Senior Cloud Platform Architect (GCP and Azure)
Posted 1 day ago by Vallum Associates
Negotiable
Inside
Onsite
England, United Kingdom
Summary: The Senior Cloud Platform Architect (GCP and Azure) role involves leading the design and implementation of cloud solutions for a public cloud platform, focusing on Google Cloud and Azure. The position requires expertise in cloud architecture, DevOps practices, and modern engineering methodologies to enhance cloud adoption and operational efficiency. The architect will work within a cross-disciplinary team to optimize cloud environments and ensure compliance and security. This role is based in various locations in England and is a 6-month contract inside IR35.
Key Responsibilities:
- Architect and optimize Cloud Landing Zones for GCP and Azure environments ensuring scalability, security, and compliance.
- Design and implement multi-cloud platform solutions leveraging GKE (Google Kubernetes Engine) and AKS (Azure Kubernetes Service).
- Define and enforce cloud governance frameworks, including identity, access management, and network security policies.
- Refactor and standardize Infrastructure as Code (IaC) templates using Terraform / Terraform Cloud for reusable, modular deployments.
- Implement policy-as-code guardrails for compliance using Sentinel or OPA.
- Drive Kubernetes cluster architecture, workload orchestration, and service mesh integration (Istio).
- Collaborate with DevOps teams to integrate CI/CD pipelines for automated infrastructure and application deployments.
- Optimize cloud resource utilization and cost through proactive monitoring and architectural improvements.
- Develop automation scripts and workflows using Python for operational efficiency.
- Lead migration of legacy workloads into modern cloud-native architectures.
- Provide technical leadership and best practices for Cloud Platform Engineering across GCP and Azure ecosystems.
Key Skills:
- Proven experience as a Cloud Architect with hands-on expertise in GCP and Azure.
- Strong knowledge of Kubernetes, GKE, and AKS for container orchestration.
- Expertise in Landing Zone design and optimization for enterprise-scale deployments.
- Advanced skills in Terraform / Terraform Cloud for IaC and automation.
- Familiarity with CI/CD tools (Jenkins, GitHub Actions, Harness).
- Proficiency in Python scripting for automation.
- Understanding of policy-as-code frameworks (OPA, Sentinel) and cloud governance.
- Certifications: GCP Professional Cloud Architect, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Kubernetes Certified.
- Good to have: Experience with IDE platforms for Cloud Engineering (e.g., Backstage).
Salary (Rate): 500GBP/Day
City: undetermined
Country: United Kingdom
Working Arrangements: on-site
IR35 Status: inside IR35
Seniority Level: Senior
Industry: IT
Job Title: Senior Cloud Platform Architect (GCP and Azure) Location: Bristol, Leeds, Halifax, Manchester, Edinburgh- 2Days/week Onsite Duration: 6months+ Contract Inside IR35 500GBP/Day
The Role We're looking to recruit Senior Cloud Platform Architect to be part of our Public Cloud Platform and help achieve our mission to provide compliant and efficient Google Cloud Infra, product and DevOps capabilities for the Group and drive innovation to enable customers to have rapid and seamless Google Cloud Adoption and build their business journeys more scalable, resilient and efficient . Your role will be part of a cross-disciplinary feature team in addition to being a highly experienced member of our wider Lloyds engineering team delivering change. Your role as a Cloud Platform Architect involves supporting teams with modern DevOps solutions, curating scalable GCP Cloud Products as IaaC, defining cloud patterns, modern ways of Cloud Engineering. You'll learn new skills, technologies and approaches to software development as well as benefiting from a culture that celebrates diversity, equal opportunity.
Your responsibilities:
- Architect and optimize Cloud Landing Zones for GCP and Azure environments ensuring scalability, security, and compliance.
- Design and implement multi-cloud platform solutions leveraging GKE (Google Kubernetes Engine) and AKS (Azure Kubernetes Service).
- Define and enforce cloud governance frameworks, including identity, access management, and network security policies.
- Refactor and standardize Infrastructure as Code (IaC) templates using Terraform / Terraform Cloud for reusable, modular deployments.
- Implement policy-as-code guardrails for compliance using Sentinel or OPA.
- Drive Kubernetes cluster architecture, workload orchestration, and service mesh integration (Istio).
- Collaborate with DevOps teams to integrate CI/CD pipelines for automated infrastructure and application deployments.
- Optimize cloud resource utilization and cost through proactive monitoring and architectural improvements.
- Develop automation scripts and workflows using Python for operational efficiency.
- Lead migration of legacy workloads into modern cloud-native architectures.
- Provide technical leadership and best practices for Cloud Platform Engineering across GCP and Azure ecosystems.
Your Profile Essential skills/knowledge/experience:
- Proven experience as a Cloud Architect with hands-on expertise in GCP and Azure.
- Strong knowledge of Kubernetes, GKE, and AKS for container orchestration.
- Expertise in Landing Zone design and optimization for enterprise-scale deployments.
- Advanced skills in Terraform / Terraform Cloud for IaC and automation.
- Familiarity with CI/CD tools (Jenkins, GitHub Actions, Harness).
- Proficiency in Python scripting for automation.
- Understanding of policy-as-code frameworks (OPA, Sentinel) and cloud governance.
- Certifications: GCP Professional Cloud Architect, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Kubernetes Certified.
- Good to have: Experience with IDE platforms for Cloud Engineering (e.g., Backstage).
Desirable skills/knowledge/experience: Looking for Senior Engineering Skills as GCP Cloud SMEs who has contributed also as a Technical Consultant in guiding Design, Architecture and Strategy. Bringing in thought leadership in driving innovation, best practices Good communicator, collaborator and Leader with experience on working with multiple organizational stakeholders.
Priyanka Sharma Senior Delivery Consultant Office: 02033759240 Email: psharma@vallumassociates.com