Azure/Microsoft Technology Consultant

We are seeking aPrincipal Azure Consultant to join our team as a trusted advisor to the Head of the client's Infra/Security Department and their leadership team.

The client runs a large and growing Microsoft estate: Azure landing zones, hybrid workloads, a rising number of AI and data initiatives, and many delivery partners building on the same platform. The role combines strategy and governance with hands-on technical depth — most of the time is spent advising, reviewing and steering, but when it matters, the consultant goes into the detail and builds or fixes things personally.

Responsibilities

• Act as day-to-day senior advisor to the department head and direct reports on Azure, Microsoft infrastructure, data and AI, networking and DevOps
• Shape the cloud and infrastructure roadmap: workload placement across Azure and on-premises, modernization priorities and target-state architecture
• Review and evolve the Azure landing zone, including management groups, subscriptions, identity, Azure Policy, tagging standards and guardrails for new workloads
• Advise on network architecture across Azure and on-premises: hub-and-spoke or Virtual WAN, hybrid connectivity, DNS and IP management
• Guide the hybrid strategy for the VMware estate, deciding what stays on-premises, what moves to Azure and how both are governed consistently
• Support data and AI platform decisions on Azure (data and analytics services, Azure OpenAI, AI Foundry) within landing zone standards and predictable cost
• Own the FinOps agenda: consumption analysis, savings (reservations, savings plans, rightsizing, licensing, Azure Hybrid Benefit), cost governance, showback/chargeback and tracking results
• Serve as design authority for solutions from internal teams and vendors, reviewing for standards fit, resilience and cost, and recommending changes before approval
• Guide DevOps and automation practices: Azure DevOps pipeline standards, IaC (Terraform, Bicep), SPN and managed identity based automation, and alignment with IDP golden paths
• Perform hands-on work when needed: proof-of-concepts, landing zone and policy changes, IaC modules, cost analysis and troubleshooting escalations
• Prepare recommendations, business cases and updates for department leadership, and support them at senior management and steering committee level
• Collaborate with Microsoft account and technical teams on architecture reviews and roadmap alignment

Requirements

• 12+ years in IT infrastructure, cloud and architecture roles, including 5+ years on Microsoft Azure in large enterprises
• Proven track record as a client-facing advisor or architect working directly with heads of infrastructure or IT operations
• Deep knowledge of Azure landing zones, Cloud Adoption Framework and Well-Architected Framework
• Expertise in Azure Policy, Entra ID and governance at scale
• Strong background in Azure networking and hybrid connectivity
• Solid on-premises infrastructure experience, particularly VMware, and on-premises to Azure migration
• Practical Azure FinOps competency with measurable savings delivered
• Working knowledge of Azure data and AI services and how to run them governed and cost-controlled
• Hands-on skills in Terraform and/or Bicep, Azure DevOps pipelines, PowerShell and Python
• Capability to critically review third-party designs and defend recommendations to senior stakeholders
• Excellent written and verbal English (B2+ level)
• Willingness to work on site in Abu Dhabi

Nice to have

• Certifications: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, DevOps Engineer Expert, FinOps Certified Practitioner
• Cloud security experience: Defender for Cloud, privileged access and landing zone security baselines
• Exposure to Backstage or other Internal Developer Platforms
• Experience in oil and gas, energy or regulated critical-infrastructure sectors
• Prior work in the UAE or GCC; Arabic is a plus