[Hiring] Cloud Solution Architect - Data & AI @Microsoft

Role Description

Are you passionate about Microsoft Azure and driving impact at scale? Join us as a Cloud Solution Architect – Data & AI within the CSA Global Delivery (GD) organization!

We are looking for a Cloud Solution Architect – Cloud & AI Data Platform with deep knowledge in data platforms, analytics & AI to support customers in building secure, scalable, and AI-ready solutions on Microsoft Azure.

In this customer-facing role, you’ll guide organizations through their data modernization and AI journeys—leading architectural design sessions, proof-of-concept initiatives, and production deployments for mission-critical workloads. Your focus will be on ensuring performance, resiliency, and security across solutions that drive measurable business value.

As a key member of the Cloud & AI Data Platform team, you’ll develop and use established repeatable IP and execution frameworks to deliver high-quality outcomes and accelerate solution adoption. You’ll work with cutting-edge technologies such as SQL Server, Azure SQL, Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, Azure Databricks, Cosmos DB, and Microsoft Foundry helping unlock the full value of their data and AI investments.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

Responsibilities

• Understand customers’ overall data estate Business and IT priorities and success measures to design Data & Analytics solutions that drive business value and drive positive Customer Satisfaction & become a trusted advisor.
• Ensure that solution exhibits high levels of performance, security, scalability, maintainability upon deployment and provide feedback and insights from customers/partners.
• Develop opportunities to drive Customer Success business results & help Customers get value from their Microsoft investments and identify resolutions to Customer blockers by leveraging SA subject matter expertise. Deliver according to MS best practices & using repeatable Intellectual Property (IP).
• Contribute to the identification, escalation, and mitigation of blockers using appropriate tools and processes to accelerate solution deployment, value realization and usage/consumption with minimal guidance.
• Apply technical knowledge to architect and design solutions that meet business and IT needs, create Data & Analytics roadmaps, drive Proof of Concepts (POC) and Minimal Viable Product (MVP), and ensure long term technical viability of new deployments, infusing key AI technologies where appropriate.
• Present architecture proposals, solution visions, and delivery approaches to executive audiences with clarity and confidence.
• Maintain technical skills and knowledge, keep up to date with market trends and competitive insights; collaborate and share with the AI technical community while educating customers on Azure platform.

Technical

• Design the solution using your Data Platform technical knowledge, architectural approach, consultancy skills and our methodology to win a customer’s technical decision and meet the customer’s needs; drive proof of concepts (POCs)/production deployments to create momentum for MVPs, infusing key AI technologies where appropriate.
• Experience with on-premise & cloud databases such as SQL Server, Azure SQL, Azure Database for PostgreSQL, MySQL, and Azure Cosmos DB.
• Proficient in Analytics, Data Warehousing, and Data Engineering scenarios, with a focus on building and enabling Intelligent Data and Analytics Platforms.
• Experience working with modern data technologies including Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, Lakehouse architectures, Azure Databricks.
• Hands-on experience with AI agentic frameworks, multi-agent orchestration, and integration of AI agents into enterprise applications.
• Data pipeline creation, ETL/ELT processes, and managing large datasets (structured and unstructured).
• SQL Server experience including SQL Server at scale, on-premises to Azure migrations, troubleshooting, performance tuning and optimization.
• Experience with High Availability/Disaster Recovery solutions such as Failover Clustering, Database Mirroring, Always-On Availability Groups, and Replication.
• Use trace analysis, debug skills, source code, and other proprietary tools, to analyze problems and develop solutions to meet customer needs; this may involve writing code.
• Familiarity with AI solution design patterns, responsible AI principles, and ethical AI practices.
• Programming skills in Python, R, and/or C# for AI development.
• Experience in Azure architecture design, Azure IaaS, Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, High Availability, service resilience and distributed systems.
• Consultative and presentation skills with a high degree of comfort with both large and small groups.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Business, Liberal Arts, or related field AND 4+ years experience in cloud/infrastructure technologies, information technology (IT) consulting/support, systems administration, network operations, software development/support, technology solutions, practice development, architecture, and/or consulting OR equivalent experience.
• Microsoft is unable to sponsor a work visa for this role due to the nature of the role’s job duties.

Additional or Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Business, Liberal Arts, or related field AND 8+ years experience in cloud/infrastructure technologies, information technology (IT) consulting/support, systems administration, network operations, software development/support, technology solutions, practice development, architecture, and/or consulting OR Master's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Business, Liberal Arts, or related field AND 6+ years experience in cloud/infrastructure technologies, technology solutions, practice development, architecture, and/or consulting OR equivalent experience.
• 4+ years experience working in a customer-facing role (e.g., internal and/or external).
• 4+ years experience working on technical projects.
• Technical Certification in Cloud (e.g., Azure, Azure Data Platform, Power BI, Amazon Web Services, Google, security certifications).

Compensation

Cloud Solution Architecture IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $106,400 - $203,600 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $137,600 - $222,600 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here .

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances.

If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.