Solutions Architect, Cloud Services - US-Based

Job Summary:

Responsibilities:

• Solution Design: Lead the design of scalable, secure, and cost-effective cloud architectures, leveraging industry best practices.
• Client Engagement: Work closely with clients to understand their business challenges, technical needs, and cloud adoption goals.
• Technical Leadership: Guide engineering teams in implementing cloud-native solutions, ensuring best practices in cloud security, DevOps, and infrastructure automation.
• Pre-Sales Support: Partner with sales teams to assess client needs, define solution approaches, and contribute to proposals and technical presentations.
• Cloud Migration & Modernization: Develop strategies for migrating on-premises workloads to cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and modernizing legacy applications.
• Performance Optimization: Assess existing cloud architectures, identify areas for improvement, and recommend cost-optimization and performance-enhancement strategies.
• Security & Compliance: Ensure cloud solutions adhere to security, compliance, and governance standards, such as ISO 27001, NIST, and SOC 2.
• Collaboration: Work closely with the Director of Cloud Services, engineering teams, and clients to drive the successful execution of cloud projects.
• Thought Leadership: Stay up to date with cloud trends, emerging technologies, and industry best practices to influence Toptal’s Cloud Services strategy.
• This role is highly collaborative, working closely with Sales, Talent Ops, and Delivery and Pre-Sales teams to deliver world-class cloud solutions to Toptal’s clients.
• As a senior-level individual contributor, you are expected to exercise discretion and independent judgment daily.

• Design and implement cloud architectures aligned with business objectives.
• Effectively communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Operate in high-growth, fast-paced environments, adapting to evolving client needs.
• Leverage data-driven decision-making to evaluate solutions and optimize cloud performance.
• Roll up their sleeves to build proof-of-concepts (PoCs) and demonstrate feasibility to clients.
• Develop scalable solutions that balance performance, security, and cost-efficiency.
• Work cross-functionally to align cloud strategies with client needs and business goals.

In the first week, expect to:

• Onboard and integrate into Toptal; meet your colleagues.
• Learn about Toptal’s history, culture, and vision, with a focus on the state of our industry, the Future of Work, and the core messages important to Toptal.
• Shadow critical teams throughout the organization to learn Toptal’s core operations and capabilities.

In the first month, expect to:

• Develop relationships with key stakeholders across Toptal’s Cloud Services team.
• Gain a deep understanding of our cloud offerings, services, and client needs.
• Participate in client engagements to assess cloud challenges and provide initial solution recommendations.
• Begin contributing to architectural design and strategy discussions.

In the first three months, expect to:

• Own and lead architectural design for multiple cloud transformation projects.
• Engage directly with clients, providing expert guidance on cloud strategies.
• Develop technical collateral and best practices for Toptal’s Cloud Services offerings.
• Contribute to pre-sales efforts by providing technical expertise and solution recommendations.

In the first six months, expect to:

• Be recognized as a go-to expert in cloud architecture within Toptal.
• Drive measurable business impact by delivering high-value cloud solutions to clients.
• Optimize and refine internal cloud solution frameworks and methodologies.

In the first year, expect to:

• Make a significant impact on the growth and success of Toptal’s Cloud Services practice.
• Help scale Toptal’s cloud solutions, expanding our market presence and technical capabilities.

Qualifications and Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree is required.
• 12+ years of experience in cloud architecture, cloud engineering, or a related technical field.
• Proven expertise in designing and deploying solutions on AWS, Azure, and/or Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
• Deep knowledge of cloud-native technologies, including serverless computing, containerization (Kubernetes, Docker), and microservices architecture.
• Strong experience with Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) tools such as Terraform, CloudFormation, or Pulumi.
• Hands-on experience with CI/CD pipelines, DevOps practices, and automation frameworks.
• Familiarity with security best practices, including identity & access management (IAM), encryption, and compliance frameworks.
• Experience with cloud migration strategies, hybrid cloud environments, and application modernization.
• Solid understanding of networking concepts in cloud environments (VPC, firewalls, load balancing, DNS).
• Proficiency in at least one programming language (e.g., Python, Go, Java, or JavaScript).
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage with technical and executive audiences.
• Passion for innovation and a commitment to continuous learning in the cloud space.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, rapidly growing company and handle a wide variety of challenges, deadlines, and a diverse array of contacts.
• You must be a world-class individual contributor to thrive at Toptal. You will not be here just to tell other people what to do.

Essential Job Functions

• Regularly and reliably attend scheduled virtual team meetings on camera.
• Work independently with minimal supervision.
• Use all required digital collaboration tools.
• Prioritize and self-manage workflows and deadlines.

US FLSA Classification: Full-Time/Exempt