Job Title: Principal Azure Platform & Cloud Operations Architect
Location: Toronto, ON
Employment Type: Contract
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, Engineering, or a related field.
- 8+ years of hands-on experience in cloud platform engineering, DevOps/SRE, or cloud operations, with ownership of production-grade systems.
- Strong hands-on experience with Azure, particularly Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), and deep experience running Kubernetes in production (upgrades, scaling, failure modes, troubleshooting).
- Deep expertise in Azure networking and secure connectivity patterns, with the ability to diagnose complex multi-layer issues across AKS + network + application boundaries.
- Proven hands-on experience implementing IaC with Terraform (modules, state strategy, environment consistency, safe rollout practices).
- Strong experience with GitOps and deployment tooling, including Argo CD and Helm, and a strong understanding of release strategies and operational controls.
- Proficiency managing CI/CD pipelines and automation (Azure Pipelines, Jenkins, GitHub Actions) and improving deployment reliability through automated checks and gates.
- Hands-on experience with Azure observability tooling (Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, Application Insights) to improve service health visibility and incident response effectiveness.
- Proficiency in scripting/automation with Python and/or Bash/PowerShell to build operational tooling and reduce repetitive manual work.
- Strong problem-solving and communication skills, with the ability to operate calmly under pressure and guide teams through critical production incidents.
Nice to Have:
- Microsoft certifications (e.g., Azure Solutions Architect Expert).
