Lead Consultant - Global Hosting Services(Microservice Platform)

Job Title: Lead Consultant - Global Hosting Services(Microservice Platform)

GCL: E

Introduction to role:

Are you ready to build enterprise Edge and multi-cloud platforms that power breakthrough science and accelerate the delivery of life-changing medicines? Do you want to lead the evolution of microservice platforms and high-performance AI infrastructure that enable teams to move from idea to impact faster than ever before?

As Lead Consultant, you will set direction and drive outcomes across microservice platforms, High Performance Computing AI platforms, and GPU-based infrastructure spanning Edge, Cloud, and Hybrid Cloud. You will turn strategy into resilient, scalable solutions, partnering across engineering, architecture, and operations to deliver secure, automated platforms at global scale. Your work will simplify complexity, unlock productivity, and directly enable colleagues to transform data and science into patient impact.

Accountabilities:

• Lead the development and implementation of technology roadmaps for the Microservice Platform, High Performance Computing AI Platform, and GPU-based platform support. These platforms operate across distributed, cloud-based, and combined environments. The goal is to meet current and future business needs.

• Solution Architecture: Author and review solution blueprints that address business, application, data, and infrastructure requirements; design for resilience, performance, and cost-effectiveness; align with enterprise architecture standards and financial targets.

• Platform Engineering and Lifecycle: Lead and optimize enterprise Linux/UNIX/AIX environments (RHEL, Rocky Linux, AIX) to achieve high availability, thorough security patching, and sustained performance across hybrid environments.

• Automation and Infrastructure as Code: Drive a code-first infrastructure approach; design, build, and maintain Ansible and Terraform playbooks and modules to automate provisioning, configuration, and change at scale.

• Container Orchestration: Design, deploy, and operate Kubernetes clusters and containerized workloads; lead the migration of legacy services to microservices architectures to improve agility and reliability.

• Scripting and Tooling: Build robust automation and system integrations using Python and sophisticated Bash, reducing manual effort and increasing platform reliability.

• Hybrid Cloud Integration: Integrate on-premises systems with Azure and AWS to deliver consistent platforms across the Enterprise Edge and ensure seamless workload placement.

• AI Infrastructure Enablement: Collaborate with data science teams to provide optimized infrastructure for AI/ML workloads, including GPU-based compute nodes and high-performance storage, accelerating model development and deployment.

• Security and Compliance: Implement and maintain hardening standards (CIS benchmarks) across all OS platforms; ensure compliance with the GHS framework and enterprise policies.

• Teamwork and Governance: Partner with Enterprise Architects, Project Managers, Business Analysts, and Solution Engineers; support requirements management and software/system selection; conduct architectural reviews to ensure alignment to AZ standards and principles.

• Documentation and Capability Building: Document architecture analysis and design work; supply standard architectural components; mentor and share standard processes to strengthen architecture capability across the organization.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• Relevant technical degree or equivalent.

• Shown development/design experience in at least one infrastructure technical domain.

• Authority Linux/UNIX Knowledge: proven experience leading RHEL and AIX. Validated experience with Rocky Linux migrations or similar community-supported distributions.

• Infrastructure as Code: Sophisticated proficiency in Terraform for provisioning and Ansible for configuration management in a multi-site data center environment.

• Cloud-Native Proficiency: Deep understanding of Kubernetes (K8s), including CNI, CSI, and ingress controllers. Experience with Docker or Podman is crucial.

• Sophisticated Scripting: Strong programming skills in Python and expert-level Shell Scripting for systems automation and API integrations.

• Networking & Security: Solid understanding of TCP/IP, Load Balancing, Firewalls, and SSL/TLS certificate management within a Linux context.

• Monitoring & Observability: Experience with Prometheus, Grafana, and ELK/Splunk for platform health and performance monitoring.

• Strong networking skills with good internal/external links and Open Source/Community awareness.

• Well-developed communication and facilitation skills.

• Ability to interpret and communicate technical information into business language.

• Awareness and ability to follow Agile practices, associated ceremonies and processes.

• Awareness of developments in the enterprise perimeter, and understanding of its potential impact to AZ IS.

• Core skills (or equivalence) to include a majority of the following;, Jira, Linux, Unix, AIX, Configuration Knowledge in Ansible, Chef Infrastructure as Code, Kubernetes, Monitoring (Prometheus), Database – Oracle/MS SQL /MySQL /MongoDB(Open Source), AI & ML techniques

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Demonstrates initiative, strong customer orientation, and cross-cultural working.

• Experience in developing/maturing an architectural practice.

• Development knowledge and experience of scripting or programming languages.

• Detailed knowledge of Microservices Platform (Kubernetes/Containers/Serverless etc)

• GPU based AI platform and services based on On-Prem Private Cloud.

• Proven business insight.

• Understanding of the pharmaceutical/healthcare industry and of competitor activity, on a particular architecture and Information Management.

• Ability to work well in diverse, multinational teams and shown ability to influence others to achieve positive outcomes.

IT Sustainability goals

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we fuel ambitious thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and daring world.

Why AstraZeneca:

Here, technology fuels science at global scale. You will work with modern platforms across Edge, Cloud, and AI. You will be surrounded by diverse, multi-functional teams that move quickly, challenge assumptions, and turn big ideas into practical solutions. We invest in modern engineering, data and automation, and we value kindness alongside ambition—creating space to experiment in hackathons, build ecosystems with partners, and learn continuously while your work directly helps colleagues deliver medicines to patients sooner.

Call to Action:

Own the platforms that accelerate discovery and delivery—take the lead on this transformation and send your application to start the conversation today.

Date Posted

Closing Date

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity.  We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills.  We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.  We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics.  We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.