Azure AI Infrastructure Specialist

Job Title: Azure AI Infrastructure Specialist
Location: Princeton, NJ
Job Type: Contract

Job Summary:

We are seeking an experienced Azure AI Infrastructure Specialist to support the setup, configuration, and maintenance of infrastructure environments for enterprise-grade AI and machine learning platforms. This role will focus on infrastructure provisioning, resource management, security configuration, and deployment enablement - ensuring a stable, secure, and scalable foundation for Azure AI solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provision and configure Azure infrastructure to support Azure AI services (e.g., Azure OpenAI, Azure Machine Learning, Cognitive Services).
• Set up and manage compute, networking, and storage resources required for AI workloads.
• Work closely with AI/ML engineering teams to provide infrastructure readiness and deployment environments.
• Configure secure access, networking (VNETs, Private Endpoints), identity management (RBAC, Azure AD), and role segregation.
• Implement and manage Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using Bicep, ARM Templates, or Terraform for repeatable deployments.
• Monitor usage, performance, and health of infrastructure components using Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and Application Insights.
• Ensure compliance with security and governance policies across all environments.
• Manage and support deployment pipelines and runtime environments for AI applications.
• Maintain cost control and optimization of Azure resource consumption.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field.
• Strong hands-on experience with Azure infrastructure, particularly in AI/ML solution support environments.
• Expertise in provisioning and managing Azure resources: Virtual Networks, Subnets, NSGs, Storage Accounts, Key Vaults, Azure ML Workspaces, etc.
• Solid understanding of Azure Identity and Access Management (IAM), Azure AD, RBAC, and security best practices.
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code tools (Bicep, Terraform, ARM Templates).
• Familiarity with Azure Policy, Blueprints, and Governance practices.
• Hands-on experience with Azure Monitor, Cost Management, and diagnostic tools.
• Understanding of containerized environments (AKS, ACR) and serverless services (Azure Functions, Logic Apps) in the context of AI workloads.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate or Azure Solutions Architect Expert.
• Experience supporting Azure AI infrastructure in enterprise environments.
• Familiarity with DevOps practices for deploying infrastructure components (CI/CD pipelines, environment promotion).
• Knowledge of compliance frameworks (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001) and their application in Azure.
• Exposure to MLOps tools and pipelines is a plus, but not required.