Senior Systems & Azure Cloud Engineer
Location: Houston, TX (Hybrid/Onsite as required)
Employment Type: 6-month contract
About the Role
Our client is seeking an experienced Senior Systems and Azure Cloud Engineer to lead the design, deployment, and optimization of our Azure cloud infrastructure. This role combines hands-on engineering with cloud architecture leadership and plays a critical role in supporting mergers and acquisitions (M&A) by assessing, integrating, and modernizing infrastructure, applications, and users within our enterprise cloud environment.
You will collaborate closely with infrastructure, application, and network engineering teams to deliver secure, scalable, and compliant solutions across hybrid environments.
Key Responsibilities
Azure Infrastructure & Architecture
- Design, deploy, and manage Azure IaaS infrastructure, including Virtual Machines, VNets, NSGs, load balancers, VPN gateways, and ExpressRoute.
- Architect and implement Azure Landing Zones to support scalable, governed, and compliant workloads.
- Standardize cloud environments using Azure AD, RBAC, tagging strategies, NSGs, and subscription management.
- Optimize Azure as the organization s primary cloud platform (AWS or Google Cloud Platform experience is a plus).
M&A Integration & Cloud Migrations
- Lead cloud migrations and integrations for acquired companies with minimal business disruption.
- Evaluate acquired environments (users, applications, servers, networks) and align them with enterprise cloud standards.
- Support hybrid cloud connectivity and segmentation during transition phases.
Security, Governance & Compliance
- Implement Azure security best practices including least-privilege RBAC, encryption, private endpoints, and compliance controls.
- Support governance initiatives across identity, data, and infrastructure.
- Ensure logging, monitoring, and compliance standards are met across cloud resources.
Automation, Monitoring & Optimization
- Automate provisioning and configuration using PowerShell, Terraform, Azure Policy, and scripting tools.
- Monitor cloud environments using Azure Monitor, SolarWinds, or similar platforms, responding to performance and availability issues.
- Drive cost optimization through tagging, automation, rightsizing, and usage analysis.
Innovation & Collaboration
- Collaborate cross-functionally to deliver integrated, high-performing cloud solutions.
- Research and evaluate cloud-native technologies including containers, orchestration platforms, service mesh, and AI integrations.
- Provide architectural recommendations aligned with evolving business needs and cloud innovation.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor s degree in IT, Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent experience.
- 10+ years of overall IT experience, with 7+ years in cloud infrastructure or architecture roles.
- 5+ years of hands-on Azure experience, including Azure AD, SQL, Azure Policy, Terraform, and disaster recovery.
- Demonstrated success integrating infrastructure, applications, and users during M&A activities.
- Deep expertise in Azure Networking, Identity, Governance, and Landing Zones.
- Proficiency in PowerShell or equivalent scripting languages.
- Strong documentation, communication, and collaboration skills.
Technical Qualifications
- Expert-level Azure networking and security experience (VNets, NSGs, VPN gateways, ExpressRoute).
- Experience with Azure Route Server (ARS).
- Experience with Azure app registrations, OAuth, and SSO integrations.
- Knowledge of hybrid cloud networking and segmentation.
- Strong understanding of enterprise security principles and least-privilege enforcement.
- Experience with Azure Monitor, SolarWinds, or similar monitoring platforms.
- Solid understanding of SaaS, PaaS, DaaS, and IaaS models.
- Familiarity with compliance, logging, and continuous monitoring best practices.
Preferred Certifications (Not Required)
- Azure Solutions Architect Expert
- AWS Solutions Architect
- CISSP Cybersecurity and Risk Management
- CCSP Cloud Security
- CISM Governance and Information Security
CIMA Consulting Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer
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