Senior Azure Cloud Engineer

Azure Cloud Engineer We are currently engaged in a project that requires an Azure Cloud Engineer to build momentum toward migration, pilot workload and production cutover. This individual will serve as a trusted advisor, assist in design, validation, and operationalize cloud infrastructure while supporting security, compliance, and cost optimization. (This is a part-time consulting role up to 20 hours per week for 10 months. The individual will need to live within 1 hour of the Providence, RI Metro area as there is required onsite meetings. We are not considering third party candidates for this role). In this role, the Azure Cloud Engineer will: Identity & Access Management • Support consolidation of multiple AD forests into a single Microsoft Entra ID / Azure AD tenant. • Guide implementation of Conditional Access, Privileged Identity Management (PIM), and MFA for Zero Trust adoption. Azure Infrastructure & Networking • Assist with deployment of Azure Virtual Network Manager, DNS, VPN/ExpressRoute connectivity, and segmentation strategies. • Provide design validation for hub-and-spoke and hybrid on-prem/Azure integration. Security & Compliance • Help configure and tune Microsoft Sentinel, Defender for Cloud and Intune for monitoring, incident response. • Microsoft Purview for compliance. • Align Azure policies with NIST CSF 2.0 and NEIT’s WISP standards. Workload Migration Strategy • Advise on VMware right-sizing, Azure Migrate, and use of Reserved Instances to control costs. • Provide oversight of pilot migrations and failover validation. Operational Hardening & Governance • Establish governance guardrails, backup/DR strategies, and monitoring services. • Guide NEIT on cost optimization, reporting, and policy enforcement post-migration. Advisory & Knowledge Transfer • Participate in weekly steering or checkpoint meetings as needed. • Ensure staff are cross-trained to own and operate the Azure environment sustainably. The appropriate individual will have demonstrated experience in the following: • Proven hands-on background with Azure cloud architecture, design, migration, and implementation at enterprise scale. • Strong Azure background in identity management, workload migration, governance, and security tooling. • Strong expertise with Azure Virtual Machines, Virtual Networks, NSGs, ASGs, storage, and security controls. • Microsoft Purview, Entra ID (Azure AD), and Microsoft Fabric. • Deep understanding of cloud governance, compliance, and security best practices.