Associate Program Manager

Role Summary

We are seeking a seasoned professional with extensive experience in cloud-native architecture, microservices, DevOps practices, infrastructure monitoring, enterprise integration, and team leadership. This position involves the design, governance, and guidance of comprehensive Azure solutions, requiring close collaboration with business stakeholders, development teams, security personnel, and operations staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee and manage a team responsible for servicing cloud infrastructure and providing DevOps support.
• Demonstrate in-depth knowledge and practical experience with end-to-end Azure cloud architectures, focusing on high availability, scalability, security, and cost optimization.
• Lead containerization and orchestration initiatives utilizing Docker and Kubernetes (AKS).
• Implement GitOps-based deployment strategies using ArgoCD.
• Architect and govern CI/CD pipelines through Azure DevOps or GitHub Actions.
• Possess experience in cloud networking design, including VNETs, Subnets, NSGs, Load Balancers, Application Gateway, and Firewalls.
• Be proficient in observability and monitoring using Datadog for logs, metrics, APM, and alerts.
• Collaborate with DevOps teams to enforce Infrastructure as Code (IaC) principles with tools like Terraform, Bicep, or ARM.
• Define critical non-functional requirements such as performance, resiliency, disaster recovery, security, and compliance.
• Conduct design reviews, architecture assessments, and provide mentorship to senior engineers.
• Serve as a primary technical escalation point, ensuring the quality of deliverables.

Technical Skills

Cloud & Azure

• Proficiency in Azure core services including App Services, AKS, Azure Functions, Storage, Azure SQL, and Cosmos DB.
• Expertise in Azure networking concepts like VNET peering, Private Endpoints, and ExpressRoute/VPN.
• Strong understanding of Identity and Security principles within Azure, including Azure AD, Managed Identity, RBAC, and Key Vault.

DevOps & Orchestration

• In-depth knowledge of Kubernetes (AKS), covering cluster design, scaling, security, and upgrades.
• Experience with ArgoCD for GitOps-based deployments.
• Familiarity with Docker image strategies and registry management.
• Skilled in building CI/CD pipelines using Azure DevOps or GitHub.

Monitoring & Observability

• Experience with Datadog for APM, infrastructure monitoring, logging, and dashboard creation.
• Ability to define alerting strategies and establish SLA/SLO targets.

Networking & Security

• Solid understanding of TCP/IP, DNS, Load Balancing, and Firewalls.
• Knowledge of secure cloud design principles and Zero Trust concepts.
• Experience with security scanning tools and compliance controls.

Architecture & Design

• Proven experience with enterprise architecture patterns.
• Familiarity with system integration methods such as REST, messaging, and event streaming.
• Expertise in designing for high availability, disaster recovery, and multi-region deployments.
• Skills in performance tuning and capacity planning.

Soft Skills

• Exceptional communication abilities, capable of articulating complex technical concepts clearly.
• Strong aptitude for stakeholder management and fostering cross-team collaboration.
• Meticulous attention to detail with a commitment to quality and governance.
• Capacity to effectively balance hands-on technical work with strategic planning.
• A natural inclination towards mentoring and leadership.

Additional Information

Candidates with Azure certifications, particularly Azure Solutions Architect Expert, are highly preferred. Experience with Kafka/Event Hub, security tools like SAST/DAST, and working within regulated or large enterprise environments are considered advantageous.