Senior Azure Operations Engineer

Job Title: Senior Azure Operations Engineer

Location: Irvine, CA (Hybrid)

Duration: Long term Contract

Description:

We are seeking a high-performance Senior Azure Operations Engineer to lead a dedicated hybrid support pod for our strategic engagement with our direct client. This role is the "anchor" of a specialized two-person unit, responsible for ensuring the stability, performance, and continuous improvement of critical Azure cloud workloads.

As the onshore lead, you will bridge the gap between client leadership and offshore execution, shifting the model from "ticket-centric" to "outcome-centric" support. You will be expected to view every challenge through an engineering lens automating manual efforts and identifying optimization opportunities before they become incidents.

Key Responsibilities

• Operations & Incident Management: Act as the primary escalation point for Azure workload incidents. Perform root cause analysis (RCA) and ensure service restoration within defined SLAs.
• Hybrid Pod Leadership: Coordinate daily with your offshore counterpart to ensure 24/7 coverage, seamless handoffs, and consistent delivery quality.
• Automation & Continuous Improvement: Proactively identify manual tasks within the existing SOPs and develop automation (using PowerShell, Terraform, or Azure DevOps) to eliminate toil.
• Performance Monitoring: Utilize Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and Application Insights to track workload health and proactively address capacity or performance bottlenecks.
• Client Integration: Seamlessly integrate into Client s existing platform operations framework, participating in stand-ups and providing transparent reporting on pod performance.
• Process Excellence: Execute and refine Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) while maintaining a focus on "Engineering Excellence" ensuring reusable code and high-quality documentation.

Required Technical Expertise

• Azure Administration: Deep experience managing Azure IaaS/PaaS environments (App Services, Azure SQL, AKS, Azure Networking).
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Proficiency in Terraform or Bicep to manage and scale cloud environments.
• Scripting & Automation: Strong PowerShell or Python skills to automate routine service requests and cloud maintenance.
• Observability: Expert-level knowledge of Azure Monitor, Kusto Query Language (KQL), and Dashboards.
• Identity & Security: Solid understanding of Azure Active Directory (Entra ID), RBAC, and Azure Key Vault.

Professional Qualities (The "Engineering Excellence" Traits)

• Ownership: You don t just close tickets; you own the outcome and the client's success.
• Collaborative Leadership: Ability to mentor an offshore engineer and foster a "one-team" mentality across time zones.
• Problem-Solving: A "not-giving-up" attitude when faced with complex system bottlenecks or architectural challenges.
• Communication: Ability to give clear technical demos to clients and articulate the value of proposed improvements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Azure Solutions Architect or Azure Administrator Associate certification.
• Experience working within a Global Delivery Model (Onshore/Offshore).
• Experience in a highly regulated environment (Financial Services/Capital Markets).

Must Have & Desired Skills:

Azure Administration: Deep experience managing Azure IaaS/PaaS environments (App Services, Azure SQL, AKS, Azure Networking). Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Proficiency in Terraform or Bicep to manage and scale cloud environments.