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The Senior Cloud Architect helps to develop, maintain and govern Cloud architecture and the technology portfolio roadmaps across multiple Cloud application portfolios. Work across all architectural disciplines, including business (processes/activities/functions/information), application, data, integration, infrastructure, security and technology, and creates and maintains related best practices, patterns and reference architectures.
The Senior Cloud Architect facilitates the development, implementation and maintenance of standards, guidelines and statements of direction for company IT system architectures, establishing a framework that constrains the design of systems for the purpose of integration of Hybrid Cloud systems and accessibility of data supporting various interdependent business processes and functions. Works closely with applications system architects, data architects, network technologists, business analysts and other stakeholders to ensure consensus on direction, in line with global strategies for future integration. Focus is often on establishing and maintaining a reusable Cloud architectural blueprint to reduce business costs, improve time-to-market of products and services, improved product quality, and customer satisfaction.
Design, architect and implement new Cloud capabilities that address any gaps and provide integrated end to end scalable, enterprise-class services. Has a proven capability to analyze existing products and infrastructure, understand how to leverage existing investments and introduce best of breed, emerging Cloud infrastructures: IaaS, PaaS and SaaS across Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP) or other major cloud computing services.
What You’ll Do
Architectural Blueprinting: Lead the design of scalable, highly available, and fault-tolerant systems and ecosystems in AWS, Azure and GCP.
Cloud Strategy: Develop and maintain the cloud roadmap, ensuring alignment with business goals and industry best practices (Well-Architected Framework)
Governance & Compliance: Establish guardrails for resource provisioning to ensure security compliance (HIPAA, GDPR, SOC2, etc.) and operational consistency.
Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Drive the transition towards a fully automated environment using tools (e.g. Terraform, Pulumi, or CloudFormation) to eliminate manual configuration drift.
Migration Orchestration: Lead the strategy for migrating legacy workloads to the cloud (Re-Hosting, Re-Platforming, and Re-Architecting).
CI\CD Integration: Partner with DevOps teams to integrate architectural patterns into automated deployment pipelines.
Performance tuning: Identify bottlenecks in current architecture and implement caching, CDN, and load-balancing strategies to optimize latency.
Technical leadership: Act as final escalation point for complex cloud technical hurdles.
Stakeholder Communication: Translate complex architectural decisions into business terms for C-suite executives and non-technical stakeholders.
Mentoring: Level up our Cloud Engineers through design reviews, pair programming and architectural workshops.
Contribute to the definition of architectural cloud strategies and plans for enterprise’s information technology. Conduct assessments, studies, and/or surveys to obtain data; analyzes data to advise and recommend cloud solutions.
Participate in key planning sessions to advise and clarify capabilities, limitations, and trade-offs of established enterprise architectures and technology in general.
Develop and maintain a strong understanding of enterprise’s businesses. Understand current and future needs of the business and align cloud technology roadmap to deliver upon those needs.
Identify, analyze, and communicate cloud architecture and integrations options and make recommendations to management.
Analyze project requirements with development teams and influence the appropriate technical design at the project level maintaining consistency with architecture vision.
Develop architectural diagrams that document project plans and production systems.
Develop documentation on recommended cloud solutions that would include relevant research, cost analysis data, risk information, implementation strategies and industry positions. Conduct industry research and evaluations in order to develop cloud solutions to resolve business needs.
Contribute to the Architecture Standards and Review Board (ASRB); ASRB capabilities, documentation and processes
Responsible for third-party vendor relationships related to area of responsibility.
Qualifications
10+ years of experience. 7+ years of experience in Software Engineering or System Administration, with at least 5+ years of Cloud Architecture experience. IT Cloud Architecture, Design, and Implementation utilizing Microsoft Azure, AWS, GCP.
Cloud Proficiency: Expert-level mastery of AWS, Azure and or GCP. Deep knowledge of core services (Computing, Storage, Database, Networking, Cloud Governance).
IaC Mastery: Proven experience managing production environments via IaC tools (e.g. Terraform, Ansible etc.)
Containerization: Deep expertise in Kubernetes (EKS/AKS/GKE) and Docker orchestration.
Networking: Strong understanding of VCPs, Subnets, Transit Gateways, DNS, and Hybrid-Cloud connectivity.
Multi-Cloud Experience: Experience designing redundancy across two or more cloud providers.
Serverless Architecture: Proven track record of deploying event-driven architecture using Lambda, Azure Functions, or Google Cloud Functions.
Deep understanding of cloud computing technologies, applications, and trends.
Strong cloud migration and cloud management skills with emphasis on cloud resource management and security.
Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills, along with interpersonal, customer service skills and leadership skills.
Strong knowledge of software development life cycle (SDLC), architecture frameworks, design patterns, and programming concepts.
Experience in designing and implementing enterprise-scale cloud systems and applications.
Experience in project management, including budget and time management.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with changing priorities.
Certifications or 10+ years of experience across a wide range of Information Technology disciplines.
Must have at least one of the following Certifications
Professional level Cloud Certifications (e.g. AWS Certified Solutions Architect—Professional)
Certifications in Architecture Frameworks (e.g TOGAF, Zachman)
Benefits
Medical Insurance • Dental • Vision • Life insurance • Accidental death and dismemberment • Short-term and long-term Disability Insurance • Parental Leave • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) • Traditional and Roth 401(k) with company match • Flexible Spending Account (FSA) • Employee Stock Purchase Plan at 5% discount • Critical Illness Insurance • Accident Insurance • Transportation and Commuting Benefits • Banking Benefits • Pet Insurance
Compensation
The estimated salary range for this role is $117,000.00 - $158,000.00, along with eligibility to earn an annual bonus. Actual salaries may vary based on several factors, such as a candidate’s qualifications, skills and experience.
From our first day in business, Wintrust has been proud to serve a variety of unique communities and people from all walks of life. To build a company that reflects the communities we serve, we believe that fostering a unique and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed will support our ongoing success. Wintrust Financial Corporation, including community banking and financial services subsidiaries, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected categories.
