Cloud Architect

General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority - GCGRA

The Cloud Architect is responsible for designing, engineering, implementing, and managing scalable, secure, and high-performing on-premises and IaaS/PaaS cloud-based solutions. The Cloud Architect must have a comprehensive and solid understanding of reference architecture and engineering configuration among top cloud providers, and proven technical experience in Microsoft Azure core services, including networking, storage, application, and security. This position involves hands-on technical configurations in translating GCGRA cloud strategy onto operational IaaS/PaaS deployments, guaranteeing resiliency, optimizing performance and enhancing security.

Education:

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 (ten) years of extensive technical experience in systems architecture and IT infrastructure management, with at least 5 (five) years focused on Microsoft Azure IaaS/PaaS cloud services and hybrid cloud environments.
• Proven expertise in designing, engineering, implementing and managing hybrid cloud solutions, encompassing Microsoft Azure and private IaaS/PaaS cloud, and on-premises infrastructure.
• Hands-on experience with core Microsoft Azure services (e.g., VNets, ExpressRoute, App Services, AKS; Blob Storage, Azure Files, Managed Disks; Azure Functions and Logic Apps).

Technical Skills:

• In-depth knowledge of IT infrastructure components, including servers (HPE, Dell, Lenovo), storage (HPE, Qnap), networking (Cisco Systems, Fortinet), virtualization (e.g., Broadcom VMware, Hyper-V) and backup solutions (Veeam VBR).
• Proficiency in Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) tools like Terraform, Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates, or equivalent.
• Strong understanding of cybersecurity principles, tools, and technologies to secure hybrid environments.
• Solid knowledge of resiliency, disaster recovery planning, high availability strategies, and IT service continuity for on-premises and cloud environments.

Certifications:

• Industry-recognized certifications like Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert, AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional, VMware Certified Professional Data Center Virtualization, Google Professional Cloud Architect, and Cisco Certified Network Professional Data Center.
• Additional certifications such as ITIL Foundation, CompTIA Cloud+, or Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) are advantageous.

Cloud Architecture Design and Management:

• Define and maintain the GCGRA robust infrastructure strategy encompassing both on-premises and Public/Private cloud capabilities.
• Design, engineer, implement and maintain hybrid cloud solutions using Microsoft Azure IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS technologies.
• Design, engineer, implement and maintain scalable and secure architectures for GCGRA business services using Microsoft Azure App Services, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), and other PaaS offerings.

System Optimization and High Availability:

• Ensure resiliency, high availability, scalability, and disaster recovery for critical business applications and information.
• Optimize the performance of on-premises and cloud systems through capacity planning and performance tuning.

Design and Engineering of Microsoft Azure Services:

• Design, implement and manage Azure Virtual Networks (VNets), ExpressRoute, and VPNs to enable secure and reliable connectivity.
• Design, implement and manage Azure Storage solutions, including Blob Storage, Azure Files, and Managed Disks.
• Design, implement and manage serverless architectures using Azure Functions and Logic Apps for event-driven workflows.

Security and Compliance:

• Support the Head of Infrastructure and Cyber Security in implementing robust security measures such as Azure Security Center, Azure Sentinel, and Azure Key Vault.
• Manage identity and access control using Azure Active Directory (AAD) and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC).
• Ensure compliance with applicable UAE regulatory frameworks, industry standards and GCGRA organizational security policies.

Collaboration with Internal Teams and External Service Providers:

• Work with GCGRA IT, DevOps, and internal business units to ensure secure application development, deployment, and maintenance.
• Support the Head of Cyber Security and Infrastructure in the supervision of third-party service providers to ensure the delivery of high-quality cybersecurity services.
• Provide technical leadership during cloud migrations and transformation projects.
• Evaluate vendor performance against SLAs and recommend improvements or changes as needed.

Innovation and Continuous Improvement:

• Drive innovation by recommending and adopting new infrastructure capabilities to enhance operational efficiency.
• Optimize cloud resource allocation and cost management.

Documentation and Reporting:

• Maintain comprehensive documentation of cloud architectures, processes, and configurations.
• Provide detailed reports on system performance, cloud costs, and security metrics to the Head of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure, the CIO and other stakeholders.