Job Title: Enterprise Architect - Multi Cloud
Location(s): Irvine, CA
Position OverviewWe are seeking a senior, client-facing Lead Principal Cloud Architect to serve as a trusted CTO-level advisor to enterprise stakeholders. This role will define, govern, and communicate enterprise cloud, application, security, and infrastructure architecture strategies across multi-cloud and hybrid environments. The architect will translate business, security, and operational priorities into executable roadmaps, reference architectures, governance frameworks, project intake artifacts, and transformation initiatives.
This position serves as the central point of architectural leadership for cloud and hybrid infrastructure strategy while providing visibility into the client's future technology direction. The architect will help identify and shape opportunities across application modernization, cybersecurity architecture, infrastructure transformation, cloud governance, automation, FinOps, observability, operating model improvements, and enterprise technology initiatives.
Key Responsibilities- Define enterprise cloud and hybrid architecture strategies across GCP, Azure, AWS, on-premises, and distributed environments.
- Develop standards, roadmaps, landing-zone architectures, migration strategies, modernization plans, and executive-level recommendations.
- Serve as a senior technology advisor to business and IT stakeholders, translating business objectives into architecture priorities.
- Align application, security, and infrastructure strategies to ensure secure, scalable, and resilient technology solutions.
- Establish and maintain architecture governance, reference architectures, standards, guardrails, and review processes.
- Lead project discovery efforts and convert business requirements into architecture documentation, decision records, and implementation guidance.
- Review cloud and infrastructure designs submitted by managed service providers, vendors, and implementation partners.
- Provide architectural leadership during major incidents, root-cause investigations, and corrective-action planning.
- Evaluate emerging technologies, cloud services, automation tools, and platforms for business fit, security, cost, and operational readiness.
- Drive Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC), policy-as-code, automation, CI/CD, platform engineering, and self-service capabilities.
- Embed FinOps principles, cloud cost optimization, governance controls, and forecasting practices into architecture decisions.
- Communicate architecture decisions, risks, dependencies, and recommendations to both executive and technical audiences.
- Leverage internal best practices, delivery accelerators, partner ecosystems, and specialist networks to support successful outcomes.
Required Qualifications- 10+ years of experience in cloud architecture, infrastructure engineering, platform engineering, enterprise architecture, or technology transformation.
- 5+ years in senior or lead architecture roles delivering enterprise-scale solutions.
- Expert-level experience with at least one major cloud platform, preferably Google Cloud Platform (GCP), along with strong Azure and AWS knowledge.
- Proven experience developing cloud strategies, target-state architectures, governance frameworks, architecture standards, and review processes.
- Experience leading cloud migration, modernization, application dependency analysis, landing-zone design, and operational readiness initiatives.
- Strong expertise in secure cloud architecture including IAM, Zero Trust, network security, encryption, key management, secrets management, vulnerability management, and compliance frameworks.
- Hands-on experience with Infrastructure-as-Code and automation technologies such as Terraform, Ansible, CloudFormation, ARM/Bicep, Pulumi, Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, GitLab, Jenkins, or similar tools.
- Experience collaborating across applications, infrastructure, security, operations, executive leadership, and third-party partners.
- Experience reviewing vendor and managed service provider architecture deliverables and operational designs.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex technical concepts to executive audiences.
- Ability to work onsite and serve as a visible senior technology leader.
Preferred Qualifications- Professional cloud architecture certifications such as:
- Google Professional Cloud Architect
- Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional.
- Experience supporting Cloud Centers of Excellence (CCoE), Enterprise Architecture Review Boards, or Design Authorities.
- Experience with containers, Kubernetes (GKE, AKS, EKS), microservices, API management, serverless architectures, and platform engineering.
- Knowledge of cloud security architecture, CSPM/CWPP solutions, SIEM integrations, SASE/SSE, Zero Trust, and regulatory compliance frameworks.
- Experience with FinOps, cloud cost optimization, chargeback/showback models, tagging strategies, and cloud economics.
- Experience with observability, AIOps, Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), resilience engineering, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning.
- Familiarity with enterprise infrastructure services including identity management, DNS, DHCP, PKI, network connectivity, and hybrid integration.
- Knowledge of TOGAF, ITIL, NIST, CSA CCM, Well-Architected Frameworks, and related industry standards.
- Trusted-advisor consulting experience with a demonstrated ability to identify and shape transformation opportunities.
Success Metrics - First 90 DaysFirst 30 Days
- Build relationships with key stakeholders.
- Assess current architecture standards, governance processes, and technology landscape.
- Identify immediate risks, challenges, and quick-win opportunities.
Days 31-60
- Deliver current-state assessments and roadmap themes.
- Establish architecture review processes and governance priorities.
- Define improvement opportunities across cloud, security, infrastructure, and operations.
Days 61-90
- Deliver target-state architecture roadmaps.
- Establish reference architecture priorities and governance enhancements.
- Identify and qualify strategic transformation opportunities.
Must-Have Skills- Cloud architecture strategy and target-state design
- Executive stakeholder engagement and CTO-level advisory experience
- GCP expertise with strong Azure and AWS knowledge
- Application, security, and infrastructure architecture integration
- Secure-by-design cloud architecture
- Architecture governance and standards development
- Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and automation
- Cloud migration and modernization planning
- Major incident and root-cause analysis leadership
- Vendor and managed service provider governance
Preferred Skills- FinOps and cloud cost management
- Platform engineering and operational excellence
- Cloud-native architecture patterns
- Enterprise transformation and consulting leadership experience
