Cloud Computing Architect

Title: Cloud Computing Architect

Job Summary: We are seeking an experienced Cloud Computing Architect to join the Portfolio Management Office (PMO). The candidate's primary role will be to perform and act as a strategic and technical leader responsible for assessing/shortlisting IK public CSPs, formalizing cloud computing strategies, detailed design scoping documentation, RFP, deployment-rollout roadmaps, and supervising & coordinating cloud applications rollout.

The candidate will leverage deep hands-on field expertise in various Hyperscalers cloud platforms, virtualization technologies, infrastructure design, cloud cybersecurity, and cloud integration to create a robust, scalable, and secure cloud computing ecosystem. The candidate will also develop a comprehensive cloud cybersecurity assessment on awarded IK CSP, as well as an applicable governance framework to guide the cloud adoption and ensure optimal performance, security, and compliance across multiple cloud providers.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Conduct detailed analysis of various cloud deployment models (public, private, hybrid, multi-cloud, co-locations, edge computing, etc.) to determine the best models to be used by the Platform ecosystem landscape.
2. Recommend suitable cloud service models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) based on the Platform ecosystem's needs with clear justifications.
3. Develop technical selection criteria for assessing candidate IK CSPs considering the Digital Platform ecosystem.
4. Conduct market survey and shortlist candidate IK-CSPs to host the Platform ecosystem based on the identified technical selection criteria.
5. Develop cloud computing technology strategy and reference architecture, including front-end, back-end, storage, management, intra/WAN/inter-cloud network, and cybersecurity.
6. Identify/present required cloud infrastructure support including CPU, GPU, TPU, storage capacity, Middleware, etc.
7. Design scalable, flexible, and resilient cloud architecture, including high availability and disaster recovery plans.
8. Develop CSP RFP to host the Platform based on shortlisted IK-CSPs and Platform ecosystem requirements.
9. Develop a comprehensive cloud adoption roadmap with phased implementation plans, timelines, milestones, and KPIs.
10. Develop cloud governance procedures, policies, and framework, addressing roles and responsibilities, access controls, and security measures.
11. Conduct regular reviews with program stakeholders of the Platform cloud on strategy and governance framework.
12. Work closely with cybersecurity architects, digital applications architects, and network architects to ensure alignment between the proposed architecture and security mandates.
13. Develop/supervise a comprehensive cloud cybersecurity assessment on awarded IK CSP.
14. Develop/supervise/implement cloud pilot procedures on awarded IK CSP.
15. Develop a comprehensive cloud monitoring strategy to track performance, availability, and business continuity across all cloud environments.
16. Design secure and efficient mechanisms for data exchange and communication between different cloud platforms.
17. Identify the right APIs, cloud connectors, and integration platforms for seamless data flow and application integration.
18. Identify interoperability of cloud-based applications and services across multiple cloud providers.
19. Supervise & coordinate cloud applications rollout/integration with IK/out of kingdom CSPs.
20. Utilize cloud-native monitoring tools and third-party solutions to gain insights into performance across multiple cloud platforms.
21. Identify and resolve performance bottlenecks, optimize resource allocation, and ensure optimal performance across the multi-cloud environment.
22. Produce, edit, and distribute comprehensive business documents, technical mappings, process flows, and user manuals tailored to different audiences.

Minimum Requirements:

1. Bachelor’s degree in computer science/engineering, Information Technology (IT), Digital Transformation (DT), or a related field.
2. Certifications: Cloud certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect) are highly preferred.
3. 10+ years of experience, including 8+ years in IT/DT/OT infrastructure strategies and cloud engineering, focusing on Hyperscalers multi-cloud environments.
4. Proven understanding/implementation of various cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI) and their unique strengths and limitations.
5. Proven understanding of differences between various cloud types and operating models (edge, public, private, hybrid) and schemes (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS).
6. Proven expertise in virtualization technologies (e.g., VMware, Hyper-V) and containerization (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
7. Experience with cloud integration tools, techniques, and platforms.
8. Knowledge of data architecture concepts is required.
9. Proven track record of developing, designing, and implementing multi-cloud strategies, governance frameworks & cybersecurity control measures.
10. Experience in hosting environment & infrastructures for project management applications & industrial applications/platforms.
11. Proven understanding of cloud computing infrastructure performance capacity design and sizing.
12. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
13. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
14. Ability to develop technically sound documents (Word/Excel formats) and presentation slides.
15. Ability to work independently and as part of a team, collaborating effectively with stakeholders.
16. Fluent in English and Arabic; additional language skills are a plus.