Senior Cloud Solutions Architect - Network Specialist

Job Summary:

We are seeking an exceptional Senior Cloud Solution Architect with deep hands-on experience in enterprise cloud migrations and advanced networking expertise. This role requires a seasoned professional who can lead complex, large-scale transformations from on-premises infrastructure to AWS and Azure cloud platforms while ensuring robust security, performance, and scalability outcomes. 

The ideal candidate combines strategic cloud architecture vision with tactical implementation skills, possessing expert-level knowledge of enterprise networking technologies including Palo Alto firewalls and F5 load balancers. This position demands someone who can seamlessly transition between boardroom strategy discussions and hands-on technical implementation. 

Responsibilities:
Cloud Architecture and Design  Design and architect comprehensive cloud solutions for large enterprise customers migrating from on-premises to AWS and/or Azure  Develop migration roadmaps and phased approach strategies for complex, multi-tier applications and infrastructure  Lead cloud-first and cloud-native architectural decisions, ensuring optimal cost, performance, and security outcomes  Create detailed technical specifications, architectural blueprints, and implementation guides  Establish cloud governance frameworks, including security policies, compliance standards, and operational procedures  Enterprise Migration and Leadership Plan and execute large-scale enterprise migrations involving thousands of workloads, applications, and terabytes of data  Conduct comprehensive application portfolio assessments and migration readiness evaluations  Design and implement hybrid cloud architectures during transition phases  Lead cross-functional migration teams including infrastructure, application, security, and networking specialists  Develop and execute cutover strategies with minimal business disruption  Create disaster recovery and business continuity plans for migrated workloads  Advanced Network and Security  Design and implement complex network architectures using Palo Alto, Cisco Networks security platforms and SDWANs  Architect, configure and optimize F5 load balancers deployments for high-availability, scalable applications in cloud environments  Architect secure network segmentation strategies using traditional and cloud-based network resources  Implement advanced routing protocols, VPN connections, and Direct Connect/ExpressRoute solutions  Design zero-trust network architectures and micro-segmentation strategies  Integrate on-premises network infrastructure with cloud networking services  Hands-On Technical Implementation Develop, configure and deploy cloud infrastructure using Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, CloudFormation, ARM templates)  Implement CI/CD pipelines for automated deployment and configuration management  Configure monitoring, logging, and alerting solutions using CloudWatch, Azure Monitor, and third-party tools  Troubleshoot complex technical issues across network, compute, storage, and application layers  Perform security assessments and implement remediation strategies  Optimize cloud costs through right-sizing, reserved instances, and architectural improvements  Client Engagement and Leadership  Serve as the primary technical advisor to C-level executives during cloud transformation initiatives  Conduct architectural reviews and provide technical recommendations to senior stakeholders  Mentor and guide junior architects and engineering teams  Present complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences  Collaborate with sales teams during pre-sales technical discussions and RFP responses

Required Qualifications:
Cloud Platform Expertise   10+ years of enterprise IT experience with minimum 7 years focused on cloud technologies  Expert-level knowledge in AWS (Azure is nice to have)platforms  Proven track record of large-scale enterprise migrations (1000+ servers or $10M+ infrastructure value)  Deep expertise in cloud-native services: compute, storage, databases  Advanced knowledge of cloud security frameworks, identity management, and compliance standards (SOC2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS)  Networking & Security Expertise   5+ years hands-on experience with Palo Alto Networks firewalls (PA-Series, VM-Series, Prisma, Panorama)  3+ years expert-level experience with F5 load balancers (BIG-IP, F5 DNS, Application Security)  Advanced certifications are preferred :PCNSE (Palo Alto) and F5 Certified Technology Specialist   Deep understanding of network protocols, routing, switching, and network security principles  Experience with SD-WAN, SASE, and cloud-native security solutions 

Technical Skills:
Infrastructure as Code : Expert in Terraform, CloudFormation, ARM templates, Ansible  Programming/Scripting : Python, PowerShell, Bash, JSON, YAML  Containers & Orchestration : Docker, Kubernetes, EKS, AKS, container security  DevOps Tools : Jenkins, Azure DevOps, GitLab CI/CD, Git, monitoring and logging tools  Databases : Experience with cloud databases (RDS, Aurora, Azure SQL, Cosmos DB)  Monitoring & Operations : CloudWatch, Azure Monitor, Splunk, ELK stack, Prometheus 

Qualifications:
Professional Qualifications   Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or equivalent experience  Current security clearance preferred (Secret/Top Secret)  Excellent communication and presentation skills with ability to influence senior executives  Proven project management experience with large-scale technical initiatives  Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with attention to detail  Preferred Qualifications  Master's degree in relevant technical field  Additional certifications: CISSP, CCNP, CCIE,   Experience with multi-cloud strategies and cloud-agnostic architectures  Knowledge of compliance frameworks: FedRAMP, SOX, GDPR  Experience in regulated industries: Financial Services, Healthcare, Government  Prior consulting or client-facing experience with enterprise customers  Experience with cloud cost optimization and FinOps practices 

“Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US geographic markets. The base pay for this position ranges from $ 161,000/year in our lowest geographic market up to $ 275,000/year in our highest geographic market. Pay is based on a number of factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. The compensation package may also include incentive compensation opportunities in the form of annual bonus or incentives, equity awards and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). Learn more about benefits at Rackspace.”

Information on benefits offered is here.

About Rackspace Technology
We are the multi-cloud solutions experts. We combine our expertise with the world’s leading technologies — across applications, data and security — to deliver end-to-end solutions. We have a proven record of advising customers based on their business challenges, designing solutions that scale, building and managing those solutions, and optimizing returns into the future. Named a best place to work, year after year according to Fortune, Forbes and Glassdoor, we attract and develop world-class talent. Join us on our mission to embrace technology, empower customers and deliver the future.
 
 
More on Rackspace Technology
Though we’re all different, Rackers thrive through our connection to a central goal: to be a valued member of a winning team on an inspiring mission. We bring our whole selves to work every day. And we embrace the notion that unique perspectives fuel innovation and enable us to best serve our customers and communities around the globe. We welcome you to apply today and want you to know that we are committed to offering equal employment opportunity without regard to age, color, disability, gender reassignment or identity or expression, genetic information, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity status, military or veteran status, nationality, ethnic or national origin, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or any legally protected characteristic. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.

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