Azure Cloud Systems Engineer

Location: Washington, DC

Department: 60020238 - AFS Cloud Native Engineering

The work:

As an Azure Architect, you will be responsible for designing, building, managing, and scaling secure cloud infrastructure solutions on the Microsoft Azure platform across multiple security classification fabrics. Your role will involve creating scalable, secure, and efficient cloud environments that support the organization’s business objectives. You will work closely with development teams, IT operations, and other stakeholders to ensure the seamless deployment and operation of cloud services. In addition to contributing hands‑on, you will provide technical leadership by owning Azure architecture direction, guiding engineers, delegating work items, and ensuring the team remains aligned to priority builds and accreditation activities. Your expertise in cloud architecture, networking, and security will be essential in optimizing performance and ensuring the reliability of our cloud infrastructure. In this role, you will be expected to perform a variety of tasks including the provisioning of resources, automation of workflows, and monitoring of cloud environments. You will leverage your SME-level knowledge of Azure services and Infrastructure-as-Code (IAC) to implement best practices for cost management, security, and compliance. Your ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex cloud-related issues will be critical in maintaining the integrity and performance of our infrastructure. Additionally, you will lead teams through their cloud adoption journey, ensuring they utilize Azure services effectively and consistently with architectural standards.

Key Responsibilities:

Design, build, manage, and scale cloud infrastructure solutions on Microsoft Azure. Provision and configure Azure resources such as virtual machines, storage accounts, and networking components. Automate deployment and management processes using tools like Azure DevOps, ARM templates, and PowerShell. Monitor and optimize the performance, scalability, and availability of cloud environments. Implement security best practices and ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations. Collaborate with development and IT operations teams to support application deployment and maintenance. Troubleshoot and resolve cloud-related issues and incidents. Provide leadership, guidance, and training to teams on Azure services and best practices. Stay current with the latest Azure technologies and trends to drive continuous improvement.

Here’s what you need:

• Minimum 8 years' professional experience.
• 3+ years architecting and operating Cloud environments at scale.
• Hands‑on expertise in Windows Server/Active Directory, virtualization (e.g., VMware), and core networking.
• Proficiency with Infrastructure‑as‑Code (e.g., Bicep/Terraform/ARM) and automation (PowerShell; cloud-based DevOps pipelines). 
• Experience with one or more of the following: RBAC/Entra ID, Azure Policy, Key Vault, Defender for Cloud, backup/DR. 
• Active TS clearance required.
• Willingness to work onsite in Washington, DC.

Bonus points if you have: 

• Bachelor's degree strongly desired.
• Relevant certifications such as Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect, Azure Administrator, or Azure DevOps Engineer.

Eligibility Requirements:

US Citizenship required