Cloud Strategy, Architecture & Design Associate

Cloud Strategy, Architecture & Design Associate at PwC Acceleration Center India

At PwC, our people in software and product innovation focus on developing cutting-edge software solutions and driving product innovation to meet the evolving needs of clients. Individuals in software engineering at PwC leverage their knowledge to design, code, and test innovative applications that revolutionize industries and deliver exceptional user experiences.

The Opportunity

As a Cloud Strategy, Architecture & Design Associate within PwC's Cloud Operations and Technology Strategy & Transformation teams, you will play a crucial role in supporting cloud initiatives and contributing to innovative cloud resilience strategies for clients. This Associate position offers the chance to learn from senior staff, engage in challenging projects, and deepen your technical knowledge while building meaningful client connections in a fast-paced, dynamic consulting environment.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to team efforts by sharing insights and ideas.
• Utilize analytical skills to interpret data and inform decisions.
• Uphold professional standards and the firm's code of conduct.
• Support cloud initiatives by collaborating with stakeholders on design.
• Assist in implementing secure and scalable cloud environments for clients.
• Contribute to the development of innovative solutions in cloud technologies.
• Engage in research to stay updated on industry trends and practices.
• Participate in project tasks to enhance technical skills in cloud strategy.
• Collaborate with team members to drive strategic initiatives forward.
• Analyze client needs to provide tailored cloud solutions.
• Support the team in delivering quality consulting services.
• Act as a trusted subject matter expert on cloud strategy, providing guidance and recommendations.
• Collaborate closely with Architecture and Application Development teams to establish and enforce cloud standards and best practices.
• Conduct assessments of existing cloud environments, identifying optimization opportunities.
• Drive the implementation of cloud governance frameworks, ensuring compliance.
• Evaluate and select cloud service providers and vendors.
• Facilitate workshops, interviews, and meetings with key stakeholders.
• Present findings, recommendations, and implementation plans to clients.
• Provide guidance and support during the implementation phase of cloud initiatives.
• Support the creation of RFPs and proposal responses.

What You Must Have

• Bachelor's Degree.
• At least 2 years of experience as a cloud consultant, designing, developing, and delivering technology solutions for customers.
• Oral and written proficiency in English required.

What Sets You Apart

• Certification(s) from a leading cloud service provider (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Certification(s) from a leading on-premises infrastructure provider (VMware, Nutanix, Microsoft, RedHat, NetApp, EMC, Cisco, Arista).
• Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP), ITIL Certification, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), or AWS or Azure certifications related to resilience or infrastructure.
• Demonstrating thought leadership in cloud infrastructure solutions.
• Possessing experience in IT resilience, disaster recovery, or technical risk consulting, preferably in a professional services environment.
• Developing and refining Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) that integrate technology resilience considerations.
• Exhibiting proven communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate technical details into business value for clients.
• Being familiar with risk management frameworks (e.g., ISO 22301, ISO 27001, NIST, ITIL).
• Demonstrating experience with public, private, hybrid, and multi-cloud Infrastructure (Network, Server, Storage, and Database) discovery, design, build, and migration.
• Bachelor's or master's degree in Technology and Business Administration.
• Highly desirable certifications in cloud platforms such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect or Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect.
• Demonstrating knowledge in cloud strategy and architecture.
• Familiarity with DevOps practices and tools.
• Excelling in cloud migration strategies and optimization.
• Analyzing complex data sets for insights.
• Leading teams in fast-paced environments.
• Developing proposal approaches and pricing structures.
• Supporting cloud transformation programs.
• Strong expertise in core cloud services, including storage, networking, firewalls, DNS, databases, applications, data analytics, compute, and container services.
• Strong familiarity with leading cloud providers such as Google Cloud Platform, AWS, Azure, and other progressive cloud/container vendors.
• Demonstrated proficiency in design patterns, architecture best practices, cost optimization strategies, and delivering purpose-built solutions.
• Experience in designing and implementing on-premises, hybrid, and multi-cloud solutions.
• Proven experience in preparing cost estimations, business case, and financial models for cloud solutions.
• Expertise in cloud migration strategies and familiarity with commonly used tools for migration.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to effectively interpret and analyze complex data sets.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities, keen attention to detail, and a strategic mindset.
• Proficiency in utilizing analytical tools and software, including Excel, PowerPoint, and data visualization tools.
• Ability to lead teams in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Ability to develop proposal approaches, pricing structures, and assemble teams.

Knowledge Preferred

PwC’s Technology Strategy & Transformation practice delivers client solutions related to CIO/CTO functions, managing/transforming business functions, technology diligence, and supporting cloud transformation projects. We seek candidates with experience in two or more of the following:

• Cloud Strategy: Conduct business cases for cloud modernization, build financial models for ROI/TCO analysis, evaluate applications for migration, and select appropriate cloud services.
• Cloud Architecture: Design secure, resilient, and scalable cloud architectures for infrastructure and cloud-native applications, with knowledge of containerization (Kubernetes) and integration patterns. Showcase expertise in AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Cloud Landing Zone and Environment Design: Architect and design secure, scalable cloud landing zones, defining best practices for access control, IAM, network security, and cost optimization.
• Cloud FinOps and Operating Model: Formulate cloud operating models, define roles, establish governance, select tooling, develop processes, and implement cost optimization strategies.
• DevOps Knowledge: Familiarity with DevOps practices and tools (CI/CD, IaC), including Jenkins, Git, Docker, Kubernetes, and Ansible, with a strong understanding of principles and methodologies.

Key skills/competency

• Cloud Strategy
• Cloud Architecture
• Cloud Design
• IT Resilience
• Disaster Recovery
• Business Continuity Planning
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)
• Azure (Microsoft Azure)
• GCP (Google Cloud Platform)
• DevOps Practices
• FinOps
• Cloud Migration
• Cloud Governance
• Stakeholder Collaboration
• Analytical Thinking
• Problem Solving
• Communication Skills
• Risk Management Frameworks
• Containerization (e.g., Kubernetes, Docker)