Azure Cloud Engineer

Location : Hybrid, D.C. (2 days on-site)Type : Contract-to-hireOur client is seeking an Azure Cloud Engineer with hands-on experience in Azure cloud engineering, cloud architecture, and Azure infrastructure management. The ideal candidate will be responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining cloud-based solutions that meet the needs of our organization and comply with government standards.Responsibilities:Design and implement scalable, secure, and efficient cloud architecture solutions on Microsoft Azure.Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define cloud strategies, architecture, and governance policies.Conduct architecture reviews and provide recommendations for optimizations and improvements.Deploy, manage, and monitor Azure infrastructure components such as virtual networks, virtual machines, storage accounts, and databases.Implement automation solutions using Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates, PowerShell, and Azure CLI.Work closely with development, operations, and security teams to ensure seamless integration of cloud solutions.Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers and other team members.Qualifications:Minimum of 5 years of experience as an Azure Cloud Engineer.Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Information Technology, etc.Ability to work a hybrid environment, on-site 2 days a week minimum.Proven experience in designing and deploying cloud-based solutions using Azure services.Proficiency in Microsoft Azure services, including but not limited to Azure VMs, Virtual Networks, Storage, Azure AD, and Azure SQL.Expertise in infrastructure-as-code (IaC) using ARM templates, Terraform, or similar toolsExcellent communication and collaboration skills.Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert or equivalent Azure certification is required.