Senior Cloud Engineer (Contract)

Role Overview

We are seeking a seasoned Senior Cloud Engineer to lead the design and delivery of large-scale, enterprise-grade cloud native applications. This role requires a heavy-hitter with extensive experience in microservices architecture, DevSecOps integration, and technical leadership within global, cross-cultural environments.

The successful consultant will be responsible for driving architectural strategy, modernizing legacy systems into cloud-native environments (PCF/Azure/PKS), and implementing robust security frameworks (OIDC/OAuth2).

Key Responsibilities

• Architectural Leadership: Design and oversee the deployment of cloud-native microservices and micro-frontend architectures.
• API Strategy: Implement and manage federated GraphQL APIs using Apollo Router/Studio to streamline data access and reduce API duplication.
• Security & Identity: Lead the implementation of application security protocols, specifically AuthN/AuthZ using OIDC, OAuth2, RBAC, and ABAC.
• DevSecOps Advocacy: Standardize CI/CD pipelines and codified deployment processes using GitLab and Jenkins to ensure high-frequency, secure releases.
• Data Strategy: Architect solutions across diverse data persistence technologies, including RDBMS (Postgres, SQL Server) and NoSQL/Object Storage (Redis, ECS S3).
• Stakeholder Management: Act as a bridge between engineering teams and executive leadership, providing technical direction to large-scale global development groups.

Technical Requirements

• Cloud & Infrastructure: Proven expertise in Pivotal Cloud Foundry (PCF), PKS, or Azure.
• Languages: Strong background in Java/Kotlin and the Spring Ecosystem (Boot, Security).
• API & Middleware: Advanced knowledge of GraphQL (Apollo) and RESTful API design.
• Data Technologies: Proficiency in Postgres, Oracle, SQL Server, Redis, and S3-compatible storage (ECS).
• DevOps Tools: Expert-level experience with GitLab CI/CD, Jenkins, and Gradle.
• Security: Deep understanding of SAML, OIDC, and OAuth2 frameworks.

Professional Experience & Skills

• Experience: 7+ years in IT, with a significant portion dedicated to Senior Architecture roles in Enterprise environments (Finance, Supply Chain, or Tech Manufacturing).
• Agile Mastery: Deep experience working within Kanban and Scrum frameworks.
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to influence technical strategy for large teams (100+) across multiple time zones (Ireland, US, India, Romania).
• Problem Solving: A track record of delivering complex migrations and remediation projects with zero downtime.

Education & Certifications

• B.Sc. in Computer Science or a related field.
• Pivotal Cloud Foundry Cloud Architect certification or equivalent.
• Patent-holding experience or "Proven Professional" status in storage/cloud technologies is highly desirable.