Azure DevOps Architect

# AZURE DEVOPS ARCHITECT ## About the Role An organization is seeking an **Azure DevOps Architect** for a **12-month remote contract** based in Durham, NC. The role focuses on enterprise-scale cloud platform engineering, DevOps architecture, CI/CD governance, GitOps, DevSecOps, software supply chain security, resilience engineering, and secure Azure infrastructure across large engineering environments. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience architecting and governing Azure DevOps platforms and must have hands-on experience with all seven specified niche technologies and capabilities: **Azure Deployment Stacks, Open Policy Agent (OPA)/Policy-as-Code, Sigstore, Azure Chaos Studio, Azure Confidential Computing, SBOM automation pipelines, and FluxCD GitOps platform engineering**. ## Key Responsibilities * Architect and govern centralized **CI/CD platforms** supporting large engineering organizations using Azure DevOps and OPA policy-as-code enforcement. * Design and implement enterprise infrastructure lifecycle management using **Azure Deployment Stacks** across multi-subscription Azure environments. * Build and operate **GitOps** delivery frameworks using FluxCD for large-scale AKS cluster management. * Lead software supply chain security initiatives, including **Sigstore artifact signing** and automated SBOM generation pipelines. * Architect secure workload environments using **Azure Confidential Computing** for regulated and high-security use cases. * Conduct resilience engineering experiments across distributed microservices using **Azure Chaos Studio**. * Define and enforce **DevSecOps standards, governance frameworks, and security controls** across engineering teams. * Collaborate with security, platform, and product engineering teams to align DevOps strategy with enterprise compliance and regulatory requirements. * Mentor senior engineers and establish best practices for GitOps, software supply chain security, and policy-driven delivery. ## Required Qualifications * **10+ years of experience** in DevOps architecture and cloud platform engineering. * Demonstrated enterprise-scale delivery experience across Fortune-level organizations in finance, healthcare, retail, or technology. * Hands-on experience with **all seven mandatory niche skills**: * Azure Deployment Stacks * Open Policy Agent (OPA) / Policy-as-Code * Sigstore * Azure Chaos Studio * Azure Confidential Computing * SBOM Automation Pipelines * FluxCD GitOps Platform Engineering * Experience supporting **500+ engineering teams** or equivalent large-scale platform environments. * Background in regulated industries with an understanding of compliance, audit, and security requirements. * Experience with **Azure DevOps** for enterprise CI/CD platform design and management. * Experience with **Kubernetes (AKS)** and large-scale cluster platform engineering. * Enterprise-scale **Infrastructure as Code** experience using Terraform and/or Bicep. * Experience in **DevSecOps architecture**, including security-first pipeline design and governance. * Experience with secure artifact signing pipelines and modern software supply chain security frameworks. * **Independent Visa** eligibility, as specified in the source job description. ## Preferred Qualifications * No additional preferred qualifications were specified. The source description states that generalist profiles will not be considered and requires hands-on experience with all seven mandatory niche skills. ## Skills & Competencies * Azure DevOps * Azure Deployment Stacks * Microsoft Azure * Open Policy Agent (OPA) * Policy-as-Code * Sigstore * Azure Chaos Studio * Azure Confidential Computing * SBOM automation * Software supply chain security * FluxCD * GitOps * Kubernetes / AKS * Terraform * Bicep * DevSecOps * CI/CD architecture * Cloud platform engineering * Infrastructure lifecycle governance * Security and compliance * Resilience engineering * Artifact signing * Distributed systems * Enterprise platform governance * Cross-functional collaboration * Technical mentoring ## Education & Experience * **Education:** Not specified. * **Experience:** 10+ years of DevOps architecture and cloud platform engineering experience required. * **Enterprise Experience:** Experience delivering at Fortune-level organizations and supporting 500+ engineering teams or equivalent large-scale environments. * **Industry Experience:** Experience in finance, healthcare, retail, or technology, with a background in regulated environments preferred/required as stated in the source. ## Work Arrangement & Schedule * **Location:** Durham, NC * **Work Arrangement:** Remote * **Employment Type:** 12-month contract * **Contract Duration:** 12 months * **Expected Weekly Hours:** Not specified * **Schedule:** Not specified * **Weekend Requirements:** Not specified ## Compensation & Benefits * **Compensation:** Not specified. * **Benefits:** Not specified. ## Compliance / Additional Information * **Visa Requirement:** Independent Visa only. * The role requires hands-on experience with all seven mandatory niche skill areas; generalist profiles will not be considered. * The position involves enterprise-scale security, compliance, governance, and regulated-environment requirements.