Title: Azure Solution Architect — AZURE MIGRATION
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Onsite)
JOB DESCRIPTION: SOLUTION ARCHITECT — AZURE MIGRATION (MALAYSIA)
Role Overview
The Solution Architect will serve as the technical authority for the Azure Migration program, responsible for designing target-state architecture, driving Infrastructure as Code (IaC) development, and ensuring all migrations adhere to Azure Well-Architected Framework (WAF) principles. This role works alongside the Program Manager with escalation authority, leading the technical execution across the Migration Factory's assembly lines for applications complexity tiers.
Key Responsibilities
• Design target-state Azure architecture for each application tier (Very Simple through Complex with Data Platform), ensuring alignment with the existing Azure Landing Zone governance, networking, and security controls.
• Lead the clean build and cutover approach — architect fresh Azure provisions rather than replicated copies, ensuring a known-good target state for each migration.
• Drive the technical execution of the framework phases: Discover, Design, Build, Migrate, and Validate across all application environments.
• Own the per-application lifecycle execution: inventory assessment, dependency mapping, T-shirt classification, DAC template preparation, target architecture design, interface alignment, IaC deployment, security alignment, and infrastructure smoke testing.
• Develop and maintain IaC templates (ARM/Terraform) and CI/CD pipelines for standardized, repeatable provisioning across the Migration Factory.
• Ensure security hardening and landing zone alignment for all provisioned resources, working within customer-defined compliance frameworks (GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS as applicable).
• Architect data platform migrations for complex tier applications — ADF pipelines, ADLS containers, Databricks workspaces — ensuring recreation of data pipelines, jobs, and containers based on source configuration.
• Lead DAC submissions — prepare and present target-state architecture designs for Design Authority Committee approval, ensuring WAF alignment.
• Design cutover runbooks with rollback procedures — ensure rehearsed cutovers, DNS switch preparation, and formal Go/No-Go gates for each application.
• Validate Azure Malaysia service availability during discovery and design hybrid fallback solutions where service gaps exist.
• Assess application complexity across five dimensions: component count, data volume, integration complexity, downtime tolerance, and compliance requirements — driving accurate T-shirt classification.
• Participate in weekly governance meetings with App Owners and SMEs, daily stand-ups with the migration team, and provide technical input to Steering Committee sessions.
• Lead Hypercare technical support — drive infrastructure monitoring, alerting, issue resolution, and performance tuning post-migration period.
• Produce as-built documentation, network diagrams, configuration backups, and conduct knowledge transfer sessions for handover to operations teams.
• Leverage Cloud Migration Engine for standardized discovery, automated IaC, and batch orchestration.
Required Qualifications
• 10+ years of IT infrastructure/cloud architecture experience, with at least 5 years focused on Azure solution architecture for enterprise migration program.
• Hands-on experience with Azure IaaS/PaaS services: VMs, VNets, App Services, Azure SQL, Storage, ADF, ADLS, Databricks, Azure Security Centre, Azure Monitor.
• Strong expertise in Infrastructure as Code (ARM templates, Terraform, Bicep) and CI/CD pipeline design for infrastructure provisioning.
• Deep understanding of Azure Landing Zones, RBAC, Azure Policy, network security (VPN/ExpressRoute, NSGs), and compliance frameworks.
• Proven experience with large-scale migration program (50+ applications at least) using factory-based or industrialized delivery models.
• Experience designing cutover strategies including zero-downtime, blue-green deployments, DNS switching, and rollback planning.
• Knowledge of Azure Well-Architected Framework (WAF) pillars: reliability, security, cost optimization, operational excellence, performance efficiency.
• Experience with data platform migrations (ADF, ADLS, Databricks) and Azure native/OS native data migration tools.
• Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305) or equivalent certification.
• Based in Malaysia and flexible to work from customer site.
Preferred Qualifications
• Multiple Azure certifications (AZ-104, AZ-500, AZ-700, DP-203).
• Experience with cloud transformation/migration automation frameworks.
• Hands-on with Azure Migrate, VMware HCX, and Azure VMware Solution (AVS) for migration execution.
• Experience with cross-region Azure migrations, including data sovereignty and regional service availability considerations.
• TOGAF or equivalent enterprise architecture certification.
• Background in designing solutions for multi-tier architectures with varying complexity (single-tier through microservices with data platforms).
Key Skills
• Azure cloud architecture design (IaaS, PaaS, data platform).
• Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, ARM, Bicep) and CI/CD automation.
• Migration planning — dependency mapping, T-shirt sizing, cutover design.
• Security architecture — landing zone alignment, RBAC, compliance hardening.
• Data platform architecture — ADF, ADLS, Databricks migration design.
• Technical documentation — as-built docs, network diagrams, runbooks.
• Stakeholder engagement — ability to translate technical concepts for business audiences and drive DAC/architecture reviews.
• Problem-solving under pressure — troubleshooting migration issues, performance tuning, and incident resolution during cutovers and hypercare.
About Cognizant:
Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) engineers modern businesses. We help our clients modernize technology, reimagine processes and transform experiences so they can stay ahead in our fast-changing world. Together, we're improving everyday life. See how at www.cognizant.com or @cognizant.
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About us
Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is an AI Builder and technology services provider, building the bridge between AI investment and enterprise value by building full-stack AI solutions for our clients. Our deep industry, process and engineering expertise enables us to build an organization’s unique context into technology systems that amplify human potential, realize tangible returns and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world. See how at www.cognizant.com or @cognizant.
Additional employment information
Compensation information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.
Applicants may be required to attend interviews in person or by video conference. In addition, candidates may be required to present their current state or government issued ID during each interview.
Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. Your application and candidacy will not be considered based on race, color, sex, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
