Reports to: Chief Enterprise Architect
Role Type: Senior Architecture Leadership
Location: Deerfield, IL (Hybrid)
Role Purpose
The Cloud Architecture Lead is the senior architecture authority accountable for shaping and governing Client's end-to-end cloud strategy across all business domains. This role translates enterprise and domain strategies into coherent cloud architecture outcomes that deliver measurable in-year savings, drive multi-year simplification, and establish a secure, scalable, and cost-efficient cloud foundation across AWS and Azure.
The role emphasizes consistency, engineering discipline, and platform reuse-driving adoption of cloud-native services, modern DevOps practices, and high-quality code while reducing ad hoc tools, bespoke solutions, and workaround-based architectures.
Outcomes That Define Success Quantifiable in-year and recurring cost savings across cloud infrastructure, tooling, and platforms
Approved multi-year cloud simplification and modernization roadmaps
Reduced architectural variance and elimination of non-standard cloud implementations
Increased adoption of cloud-native services and reusable platform patterns
Improved reliability, security posture, delivery speed, and developer productivity
Core Responsibilities Cloud Strategy & Architecture Define and evolve the enterprise cloud architecture strategy across AWS and Azure
Translate business and technology priorities into cloud target states and reference architectures
Ensure cloud architectures support scalability, resiliency, security, and cost optimization across domains
Lead cross-domain alignment on cloud design principles, patterns, and standards
Engineering and DevOps Maturity Drive adoption of cloud-native architectures, managed services, and platform-as-a-service capabilities
Establish standards for infrastructure as code, CI/CD pipelines, observability, and automation
Promote high-quality, secure, and maintainable code through architectural guidance and patterns
Reduce reliance on manual processes and non-standard tooling through automation and platform reuse
Portfolio Simplification and Cost Optimization Assess cloud workloads and platforms to identify consolidation, modernization, and retirement opportunities
Partner with Finance, Infrastructure, and Domain Architects to quantify and realize cloud savings
Reduce duplication of platforms, tooling, and custom-built solutions across AWS and Azure
Embed FinOps principles and cost transparency into cloud architecture decisions
Governance and Enablement Serve as the cloud architecture authority within enterprise governance and technology assessment forums
Ensure cloud solutions align with enterprise security, compliance, and regulatory requirements
Enable consistent cloud decision-making without slowing delivery or innovation
Executive Relationships The Cloud Architecture Lead serves as a trusted advisor to IT leadership, Enterprise Architecture, Infrastructure, Security, and Delivery leaders, enabling sustainable cloud adoption and long-term cost efficiency.
Qualifications and Experience Bachelor's degree in IT, Engineering, or equivalent experience
15+ years in cloud, platform, or enterprise architecture roles within complex environments
Deep expertise in AWS and Azure architecture, services, and operating models
Proven track record driving cloud standardization, DevOps maturity, and cost optimization
Strong executive communication and influence skills
Leadership Profile Enterprise-first and outcome-driven mindset
Engineering-focused leader with strong architectural judgment
Pragmatic systems thinker balancing speed, security, and cost
Trusted leader who sets standards and enables teams to execute
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