Cloud Infrastructure Architect - Azure

Infrastructure Cloud Architect (Azure) | Chicago, IL | Hybrid (3 Days Onsite)| $160,000 - $200,000 + Bonus + Comprehensive Benefits Overview A leading professional services organization is seeking a hands-on Infrastructure Cloud Architect to play a key role in the evolution of its Azure-first hybrid cloud environment. This is an infrastructure-focused architecture position, not an application architecture or DevOps role. The successful candidate will provide technical leadership while remaining actively involved in designing, building, troubleshooting, and supporting enterprise infrastructure solutions across Azure and hybrid environments. The organization is undergoing a major infrastructure transformation, including modernization of legacy data center environments, expansion of Azure capabilities, and the development of scalable cloud standards and governance frameworks. What You'll Do Design, implement, and support Azure infrastructure solutions across hybrid cloud environments.Lead architecture and technical delivery for cloud infrastructure initiatives while remaining hands-on with implementation and troubleshooting.Design and maintain Azure networking, connectivity, and security solutions including:VNetsHub-and-spoke architecturesExpressRouteSite-to-site VPNsDNS and routingPrivate EndpointsAzure Firewall and network security controlsLoad balancing and segmentationDefine cloud architecture standards, governance frameworks, and operational best practices.Drive Infrastructure as Code (IaC), automation, and repeatable deployment patterns.Improve platform resiliency, monitoring, backup, disaster recovery, and operational maturity.Partner closely with Infrastructure, Security, Data, Applications, and Modern Workplace teams.Act as a senior escalation point for complex infrastructure incidents and root-cause analysis.Mentor engineers and help elevate cloud and infrastructure capabilities across the organization. What We're Looking For Required Experience: 10+ years of infrastructure, engineering, architecture, or enterprise technology experience.5+ years of hands-on Microsoft Azure infrastructure experience.Deep expertise building and supporting Azure hybrid-cloud environments.Strong Azure networking experience including:VNetsRoutingDNSExpressRoutePrivate EndpointsFirewallsLoad BalancersNetwork SegmentationStrong understanding of:Identity and access managementSecurity and governanceCompute and storage architectureVirtualization platformsDisaster recovery and resiliencyExperience with Infrastructure as Code using technologies such as Terraform, Bicep, ARM, PowerShell, or Azure CLI.Proven ability to design solutions and personally implement, configure, support, and troubleshoot them. Ideal Candidate Profile We're particularly interested in either: A Senior Infrastructure/Azure Engineer ready to step into architecture, or A current Infrastructure Architect who remains highly hands-on. The ideal candidate can confidently say: "I designed it, built it, configured it, supported it, and troubleshot it." Candidates whose background is primarily focused on application architecture, cloud migration coordination, or high-level advisory work without hands-on implementation will not be a fit. Transformation Programme Over the next 12-18 months, the organization will be: Evolving its Azure-first infrastructure strategy.Migrating workloads into modern colocation facilities.Expanding Azure IaaS adoption.Leveraging Azure VMware Solution (AVS) while reducing long-term VMware dependency.Establishing future-state cloud and infrastructure standards.Preferred Qualifications Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Azure Administrator, Azure Network Engineer, or Azure Security Engineer certifications.Experience with Azure VMware Solution (AVS).Exposure to Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), containers, or platform engineering practices.Knowledge of Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework and Azure Well-Architected Framework.Experience within professional services, legal, financial services, consulting, or other regulated environments. This is an excellent opportunity to join a large-scale infrastructure transformation while remaining deeply involved in the technology and technical decision-making that drives it forward.