Baker McKenzie

The Enterprise Architect – Infrastructure/Cloud is a member of the Enterprise Architecture (EA) organization responsible for defining and governing the firm’s technology architecture. This role focuses on creating and maintaining the Technology Architecture domain—encompassing infrastructure, cloud platforms, security architecture alignment, network services, end-user technologies, integration platforms, and technical standards that support the firm’s business and legal service delivery globally.

The architect will work closely with other Enterprise and Domain Architects, as well as IT leadership, security, infrastructure, and vendor partners, to ensure a cohesive, future ready technology landscape across the Enterprise.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain the firm’s Technology Architecture as part of the broader enterprise architecture framework.

• Define technology principles, standards, and reference architectures for cloud, on-premises, security, networking, workplace technologies, and integration platforms.

• Establish and own technology roadmaps that align with business strategies, application portfolios, and data governance needs.

• Evaluate emerging technologies and industry trends relevant to professional services and legal workflows.

• Lead the Architecture Vision, Baseline, and Target State definitions for the Technology Domain.

• Cloud Strategy & Architecture: Refine and coordinate the firm's global cloud strategy, including IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS adoption. Ensure design of secure, scalable, and cost-optimized cloud architectures (primarily Azure, with exposure to other clouds as needed).

• Infrastructure Design & Optimization: Coordinate the impact and dependency between business strategy and the firm's technology, global network, server, storage, and virtualization infrastructure, ensuring high performance and reliability.

• Business Resiliency: Establish standards and ensure compliance for robust disaster recovery, business continuity, and high-availability across the technology domain to enable uninterrupted service delivery.

• Security Infrastructure: Collaborate closely with cybersecurity teams to ensure a secure infrastructure architecture, including network security, identity and access management (IAM), and endpoint protection.

• Automation: Drive the adoption of automation and IaC principles for infrastructure provisioning, configuration, and management, enhancing agility and consistency.

• Performance Monitoring & Optimization: Establish metrics and ensure implementation of tools for monitoring infrastructure performance, capacity, and cost, proactively identifying and resolving bottlenecks.

• Vendor & Technology Evaluation: Help evaluate and recommend new infrastructure technologies, cloud services, and vendor solutions that align with the firm's strategic objectives and architectural standards.

• Global Standards & Governance: Lead, development and enforcement of global infrastructure standards, policies, and best practices, ensuring consistency and compliance across all regions.

• Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing: Provide technical leadership and mentorship to domain architects, engineers and operations teams, fostering continuous learning and skill development.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related engineering discipline; Master's degree preferred.

• 10+ years of experience in IT infrastructure design and operations, with at least 5 years in a senior infrastructure and technology architect role within a large, global enterprise.

• Extensive hands-on experience designing and implementing solutions on Microsoft Azure; certifications (e.g., Azure Solutions Architect Expert) highly preferred.

• Strong understanding of networking (examples, TCP/IP, DNS, VPN, SD-WAN), compute and storage technologies.

• Strong understanding of cybersecurity principles and infrastructure security best practices.

• Proven experience with automation and orchestration tools (e.g., PowerShell, Python, Terraform).

• Experience with DevOps methodologies and CI/CD pipelines as they relate to infrastructure.

• Experience in the legal or professional services industry is a plus.

Skills & Competencies:

• Exceptional technical depth in cloud and on-premises infrastructure.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with an ability to design resilient and efficient systems.

• Excellent communication skills, capable of explaining complex infrastructure concepts to diverse audiences.

• Leadership qualities, with the ability to drive strategic initiatives and manage complex projects.

• Proactive approach to identifying and mitigating infrastructure risks.

• Cost-conscious mindset, optimizing infrastructure spend while maintaining performance and security.

Reports to:  Director of Enterprise Architecture, Technology Enablement 

Travel Requirements: Flexible to travel for meetings and events as required.

Position Type:  Specialist

Development Framework:  Senior Manager

At Baker McKenzie we are different in the way we think, work and behave. With our team of 13,000 people, including over 6,500 locally admitted lawyers, in over 70 offices worldwide, we have a passionately collaborative community of 60 nationalities and are committed to world-class career development to everyone in every job at every level. Baker McKenzie can offer you both the uncompromising commitment to excellence expected of a top firm paired with a passionately global and genuinely collaborative working environment.

Baker McKenzie is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion for all. Our unique international culture is reflected in the drawing together of a worldwide family of individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds in all of our offices. We encourage the best people - regardless of race, religion or belief if any, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or age - to fulfill their professional aspirations with us. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible experience for all candidates.