Freelance Senior Cloud Technical Architect

As a Senior IT Cloud Technical Architect, you will play a pivotal role in leading the design, governance, and evolution of our cloud ecosystem across Microsoft Azure and multi-cloud platforms. You will drive the development of scalable, secure, and cost-optimized cloud solutions that align with enterprise architecture principles, supporting digital transformation and platform engineering initiatives.

This is a hands-on technical leadership position that also requires strategic thinking and cross-functional collaboration. You’ll serve as a trusted cloud authority, championing automation, security, compliance, and operational excellence across the enterprise.

Key Responsibilities

Architectural Leadership

• Lead the translation of business and IT strategies into resilient, secure, and scalable cloud architectures.
• Design and maintain Azure and multi-cloud reference architectures, ensuring alignment with enterprise standards.
• Develop reusable platform components and foundational services to enable scalable cloud adoption.

Cloud Governance & Standards

• Define and enforce cloud architecture standards for networking, identity, resource management, cost control, and security.
• Develop and maintain enterprise landing zones and shared services models.
• Contribute to the Cloud Design Authority and maintain architectural decision records (ADRs).

Infrastructure Automation & DevOps Enablement

• Promote automation-first approaches using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) with tools like Terraform and ARM templates.
• Enable CI/CD and GitOps pipelines for consistent and secure cloud provisioning.
• Partner with engineering teams to drive reusable, scalable deployment patterns.

Security & Compliance Integration

• Embed Zero Trust, encryption, segmentation, and identity-based access into architecture.
• Collaborate with CISO teams to ensure compliance with NIS2, ISO 27001, and CIS benchmarks.
• Implement governance controls using Azure Policy, Defender for Cloud, and RBAC.

Cloud Operations & Optimization

• Define operational readiness models, including observability, alerting, logging, and cost monitoring.
• Guide workload placement strategies to balance resilience, performance, and cost.
• Support platform teams with automation strategies and operational tooling.

Data Services & Cloud-Native Databases

• Design database architectures aligned with scalability, performance, and DR/HA requirements.
• Collaborate with data platform teams to implement encryption, backup, and compliance strategies.

Cloud Financial Management (FinOps)

• Implement FinOps practices including cost allocation, tagging, chargeback/showback, and budgeting.
• Drive cost optimization and foster a culture of financial accountability across cloud teams.

Collaboration & Mentorship

• Partner with cross-functional teams and provide technical leadership across initiatives.
• Mentor architects, engineers, and stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery and architectural consistency.

Candidate Profile

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or equivalent experience in large-scale IT operations.
• Deep expertise in Microsoft Azure, including landing zones, network architecture, secure identity, and governance.
• Strong understanding of hybrid and multi-cloud integration strategies.
• Proficient in IaC tools (Terraform preferred), Azure DevOps, GitOps (e.g., Flux), and CI/CD frameworks.
• Familiarity with AKS/Kubernetes, including network policies and workload identities.
• Extensive experience with cloud-native services (PaaS, serverless, observability, storage).
• Strong cloud networking and security expertise, including Zero Trust architecture.
• Skilled in integrating regulatory compliance standards into cloud architecture (NIS2, ISO 27001, etc.).
• Experience with cloud-native and managed database services, including encryption and HA/DR strategies.
• Practical knowledge of FinOps and cost optimization techniques.
• Minimum 15+ years in IT, with 10+ years in cloud architecture roles.
• Proven track record delivering enterprise-grade cloud solutions in regulated or complex environments.
• Experience working within a Cloud Center of Excellence or similar governance body is advantageous.
• Languages: Fluent in French, Dutch, and English (spoken and written).
• Collaboration: Able to operate in a federated IT environment and lead cross-team initiatives.
• Documentation: Skilled in producing clear, concise technical documentation tailored to varied audiences.