and roadmap creation for cloud services.Mentor and provide technical leadership to junior team members.QualificationsBachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent work experience.Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) certification required; Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-303/304) preferred.5–7 years of experience designing, implementing, and managing cloud platforms in a large-scale enterprise environment.Expert knowledge of Azure cloud services, virtualization, and containerization.Proficiency with scripting (PowerShell, Python) and automation tools (Terraform, Ansible, Chef, Puppet).Strong knowledge of networking protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VLANs).Excellent troubleshooting, organizational, and problem-solving skills.Strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.Ability to lead large, complex projects and mentor junior team members.Why Join Us?This role offers the opportunity to lead impactful cloud initiatives in a fast-paced, forward-thinking environment. You'll work alongside talented professionals, expand your technical expertise, and play a key role in shaping cloud strategies that drive organizational success.About UsContemporary Staffing Solutions (CSS) is a trusted leader in providing contract, temporary, temp-to-hire, and direct hire staffing solutions. With decades of experience, we've grown from a staffing agency to a nationwide provider of workforce management solutions. Our niche recruitment expertise spans Accounting & Finance, Call Center & Office Support, Human Resources, Sales & Marketing, and Information Technology.Explore more about CSS and how we connect great talent with exceptional opportunities by visiting levelMid-Senior levelEmployment typeContractJob functionEngineering and Information TechnologyIndustriesStaffing and RecruitingJ-18808-Ljbffr