Infrastructure Cloud Architect at Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago, IL

The Infrastructure Cloud Architect is a senior, hands-on technical leadership role responsible for maturing, scaling, and operationalizing the Firm's Azure-first hybrid cloud infrastructure platform. The Firm has established core Azure cloud capabilities and is expanding adoption across additional technology and business areas. This role will help evolve the platform, strengthen standards and governance, improve operational maturity, and lead delivery of secure, resilient, and cost-effective infrastructure solutions.

This is an infrastructure-focused cloud architecture role requiring deep Azure experience across hybrid cloud, networking, identity, security, compute, storage, governance, automation, monitoring, and platform services. The successful candidate will remain close to the technology, lead complex implementation and support efforts, mentor technical teams, and partner with Infrastructure, Security, Data/AI, Business Applications, Modern Work/M365, and other stakeholders to support current and emerging cloud infrastructure needs.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide hands-on technical leadership for complex Azure infrastructure initiatives, remaining actively involved in architecture design, Infrastructure as Code (IaC) development, implementation, automation, deployment, troubleshooting, operational support, and senior-level technical decision-making.
• Architect, implement, support, and continuously improve Azure infrastructure solutions across hybrid cloud, networking, identity, compute, storage, security, governance, automation, monitoring, and platform services.
• Design, build, deploy, maintain, and continuously improve core Azure infrastructure capabilities including VNets, hub-and-spoke networking, routing, DNS, ExpressRoute, site-to-site VPNs, hybrid connectivity architectures, private endpoints, Azure Firewall and/or network virtual appliances (NVAs), load balancing, identity integration, landing zones, policy, monitoring, backup, and disaster recovery solutions.
• Mature and operationalize the Firm's existing Azure-first hybrid cloud platform by improving standards, processes, documentation, governance, automation, resiliency, observability, supportability, and cost management practices.
• Partner with technology and business stakeholders, including Infrastructure, Security, Data/AI, Business Applications, and Modern Work/M365, to understand current and emerging requirements and translate them into practical cloud infrastructure solutions.
• Assess whether existing cloud infrastructure patterns meet stakeholder needs and recommend new or revised architecture patterns where additional capabilities, scale, security, resiliency, or operational maturity are required.
• Define, maintain, and enforce cloud infrastructure reference architectures, design patterns, security controls, resiliency standards, operational models, and cost optimization practices.
• Drive adoption of Infrastructure as Code, automation, platform engineering practices, self-service capabilities, and repeatable deployment patterns to improve consistency, speed, reliability, and operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with Security, Operations, Engineering, application, and data teams to ensure cloud solutions meet requirements for availability, disaster recovery, compliance, performance, and supportability.
• Evaluate cloud platform capabilities, vendor solutions, and emerging technologies to inform implementation plans, modernization priorities, and infrastructure roadmap decisions.
• Mentor infrastructure engineers and other technical teams on cloud architecture principles, Azure best practices, infrastructure modernization, and modern delivery methods.
• Participate in the team’s rotating on-call schedule and serve as a senior escalation point for complex cloud infrastructure issues, incident response, root cause analysis, and resiliency improvements.
• Perform other related duties, as assigned.

Education and Experience:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive IT infrastructure experience, including experience in infrastructure architecture, engineering, cloud platforms, or enterprise technology delivery.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience designing, implementing, operating, or supporting Microsoft Azure infrastructure solutions.
• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering cloud infrastructure foundations, including networking, identity, security, compute, storage, governance, monitoring, automation, and hybrid connectivity; experience limited primarily to application architecture or application migration is not sufficient for this role.
• Strong hands-on experience with Azure networking and hybrid connectivity, including VNets, routing, DNS, ExpressRoute, private endpoints, firewalls, load balancers, network segmentation, and connectivity between cloud and on-premises environments.
• Practical knowledge of Infrastructure as Code and automation using tools such as Bicep, Terraform, ARM templates, PowerShell, Azure CLI, or similar technologies.
• Solid understanding of cloud security and governance principles, including identity and access management, encryption, policy management, compliance, Zero Trust concepts, and secure-by-design architecture.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and apply cloud architecture standards, design patterns, reference architectures, operational practices, and governance frameworks.
• Experience leading technical delivery of infrastructure or cloud initiatives, including coordination across engineering, security, operations, application, data, and business stakeholders.
• Strong operational experience supporting enterprise production environments, including platform reliability, incident response, root cause analysis, disaster recovery, monitoring, and supportability.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, consulting, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage technical teams, business stakeholders, senior leadership, and executive management.
• Proven ability to translate business and technology requirements into cloud infrastructure designs, implementation plans, standards, and roadmap recommendations.

Preferred:

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field.
• Azure-focused certifications, such as Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Azure Administrator Associate, Azure Network Engineer Associate, or Azure Security Engineer Associate.
• Experience with Azure VMware Solution, Azure Kubernetes Service, Azure Container Apps, Docker, or other container and virtualization platforms.
• Exposure to supporting cloud infrastructure needs for Data, AI/ML, analytics, enterprise applications, or Modern Work/M365 platforms.
• Knowledge of platform engineering, DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, GitOps, or self-service infrastructure capabilities.
• Working knowledge of Azure Well-Architected Framework, Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework, landing zones, FinOps, or cloud operating models.
• Familiarity with multi-cloud environments, including AWS and/or Google Cloud Platform.
• Security, cloud, or IT service management certifications, such as CISSP, CCSP, CISM, or ITIL Foundations.
• Background in professional services, legal, financial services, accounting, consulting, or other highly regulated industries.
• Experience with vendor evaluation, solution selection, technical roadmaps, or technology investment recommendations.

Other Skills and Abilities:

The successful candidate will also demonstrate:

• Strong ownership and accountability in a senior technical leadership role.
• Ability to balance hands-on execution with architecture, standards, stakeholder alignment, and longer-term platform maturity.
• Strategic thinking with the ability to connect business priorities, technology direction, and practical execution.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence decisions without direct authority.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple initiatives with competing priorities.
• Advanced problem-solving and analytical abilities.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively across teams, functions, and levels of leadership.
• Discretion in handling confidential information.
• Ability to perform under pressure in a fast-paced, professional services environment.

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The target salary range for this role is: $161,400 - $200,000 if located in Illinois.

Salaries vary by location and are based on numerous factors, including, but not limited to, the relevant market, skills, experience, and education of the selected candidate. Our compensation package also includes bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits program. Benefits information can be found at Sidley.com/Benefits.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the Duties and Responsibilities above satisfactorily and meet the requirements. The requirements listed above are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. If you need such an accommodation, please email sidleytalentacquisition@sidley.com (current employees should contact Human Resources).

Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.