Principal Azure Cloud Architect

Our client is a leading professional services firm providing audit, tax, strategy, transaction, and consulting services to clients in the financial services sector. As part of the global network, the firm serves both regulated and non-regulated fund industries in Luxembourg, operating under strict regulatory compliance frameworks established by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) and Professional Financial Services (PSF) authorities.

The Digital Factory team drives technological innovation and digital transformation initiatives across service lines, supporting critical business operations while maintaining the highest standards of regulatory compliance and security.

This is a critical regulatory compliance project involving the migration of regulated fund applications from on-premise infrastructure to a dedicated Azure cloud environment. The project was initiated following official approval from Luxembourg financial authorities (CSSF/PSF) to move regulated fund operations to the cloud.

Project Context:

• Regulatory Environment: All activities related to regulated funds must operate in a completely separated environment, disconnected from non-regulated fund operations
• Compliance Requirements: The new Azure subscription must comply with extensive regulatory policies and rules established by Luxembourg financial authorities
• Audit Readiness: The infrastructure must be inspection-ready at any time, with 15-day notice periods for regulatory audits
• Strategic Importance: Failure to progress could result in loss of cloud migration license from regulators

Current Status:

• Dedicated Azure subscription has been established through Global partnership with Microsoft
• Comprehensive compliance rules and policies have been documented
• Previous cloud architect left during initial policy implementation phase
• On-premise infrastructure is documented and operational
• Immediate need: Continue policy implementation and design migration strategy

Team Structure & Collaboration

Primary Stakeholder:

• Cloud Officer, certified to represent before Luxembourg authorities
• Direct reporting relationship and primary day-to-day collaboration

Secondary Stakeholders:

• Business Relationship Unit Lead - Project sponsor and business stakeholder
• Global teams for technical coordination
• Luxembourg regulatory authorities (CSSF/PSF) during audit periods

Working Environment:

• Dedicated individual contributor role with full ownership of technical architecture decisions
• Cross-timezone coordination required with global clients` infrastructure teams
• A regulatory-first mindset is essential for all technical decisions
• Independent work style with clear accountability and communication expectations

• Interview process that respects people and their time
• Professional and open IT community
• Internal meet-ups and resources for knowledge sharing
• Time for recovery and relaxation
• Bright online and offline events
• Opportunity to become part of our internal volunteer community

1. Azure Subscription Policy Implementation

• Continue implementation of regulatory compliance policies on the dedicated Azure subscription
• Ensure all Azure resources are hosted within European boundaries as required
• Implement and maintain multi-factor authentication requirements for all applications
• Apply security controls and governance frameworks specific to regulated financial services
• Document all policy implementations for audit readiness

2. Infrastructure Design & Architecture

• Design a scalable, cost-efficient Azure infrastructure for regulated fund applications
• Create architecture that enables future connectivity to non-regulated environments when approved
• Develop comprehensive documentation of cloud infrastructure for regulatory inspections
• Ensure optimal resource utilization to minimize redundancy and operational costs
• Design for audit transparency and easy demonstration of compliance

3. Migration Strategy & Execution

• Analyze existing on-premise infrastructure and applications
• Develop detailed migration plans for moving applications to Azure cloud environment
• Create a phased migration approach minimizing business disruption
• Coordinate with global teams for infrastructure dependencies
• Ensure zero data loss and minimal downtime during migration phases

4. Compliance & Audit Support

• Maintain infrastructure in an audit-ready state at all times
• Prepare documentation and evidence for regulatory inspections
• Support the compliance officer during authority audits and inspections
• Implement logging and monitoring solutions for regulatory reporting
• Ensure all changes follow the change management processes required by regulators

5. Stakeholder Management & Communication

• Escalate blockers and delays with global  teams when necessary
• Maintain clear communication channels with the Luxembourg team and global stakeholders
• Provide regular progress updates and risk assessments
• Collaborate effectively across multiple time zones and cultural contexts
• Document decisions and rationale for regulatory compliance purposes

Technical Skills - Mandatory:

• Microsoft Azure expertise: Minimum 7+ years hands-on experience with Azure cloud services
• Infrastructure as Code: Proficiency with ARM templates, Terraform, or Azure DevOps
• Security & Compliance: Deep understanding of cloud security frameworks, identity management, and compliance controls
• Network Architecture: Experience with Azure networking, VNets, security groups, and hybrid connectivity
• Migration Experience: Proven track record of on-premise to cloud migrations
• Documentation Skills: Ability to create comprehensive technical documentation for audit purposes
• Regulatory & Compliance Experience - Highly Preferred:
• Experience working in heavily regulated industries (financial services, healthcare, government)
• Understanding of regulatory compliance frameworks and audit processes
• Knowledge of data governance and privacy regulations
• Experience with compliance reporting and documentation requirements
• Familiarity with segregated environment requirements

Soft Skills & Personal Attributes - Essential:

• Ability to maintain composure when working with distributed global teams and complex approval processes
• Resilience to handle bureaucratic processes and extended timelines without compromising quality
• Full commitment to project completion despite obstacles and changing requirements
• Precision in documentation and compliance requirements with zero tolerance for errors
• Ability to work autonomously while maintaining accountability and regular communication
• Proactive identification and calm escalation of blockers without frustration
• Professional, measured communication across all stakeholder levels and cultural contexts
• Understanding that compliance requirements are non-negotiable architectural constraints
• Dedication to seeing complex projects through to completion rather than seeking quick wins

Experience Requirements:

• Minimum 7+ years in cloud architecture and infrastructure design
• Minimum 3+ years specific experience with Azure cloud platform
• Experience with enterprise-scale migrations involving multiple applications and complex dependencies
• Track record of working in matrix organizations with multiple stakeholder groups
• Experience supporting audit and compliance requirements