Solutions Architect - Azure - US

Morgan Advanced Materials is a business rich in history and innovation. Founded in the UK in 1856, we have grown into a global organisation with 70 sites in 18 countries. Our model to serve our customers where they need us has led to a diversified product range using our unparalleled expertise in ceramic and carbon materials, which we exploit to solve difficult problems for our customers across a diverse range of markets.

We are a purpose driven organisation. Our purpose is to use advanced materials to make the world more sustainable and to improve the quality of life. We deliver on that purpose through the products that we make, and the way that we make them.

We help our customers push the limits of their processes and products to meet the demanding requirements they face, from higher process temperatures to higher product performance to increasing miniaturisation.

Key Figures: Revenue £1,112m (2022), ~8,500 employees, manufacturing in 30+ countries, and a global customer portfolio. A UK PLC with head office located in Windsor, Berkshire UK.  Listed on London Stock Exchange; Member of the FTSE 250 Index.

SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT - AZURE

US REMOTE (EST Time Zone)

STAFF ROLE

OVERVIEW & SCOPE OF ROLE:

Morgan IT is on a transformative journey to enhance Digital Capabilities by strategically leveraging Microsoft Azure. Our aim is to establish an Evergreen IT estate, pivotal for the company's success in the upcoming century. This entails maintaining IT services that are always current, tailored to purpose, and environmentally sustainable, thereby maximizing our team's ability to drive business value.

In this pursuit, the OneIT team is dedicatedly following a strategic roadmap centered around Azure-based solutions to bring about substantial improvements in IT performance and the value derived from IT.

The global IT Operations team is responsible for ensuring the excellence of all IT services, with a special focus on those hosted-on Azure. Our objective is to optimize the value Morgan extracts from Azure-based IT services, ensuring they are delivered effectively and with minimal disruption.

In the role of a Solution Architect with an Azure focus, your responsibility will be to convert requirements into Azure-based solutions and articulate them through architecture and design that align with Azure best practices. This role is crucial in addressing business challenges through Azure services, in compliance with Morgan's architectural standards, guidelines, and roadmaps that are Azure-focused.

 ESSENTIAL DUTIES & REPONSIBILITIES:

Stay current with Azure technologies and trends

• Lead the identification and evaluation of new Azure technologies, products, methods, and techniques for the functional domain.
• Conduct in-depth technology assessments in collaboration with enterprise architecture, focusing on Azure solutions, and make informed recommendations.
• Identify strategic applications of Azure IT solutions/assets for Morgan's benefit.
• Proactively prepare for major organizational changes influenced by Azure technology trends.

Create fit-for-purpose Azure solution architectures

• Translate business needs into detailed requirements and appropriate Azure solutions within the functional/technical area.
• Conduct impact assessments on business requirements, focusing on Azure solutions and strategies.
• Design and document complex Azure solutions using a structured approach aligned with Morgan's standards.
• Transform complex business requirements into architectural requirements within the Azure ecosystem.

Provide technical leadership in Azure and set standards in IT

• Ensure the implementation of solutions aligns with the Azure-based design.
• Promote and apply best practices in Azure solutions.
• Manage the application portfolio, focusing on Azure integration and optimization.
• Support change and project plans with an Azure-centric approach.
• Approve solutions and designs in the context of Azure in project and change management processes.

Drive Continuous Service Improvements with Azure:

• Design, implement, and support Azure environments, ensuring optimal performance, scalability, and security.
• Perform complex analysis of the current business and IT environment, with a focus on identifying critical deficiencies and areas for improvement within the Azure landscape.
• Develop and propose solutions for enhancing Azure-based services, aiming for continuous improvement in efficiency, performance, and cost-effectiveness.
• Collaborate closely with project teams, providing Azure expertise to facilitate project completion and meet business objectives.
• Guide and assist in the integration of Azure solutions with other business projects, ensuring alignment with overall IT strategy and business goals.
• Stay informed about the latest Azure features and updates, leveraging this knowledge to drive improvements and innovations within the organization.

Ensure up-to-date Azure-focused documentation

• Provide high-level Azure architecture designs and documentation.
• Develop process heat maps and roadmaps with an Azure perspective.
• Guarantee consistency with Azure-centric template designs for deployments.
• Promote knowledge management within the Azure domain.

EXPERIENCE & BACKGROUND

Qualifications

• Master/ bachelor’s degree in, computer science, computer engineering, or a related field of study
• Solid technical solution architecture experience with modeling and/or infrastructure / application architecture design frameworks (TOGAF), tools, technologies, methodologies
• Knowledge and practical skills in best practice solutions in the shared solutions space
• Knowledge of the process industry and relevant technological developments in the respective technical domain
• Experience with consulting or business roles
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, fluent in English

Experience:

• 10+ years of experience in the IT sector in general and with more than 5 years’ experience in the respective technical domain, expressing deep and broad knowledge of architecture, IT security, (technology) platforms and business processes for the specific technical domain and with (comparable) business environments.
• At least 10 years of experience in the IT sector, with more than 5 years in roles centered around Azure, demonstrating extensive knowledge of architecture, IT security, Azure platforms, and business processes.
• Proven experience working across different regions, with an understanding of cultural nuances and the ability to engage effectively with diverse teams.
• A passion for technology, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to wider teams, including those with non-technical backgrounds.
• Hands-on experience in implementing solutions within the Azure suite, showcasing practical skills in deploying, managing, and optimizing Azure services.
• Experience in automation and coding, with skills in scripting and programming being highly advantageous. Familiarity with Azure automation tools and frameworks would be ideal.
• A track record of staying current with technological trends, especially those related to Azure and cloud computing.

Morgan Advanced Materials is an EEO/AA/M/W/D/V Employer Ind-1