Microsoft Cloud Architect - Pre-Sales

Description

The company is hiring a Microsoft Cloud Architect focused on pre-sales. The role is based in Bucharest and sits within the Cloud Engineering, Data & Analytics team.

The job connects client business problems with cloud solutions. Half of your time goes to pre-sales, finding opportunities and shaping solutions. You will work with client executives, practice leaders and delivery teams to turn complex needs into technology solutions with clear, measurable value, acting as a trusted adviser on cloud and AI transformation.

Responsibilities

• Client engagement and pre-sales (50%): Run discovery sessions, workshops and assessments to uncover business challenges, priorities and cloud and AI opportunities.
• Build trust with executives, business stakeholders and technical staff so you understand client goals and how they operate.
• Present cloud and AI value, architecture options, demos and executive recommendations.
• Support RFPs, proofs of concept, competitive bids and go-to-market work alongside sales and delivery teams.
• Assess cloud and AI readiness, define transformation options and represent the company at client and industry events.
• Solution architecture and design (35%): Design scalable Microsoft cloud solutions that include AI and advanced analytics.
• Turn business requirements into architecture blueprints, technical specifications and implementation roadmaps.
• Build business cases, ROI analyses and TCO models that show what cloud and AI work is worth.
• Design secure, compliant and cost-efficient architectures for AI-ready infrastructure, cloud migration, application modernization and hybrid cloud.
• Architect AI solutions using Azure AI Services, Machine Learning, Cognitive Services and Azure Synapse.
• Run security, governance and compliance reviews, and check designs against client strategy, budget and organizational capabilities.
• Proposal development and commercial execution (10%): Lead business and technical proposals, covering executive summaries, solution approaches, delivery methods, implementation plans, pricing and resource estimates.
• Define business outcomes, success criteria, KPIs and value realization metrics.
• Make sure proposals are accurate, competitive and well positioned in the market.
• Thought leadership and capability development (5%): Keep your knowledge of Microsoft cloud, AI/ML, advanced analytics and best practices current.
• Contribute to internal knowledge assets, reusable solution templates and the company's cloud and AI capability work.
• Mentor junior architects and consultants, and take part in industry events, webinars, conferences and thought leadership.

Requirements

• At least 8 years in cloud architecture, enterprise IT, digital transformation or consulting.
• 5+ years of hands-on Microsoft Azure experience across multiple client engagements.
• Experience delivering AI/ML, advanced analytics, data engineering or cloud transformation projects.
• Proven record of leading enterprise transformation, developing business cases and supporting complex pre-sales engagements.
• Experience working with C-level executives, business stakeholders and technical teams.
• Expert knowledge of Azure, including infrastructure, networking, databases, security, governance, migration, hybrid-cloud and multi-cloud architectures.
• Strong understanding of cloud-native development, DevOps, automation, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), modern application architectures and cloud cost optimization.
• Experience with Azure AI Services, Azure Machine Learning, Azure OpenAI, Azure Synapse and advanced analytics platforms.
• Knowledge of data engineering, data platforms, AI/ML deployment, monitoring, governance, compliance and enterprise integration patterns, including API management.
• Familiarity with Python, Databricks or similar AI and analytics technologies.
• Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305) certification is required.
• Preferred: Azure Administrator (AZ-104), Azure Data Engineer (AZ-400) or Azure Security Engineer (AZ-500) certifications, which are strongly preferred.
• Preferred: Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102) or Azure Data Scientist Associate (DP-100) certification.
• Ability to turn complex business challenges into cloud and AI solutions with clear value and measurable outcomes.
• Strong communication, presentation, stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and strategic thinking.
• Ability to handle several stakeholders, competing priorities and complex sales cycles.
• Understanding of consulting methodologies, project delivery and business development, including opportunity identification and solution shaping.
• Ability to connect cloud infrastructure decisions with AI and analytics-driven business outcomes.
• Collaborative leadership with a strong focus on client success, innovation and delivery excellence.
• Preferred: previous experience in consulting or professional services.
• Preferred: industry expertise in one or more sectors such as Financial Services, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Government, Retail, Energy or Automotive.
• Preferred: experience with Azure Synapse, Azure Cognitive Services, Azure IoT, Azure Stack or similar Microsoft technologies.
• Preferred: exposure to emerging technologies and their business applications beyond cloud and AI.
• Preferred: experience contributing thought leadership through speaking, blogs, whitepapers, case studies or industry publications.
• Preferred: fluent English.

Conditions

Based in Bucharest.

Benefits

• Work on high-impact cloud and AI transformation initiatives across diverse industries and help clients reach measurable business outcomes.
• Keep learning through the company's university programme, professional certifications and knowledge-sharing, with a clear career path in a collaborative team of cloud and AI specialists.
• Flexible working arrangements and work-life balance initiatives in a supportive, inclusive environment.
• Competitive pay and benefits, access to the company's global network and cloud and AI ecosystem, and recognition for strong performance and client impact.