Azure IaaS Cloud Architect – Azure Networking

Job Title:

Azure IaaS Cloud Architect – Azure Networking

Job Description We are seeking a Senior Azure IaaS Cloud Architect with Azure Networking as the primary skill, complemented by deep SAP on Azure IaaS experience and strong Fin Ops discipline.
This role owns the network‑first, cost‑aware infrastructure architecture for SAP workloads on Azure, ensuring secure, high‑performance, highly available, and financially optimised Azure environments. The architect will design enterprise Azure networking, lead SAP migrations to Azure IaaS, and apply Fin Ops principles to control and optimise infrastructure spend across SAP landscapes.
** Primary Skill Area:
Azure Networking (Critical & Mandatory)
** The successful candidate
** must be a strong Azure Network Architect first**, with SAP, IaaS, and Fin Ops capabilities built on top of this foundation.
** Azure Networking Responsibilities
** Architect and own
** enterprise Azure networking designs**, including:
* Hub‑and‑spoke topology
* Virtual WAN (where applicable)
* Design
** SAP‑optimised Azure network architectures**, covering:  + VNet and subnet design per SAP tier  + Latency, throughput, MTU, and routing considerations  + SAP inter‑tier communication flows
* Lead
** hybrid connectivity architecture**, including:  +
** Express Route (mandatory, primary connectivity)**  + Site‑to‑Site VPN (secondary / DR)
* Design and govern:  + Network Security Groups (NSGs)  + User Defined Routes (UDRs)  + Azure Firewall and/or NVAs
* Architect secure ingress and egress using:  + Azure Load Balancer  + Application Gateway (WAF)
* Define DNS, routing, and traffic‑flow strategies for SAP users, integrations, and management services
* Ensure networking aligns with
** Zero Trust**, enterprise security, and SAP certification requirements
** Azure IaaS Architecture (Secondary, Cost‑Aware)
*** Architect
** enterprise‑scale Azure IaaS platforms
** for SAP workloads
* Design and govern:  + SAP‑certified Azure Virtual Machines  + Managed disks (Premium / Ultra)  + Availability Sets and Availability Zones
* Own
** infrastructure sizing, capacity planning, and performance tuning
** for SAP HANA
* Define OS‑level standards (Linux / Windows) for SAP
* Design
** HA/DR‑ready infrastructure
** meeting strict RTO/RPO targets
** SAP on Azure IaaS – Migration & Runtime
*** Lead
** SAP ECC and SAP S/4

HANA migrations to Azure IaaS
*** Architect SAP‑certified designs including:  + ASCS/ERS high availability  + HANA scale‑up and scale‑out  + Cross‑zone and cross‑region resilience
* Design SAP disaster recovery using
** Azure Site Recovery
*** Work closely with SAP Basis teams to ensure SAP supportability
* Support cutover, go‑live, and post‑migration stabilisation
** Azure Landing Zones – Network‑ & Cost‑Centric
*** Design and implement
** Azure Landing Zones with a network‑first and cost‑aware approach
*** Define:  + Management group and subscription hierarchy  + Network‑centric landing zone patterns  + Shared services and connectivity hubs
* Build
** SAP‑ready landing zones**, ensuring:  + Network isolation per SAP tier  + Controlled ingress/egress  + Hybrid integration with on‑prem SAP landscapes
* Act as the
** design authority
** for Azure network, platform, and cost governance standards
** Fin Ops & Cost Optimisation (Explicit Responsibility)
*** Embed
** Fin Ops principles
** into Azure IaaS and SAP architecture decisions
* Design
** cost‑optimised Azure network and infrastructure architectures**, including:  + Right‑sizing SAP VMs and HANA instances  + Storage tier selection and performance‑cost trade‑offs  + Network cost optimisation (Express Route, egress, traffic flows)
* Define and enforce:  + Resource tagging standards  + Cost allocation by SAP system, environment, and business unit
* Use
** Azure Cost Management
** to:  + Monitor SAP infrastructure spend  + Identify cost anomalies and optimisation opportunities  + Support forecasting and budgeting for SAP landscapes
* Advise stakeholders on
** cost vs resilience vs performance trade‑offs
*** Support ongoing
** cost optimisation post‑migration**, not just initial design
** Infrastructure Automation & Azure Dev Ops
*** Deliver
** networking, IaaS, and…