Azure Cloud Engineer

Role: Technology Lead / Azure API Gateway & iPaaS Engineer
Location: Chicago, IL (Onsite-Hybrid)
Duration: 6 Months
Pay Rate: $60/hr on W2 
Only w2 Candidates.

Role Summary
Seeking an 8+ years experienced Azure API Gateway & iPaaS Engineer for an onsite-hybrid role in Chicago, IL. The ideal candidate will possess deep expertise in Azure API Management (APIM), Azure Application Gateway (including WAF), and Azure Front Door. Key responsibilities center on designing, securing, and governing API integration patterns across REST, SOAP, and GraphQL protocols. Additional focus areas include implementing OAuth 2.0/JWT token security, establishing API governance, configuring cloud networking constructs (VNets, NSGs, Private Links), and leveraging distributed application runtime patterns (Dapr, Service Mesh, Sidecar).

Key Responsibilities
* API Gateway & Edge Routing Architecture: Design, configure, and maintain Azure API Management (APIM), Application Gateway with Web Application Firewall (WAF), and Azure Front Door environments.
* API Security & Protocol Engineering: Implement robust security patterns including OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, JWT token validation, rate-limiting policies, and SSL/TLS termination across REST, SOAP, and GraphQL interfaces.
* API Governance & Quality Practices: Establish API design standards, format validation, request/response transformation policies, centralized logging, and monitoring via Azure Monitor/Application Insights.
* Cloud Networking & Infrastructure: Configure underlying cloud networking constructs including VNets, subnets, Network Security Groups (NSGs), custom route tables, and Private Endpoints.
* Modern Integration Patterns: Architect distributed application runtime integration patterns (Dapr, Service Mesh, Sidecar architectures) and secure key/secret management with Azure Key Vault.

Required Skills
* Core Azure API Stack: 8+ Years Cloud Engineering, Azure API Management (APIM), Application Gateway (WAF), Azure Front Door
* API Protocols & Formats: REST APIs, SOAP Web Services, GraphQL, JSON, XML
* API Security & Authentication: OAuth 2.0, JWT Validation, mTLS, Azure Key Vault, Secret Management
* Networking & Cloud Infrastructure: VNets, Subnets, Network Security Groups (NSGs), Route Tables, Private Link/Private Endpoints
* Architecture Patterns & Observability: Dapr, Service Mesh, Sidecar Patterns, Azure Monitor, Application Insights

Preferred Qualifications
* Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert or Azure DevOps Engineer Expert.
* Hands-on experience with Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Bicep, ARM templates) for automated APIM provisioning.