AWS Cloud Architect

Linkfields Innovations is seeking an experienced Cloud Architect to join our technology team on a contract basis. The successful candidate will be responsible for designing, implementing, and optimizing cloud solutions that enable business agility, innovation, and scalability. This role requires a balance of strategic vision, technical expertise, and hands-on execution to ensure our cloud ecosystem remains secure, compliant, and aligned with business needs.

Responsibilities and Duties

Cloud Architecture & Design

• Design, implement, and maintain enterprise-level cloud solutions (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS).

• Create solution architecture documents and technical designs that align with business and IT strategies.

• Define cloud reference architectures, patterns, and reusable frameworks for scalability and performance.

• Design and implement hybrid cloud strategies integrating on-premises systems with cloud platforms.

Cloud Security & Compliance

• Ensure security by design in all cloud solutions (encryption, IAM, firewalls, zero-trust models).

• Develop and enforce governance policies, compliance frameworks, and data protection standards.

• Monitor and manage cloud compliance with regulatory requirements (POPIA, GDPR, ISO27001, etc.).

• Implement disaster recovery and business continuity strategies in cloud environments.

Migration & Transformation

• Lead and manage application and infrastructure migrations to the cloud.

• Assess existing systems, define migration roadmaps, and modernize legacy applications.

• Guide teams in containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and microservices adoption.

• Evaluate and recommend cloud-native services to improve agility and reduce costs.

Automation & Optimization

• Implement Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using tools such as Terraform, Ansible, or ARM templates.

• Automate provisioning, scaling, and monitoring to optimize operational efficiency.

• Track and manage cloud costs, recommending optimization strategies to achieve budget goals.

• Establish CI/CD pipelines in collaboration with DevOps engineers.

Collaboration & Leadership

• Collaborate with business stakeholders, developers, and operations to ensure alignment on cloud solutions.

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineering teams.

• Act as the subject matter expert (SME) for cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).

• Stay updated with emerging cloud technologies and present recommendations for innovation.

Support & Monitoring

• Oversee cloud system health, availability, and performance monitoring.

• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues in multi-cloud and hybrid environments.

• Provide documentation, technical guidelines, and knowledge sharing across teams.

Desired Experience & Qualification

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field (or equivalent experience).

• Minimum of 5 years' experience in cloud architecture, engineering, or solution design.

• In-depth expertise with at least one major cloud platform (AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform).

• Strong experience with networking, virtualization, storage, and distributed systems.

• Proficiency in Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Ansible, CloudFormation, ARM templates).

• Hands-on experience with DevOps tools and CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps).

• Strong knowledge of cloud security, IAM, and compliance frameworks.

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional certifications such as AWS Solutions Architect, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, or GCP Professional Cloud Architect.

• Experience in the financial services or highly regulated industries.

• Familiarity with Kubernetes, Docker, and microservices architectures.

• Knowledge of monitoring and logging tools (Prometheus, Grafana, ELK, Azure Monitor, CloudWatch).

• Experience leading large-scale cloud migration and transformation projects.