Cloud & AI Engineer

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are looking for a hands-on Cloud & AI Engineer who has proven, real-world experience migrating enterprise workloads from on-premises infrastructure to Microsoft Azure. This is not a design-only or advisory position, you will be expected to architect, implement, troubleshoot, and optimise cloud environments end to end. The ideal candidate thrives in fast-paced delivery engagements, works confidently at client sites, and takes ownership of outcomes from Day 1.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead and execute on-premises to Azure migration projects including Assess, Plan, Migrate, and Optimise phases across IaaS, PaaS, and hybrid scenarios.

Perform hands-on Azure infrastructure deployment Virtual Machines, Virtual Networks, NSGs, Azure Firewall, Load Balancers, Application Gateways, and VPN/ExpressRoute configurations.

Design and implement High Availability (HA) and Disaster Recovery (DR) strategies using Azure Site Recovery, Availability Zones, geo-redundant storage, and failover clusters.

Configure and manage Azure Active Directory (Entra ID) including hybrid identity, Conditional Access policies, RBAC, PIM, and multi-factor authentication.

Deploy and manage Microsoft Defender for Cloud, Defender for Endpoint, Microsoft Sentinel (SIEM), and Azure Policy for end-to-end security posture management.

Administer Microsoft Intune for device management, compliance policies, application deployment, and endpoint security across the organisation.

Architect and implement Azure networking solutions Hub-Spoke topologies, Private Endpoints, DNS resolution, peering, traffic routing, and network segmentation.

Monitor cloud environments using Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, Application Insights, and set up proactive alerting and dashboards.

Engage directly with client stakeholders conduct technical workshops, present migration plans, and provide post-migration operational support.

Document architecture decisions, runbooks, SOPs, and migration playbooks for knowledge transfer.

MUST-HAVE QUALIFICATIONS

Experience: 35 years of professional experience

with a strong focus on cloud infrastructure and migration projects.

Certification: Associate-level or Expert-level Microsoft Azure certification (e.g., AZ-104, AZ-305, AZ-500, AZ-700, or equivalent). Certification is preferred.

Migration Track Record: Demonstrated, hands-on delivery of at least 23 end-to-end on-prem to Azure migration engagements (lift-and-shift, re-platform, or re-architect).

Networking: Deep, practical expertise in Azure networking VNets, subnets, NSGs, UDRs, peering, VPN Gateway, ExpressRoute, Azure Firewall, and DNS.

Security: Working knowledge of Azure security stack Microsoft Defender for Cloud, Defender for Endpoint, Sentinel, Azure Policy, and Key Vault.

Identity & Endpoint: Hands-on experience with Azure AD / Entra ID (hybrid identity, SSO, Conditional Access) and Microsoft Intune (device enrolment, compliance, app management).

HA / DR: Proven ability to design and test HA / DR architectures using Azure Site Recovery, Availability Sets/Zones, and backup strategies.

Automation: Comfortable with Infrastructure-as-Code (ARM, Bicep, or Terraform) and scripting (PowerShell, Azure CLI).

GOOD TO HAVE

Experience with Azure AI / ML services (Azure OpenAI, Cognitive Services, ML Studio).

Familiarity with Azure DevOps, CI/CD pipelines, and GitOps workflows.

Exposure to Azure VMware Solution (AVS) or Azure Stack HCI.

Knowledge of cost management and FinOps practices on Azure.

Additional Microsoft certifications (MS-102, SC-200, SC-300, AI-102).

Azure AI services (Azure OpenAI, Cognitive Services, Machine Learning)

Automate provisioning and configuration using Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates, Bicep, Terraform, and PowerShell / Azure CLI scripting.

WHAT WE LOOK FOR BEYOND TECHNICAL SKILLS

Go-Getter Attitude: A self-starter who identifies problems, proposes solutions, and drives them to completion without waiting to be told.

Team Player: Strong ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams, mentor junior engineers, and contribute positively to team morale.

Communication: Ability to clearly explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Client-Facing Readiness: Willingness to travel to client locations as required for project delivery, workshops, and on-site support.

Adaptability: Comfort with ambiguity, tight deadlines, and evolving requirements in a consulting / services environment.

Continuous Learning: Commitment to staying current with Azure updates, earning new certifications, and continuously improving technical depth.

WORK ARRANGEMENT

This role is based in Pune, Maharashtra, following a hybrid working model. You will be expected to work from the office on designated days and travel to client locations as project needs dictate. Travel frequency will vary by engagement but should be expected as a regular part of the role.