At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of a comprehensive hosting strategy across diverse environments.
- Company: Dynamic organisation seeking innovative minds in cloud architecture.
- Benefits: Flexible freelance role with hybrid working options and competitive pay.
- Other info: Join a transformative environment with opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of hosting architecture and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in infrastructure architecture, especially Azure and AWS.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
The organisation operates a fragmented hosting estate comprising on‐premises data centres (Hitachi and Cisco UCS compute), legacy cloud deployments (Azure), co‐location facilities, and external service provider connectivity (Bloomberg, Refinitiv, FX platforms). There is no overarching hosting strategy or defined landing zones. This role will develop and own the hosting architecture strategy across all categories, rationalising the current estate and defining scalable, repeatable patterns for future service deployment.
Key responsibilities
- Define a comprehensive hosting strategy spanning on-premises, hyperscaler (Azure, AWS), co-location, and managed service environments.
- Design and implement standardised cloud landing zones by service category, enabling repeatable, governed deployment patterns.
- Assess the existing Azure environment (built during COVID) and determine appropriate target architecture and integration with on-premises systems.
- Develop a hosting rationalisation roadmap, identifying workloads for migration, consolidation, or retirement.
- Define ISP and external connectivity architecture, rationalising current fragmented peering arrangements.
- Evaluate market data and financial services connectivity requirements (Bloomberg, Refinitiv, Trade Point, FX platforms).
- Work with network and security architects to ensure hosting design aligns with network and security standards.
- Produce total cost of ownership models and capacity plans across the hosting estate.
- Evaluate suitability of Hitachi and NTT infrastructure offerings in the context of the broader strategy.
Requirements
Technical requirements
- Broad infrastructure architecture experience across on-premises and cloud platforms.
- Azure architecture: landing zones, hybrid connectivity, governance frameworks.
- AWS architecture experience desirable.
- Compute platforms: Cisco UCS, Hitachi, HPE or equivalent.
- Virtualisation: VMware vSphere / NSX, Citrix (evaluation and rationalisation experience).
- Storage and data centre infrastructure design.
- Understanding of financial services connectivity: co-location, proximity hosting, market data feeds.
- ISP connectivity, BGP peering, and internet edge design.
- Cloud migration methodologies and workload assessment frameworks.
- Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect (AZ-305) or equivalent.
- Experience with Oracle Cloud or other tier-2 hyperscalers.
- Knowledge of offshore delivery model integration.
- FinOps practices and cloud cost management.
Soft skills
- Strategic thinker with the ability to translate business requirements into architectural decisions.
- Strong written and verbal communication — able to produce clear architecture documentation and present to senior stakeholders.
- Commercial awareness: able to build business cases and challenge incumbent vendor pricing.
- Comfortable operating in an environment undergoing significant organisational change.
Infrastructure / Cloud Hosting Architect - freelance - hybrid, London, UK employer: Comgent
Comgent in Ipswich is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, where your contributions directly impact the success of SAP implementations. With a strong focus on employee growth, we offer continuous training and development opportunities, ensuring you stay at the forefront of technology in a dynamic cloud-enabled environment. Join us to be part of a team that values your expertise and supports your career aspirations while enjoying the vibrant community of Ipswich.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Infrastructure / Cloud Hosting Architect - freelance - hybrid, London, UK
✨Tip Number 1
Network, network, network! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend meetups, webinars, or even just grab a coffee with someone who’s already in the field. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or a personal website showcasing your projects and achievements. This is especially important for roles like Infrastructure/Cloud Hosting Architect where practical experience speaks volumes. Make sure to highlight any relevant work with Azure, AWS, or other platforms.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s current hosting strategy and challenges. Be ready to discuss how you can help rationalise their fragmented estate and implement scalable solutions. Tailor your responses to show you understand their needs and can provide value.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities that might be perfect for you. Plus, applying directly shows your enthusiasm and commitment to joining our team. Let’s get you that dream job!
We think you need these skills to ace Infrastructure / Cloud Hosting Architect - freelance - hybrid, London, UK
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the specific skills and experiences that match the job description. Highlight your expertise in Azure architecture, cloud migration methodologies, and any relevant financial services connectivity experience. We want to see how you can fit into our fragmented hosting estate!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for the Infrastructure / Cloud Hosting Architect role. Share your strategic thinking and how you can help us develop a comprehensive hosting strategy. Keep it engaging and personal!
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In your application, don’t forget to mention your hands-on experience with Cisco UCS, VMware, and any other relevant technologies. We’re looking for someone who can design and implement standardised cloud landing zones, so make sure to highlight your technical prowess!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, we love seeing applications come in through our own platform!
How to prepare for a job interview at Comgent
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technical requirements listed in the job description. Brush up on Azure architecture, hybrid connectivity, and the specific compute platforms mentioned like Cisco UCS and Hitachi. Being able to discuss these technologies confidently will show that you’re the right fit for the role.
✨Prepare Your Strategy Insights
Since this role involves developing a comprehensive hosting strategy, think about how you would approach this task. Prepare examples of past experiences where you’ve defined or implemented hosting strategies, and be ready to discuss your thought process and the outcomes.
✨Understand the Business Context
Familiarise yourself with the financial services sector and the specific connectivity requirements mentioned, like Bloomberg and Refinitiv. This knowledge will help you demonstrate commercial awareness and how your architectural decisions can align with business goals.
✨Practice Clear Communication
Given the need for strong written and verbal communication skills, practice explaining complex concepts in simple terms. You might be asked to present your ideas to senior stakeholders, so being clear and concise is key. Consider doing mock interviews with a friend to refine your delivery.
