Cloud Platform Architect

We are recruiting a Cloud Platform Architect to join our Information Technology team in London. Reporting to the Head of Enterprise Technology Platforms, this Senior Manager level role will be responsible for the ensuring the A&O Shearman Cloud and Infrastructure Platform meets the current and future needs of the global business, is secure, operationally excellent and is cost efficient. Defining, designing and implementing the Cloud and Infrastructure strategy, architecture and infrastructure.

The role holder will work across a broad, global stakeholder group to translate business goals and strategy into technology strategy and design, working with delivery and operational leadership to implement these.

Enterprise technology platforms

The enterprise technology platforms include the Cloud and Infrastructure Platform, Power Platform & Automation and Microsoft 365 platforms. The purpose of these platforms is to define, design and deliver the architecture, roadmaps and customer solutions aligned to the business goals, technology strategy and enterprise architecture. These must meet the business, security and operational needs of the firm over a multi-year time horizon, whilst ensuring value for money.

Role & responsibilities

• Ensure the multi-year Cloud & Infrastructure Platform Roadmap is continuously maintained, aligned to the business goals and strategy, delivering security, operational excellence and cost efficiency, as agreed with the Head of Enterprise Architecture and Strategy, Information Security, IT Operations and the Head of Enterprise Technology Platforms.
• Ensure the multi-year Cloud & Infrastructure Platform Roadmap is delivered. This will require the Cloud Platform Architect to work closely with architecture and delivery leadership across the organization including Enterprise Architecture, Information Security, IT Operations, Project Delivery, Engineering and Finance to ensure alignment of goals and mechanisms for realizing the Roadmap are put in place.
• Lead architecture teams, establish and manage governance frameworks, best practice, risk management, guardrails and ensure compliance across engineering teams. These teams will be a mix of internal and external resources.
• Create the blueprints, technical specifications, and standards for infrastructure, security, and application deployment.
• Engage and contract with external suppliers at the right time and cost, with commercial acumen.
• Ensure the successful delivery of the critical services that other technology Platforms, business and customer projects will need to consume from the Cloud & Infrastructure Platform. This will include providing timeline, dependency, skills and effort estimates to projects for solution design and delivery; forecasting platform capacity requirements and ensuring these are ready when required; and forecasting future demand for platform services and ensure innovative solutions are available to support these when required.

Key requirements

• Must have relevant technical architecture qualifications and certifications for at least one of the major Cloud providers, preferably Microsoft Azure.
• Deep expertise of at least one Cloud provider, preferably Microsoft Azure.
• Will have at least 10 years' experience in technology architecture and engineering, with at least 5 years' experience in cloud computing.
• Strong understanding and experience of Infrastructure as Code, Serverless computing, Containerization, Networks, Information Security, AI and Data.
• Strong understanding and experience of managing architectural governance frameworks, best practices, compliance and risk management.
• Good understanding and experience of the project delivery lifecycle, from concept to delivery, delivery methodologies and finance.
• Good understanding and experience of the operational lifecycle, from go-live to decommissioning and what is required to maintain an industry leading operational environment.
• Ability to solve complex business and technology problems in demanding timescales.
• Ability to understand and translate business goals and strategy into the Cloud & Infrastructure Platform Roadmap.
• Ability to deliver the Cloud and Infrastructure Platform Roadmap and ensure resources are committed to it's delivery in the required timescale, noting that many of these resources will not be under the direct management of the Cloud Platform Architect.
• Ability to innovate and drive adoption of new technologies to ensure the Cloud and Infrastructure Platform is continuously ready to meet new business demands.
• Ability to influence stakeholders including senior IT leadership, business leadership and peers across the global IT organization.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, meeting the needs of senior executives, some of whom may be non-technical, and wider technology audiences across the global IT team.

Should you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our recruitment team who will work with you to provide any adjustments as required.

We are an equal opportunities recruiter and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

We recognise that our people are our most valuable asset, which is reflected in the wide range of benefits that are available to our employees. Some of these benefits include: our occupational pension scheme, group income protection cover, private medical insurance, mental health resources and free apps, health and wellbeing services encompassing an onsite gym, wellbeing centre and GP service, emergency back-up care support, parental and special leave, holiday entitlement increasing with length of service, holiday trading, season ticket loans and online discounts and lifestyle management services.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE - A&O Shearman does not accept unsolicited CVs. For further information, please see our UK Recruitment Agency Policy and our commitment to direct sourcing here.