Cloud Architect

Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research breakthroughs in and across our disciplines, sparking the game changers of tomorrow and creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Our community is made up of 13 000 students, 400 professors and close to 4 500 other faculty and staff working on our dynamic campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland. Diversity is part of who we are, and we actively work to ensure our community’s diversity and inclusiveness. This is why we warmly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to join our community.

Aalto University IT Services supports our researchers, teachers, students, and other staff by producing world class services that make their work easier, more flexible, comprehensive and secure regardless of time and location. We are a community of 150 committed and talented IT experts.

Want to join our team as a Cloud Architect?

The role in a nutshell: To be a technical expert for our cloud computing solutions including AI services, working primarily on Microsoft Azure and optionally on Amazon Web Services.

We are looking for a Cloud Architect to work on solution consultations for our research and teaching projects and internal IT services projects. You will actively engage in pre-planning and hands-on implementation of project-specific modern cloud computing environments with a DevOps approach.

The projects vary and might require, for example, creation of DevOps software development environments including infrastructure as code templates, cost calculations, security reviews and identifying optimal solutions for complex problems.

Your everyday life at Aalto

Some of your projects might be short-lived consultations to get the researchers and staff using cloud services, and some might be longer running initiatives such as Aalto AI, where your help will be needed on an ongoing basis. You will collaborate and work together with our Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform specialists, and other stakeholders inside and outside Aalto IT services.

We also value your assistance in further developing tenant-level Azure practices in collaboration with our lead Azure architect, and optionally taking the lead of our Amazon Web Services platform and developing it further.

For example, initial tasks may include designing and transitioning our Aalto AI Azure environment from a UI-configured approach to a Bicep or other template-based Infrastructure as Code environment, including the subscription baseline and the Azure services configuration, while ensuring continuity for the service on future updates.

The role is an integral part of cloud computing at Aalto, and we are at the forefront of utilizing Cloud Computing in the education sector for targeted technological innovation, with a robust cloud computing strategy driving our accomplishments. Our recent and current projects include developing an OpenAI - enabled Aalto AI service for Aalto staff and soon students, providing GPU-enabled jupyter notebooks for Stable Diffusion training in student projects, utilizing Azure cognitive services and creating datasets for various research applications.

Your Responsibilities

• ~35%: Cloud Computing Solution Consultations – Facilitate technical interactions with the stakeholders by gathering requirements and translating them to solution proposals, architectural designs, and practical implementations on cloud.
• ~30%: Engage in specialized cloud initiatives, notably the Aalto AI cloud environment at the outset and ongoing. You may contribute to our data warehouse project as well.
• ~10-25%: Contribute to the advancement of our cloud platforms and potentially act as a platform lead for our Amazon Web Services environment.
• ~10%: Promote the evolution of our cloud services for end users. Improve consultation procedures, manage workload plans for both immediate and future needs, and maintain documentation at the appropriate level.

The percentages above offer an illustrative breakdown of task allocation. However, the precise responsibilities will be cooperatively designed with you, tailored to align with your interests and strengths. We value the unique skills you bring and will work together to create an engaging role that suits both parties.

What we offer

As a key contributor at Aalto, you will play a significant role in designing innovative, scalable, and on-demand solutions that leverage the latest cloud computing technology trends, while participating in productizing our cloud computing environments with a long-term view. You will be exposed to cutting-edge research, including the growing field of generative AI.

You will get to shape the position based on your interests and views. As a member of our Cloud & Apps team, you will work closely with our skilled cloud computing professionals. Our team fosters a collaborative atmosphere that encourages open communication and the sharing of best practices.

We offer great opportunities for skill enhancement and career progression - beyond your core duties, you will have the chance to broaden your knowledge through peer learning, specialized training, and certifications. Aalto University is committed to employee wellbeing, providing flexible working hours and location arrangements to suit your working style. We will collaborate with you to create the best possible work experience during your employment at Aalto University!

Your work will have direct impact on the research, teaching and societal impact at Aalto University, while providing the grounds for enabling further development of important fields such as sustainability. Aalto University's unique technical landscape features a diverse IT environment, utilizing cutting-edge technology and groundbreaking research.

Watch videos! Here you can find out what it is like to work in Aalto IT Services [https://duunitori.fi/tyoelama/aalto-universitys-it-experts-in-spotlight>

And here you can find what Aalto is all about [https://www.youtube.com/user/aaltouniversity/featured>

What we are looking for

We are seeking someone who is passionate about cloud architecture. Perhaps you already have experience as a cloud architect, or maybe you are a cloud specialist ready to take the next step in your career. We're also keen to hear from software developers who have been working with cloud computing services and are looking to focus and grow their skills in this area.

Together, we could create a vibrant career map focusing on infrastructure as code and cloud computing. Here’s what we value in a candidate:

• Technical hands-on experience in designing, architecture design, and deploying cloud services, especially on Microsoft Azure and optionally on Amazon Web Services.
• An eye for the overall picture when considering the full lifespan of services, from automation all the way to cost efficiency and security, harmonizing it with various components like services, networking, and monitoring.
• Familiarity with some DevOps methodologies and tools – for example from containers, microservices platforms such as managed Kubernetes services, to CI/CD pipelines and Infrastructure as Code technologies like bicep
• Proactive and self-directing approach with proven critical-thinking skills and problem-solving attitude.
• Experience with relevant programming languages such as Python is a bonus.
• Optionally having relevant certifications.

As a candidate, we wish you will work well both independently and with team members. You can take responsibility even during busy periods, and you possess strong cooperation and communication skills. English skills are highly desirable as our team primarily communicates in English. Finnish language skills are considered an advantage. You are willing to work in a hybrid mode where on-campus days would be spent at our Otaniemi campus. On-site training is provided in the beginning.

More than anything, we hope you are passionate about your field of work and enthusiastic about constantly innovating, following industry developments in cloud computing, and collaborative learning with others.

Here you can read thoughts of an experienced Azure Architect who joined our team in February:

“Growing demands of cloud environments hosting AI and all other new services that cloud can offer, not forgetting other critical systems, and also helping all the research activities, that is done here, is demanding but same time with great colleagues, very professional and fun experience.

Working at Aalto University ITS has provided very good work life balance as well as opportunity to work with very latest innovations and handed opportunity to look even further to what there is to come in future of IT and cloud in particular. Professionalism and a no nonsense approach to taking things forward and you are always free to express your own ideas and thoughts.” – Tenho Mikkolainen, Azure Architect

Ready to apply?

For more information about this position, please contact Mika Vatanen, IT Technology Lead, by phone (tel. +358 50 522 1025), best reached on:

• Friday 5.7. between 9.30 – 15.30,
• Tuesday 6.8. between 14.00 – 17.00
• Wednesday 14.8 between 9.00 – 11.00

Please apply by sending your application via the link below by Sunday 1st of September 2024. As we are eager to find the right game changer to join our team, we will start reviewing applications in the beginning of August, after a relaxing holiday.

More about Aalto University:

Aalto.fi
youtube.com/user/aaltouniversity
linkedin.com/school/aalto-university/
www.facebook.com/aaltouniversity
instagram.com/aaltouniversity
twitter.com/aaltouniversity