Baker McKenzie

The Senior Enterprise Infrastructure/Cloud Architect will design, implement, and optimize the firm's global IT infrastructure, with a strong emphasis on cloud-first strategies. The role-holder drives the adoption of cloud technologies and automation to support the firm's dynamic and cross-border business needs. This role ensures that the foundational technology platforms are highly available, secure, scalable, and cost-efficient, directly contributing to strengthening business resiliency and providing an excellent User Experience across all global operations.

Main responsibilities:

• Cloud Strategy & Architecture: Define and lead the firm's global cloud strategy, including IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS adoption. Design secure, scalable, and cost-optimized cloud architectures (primarily Azure, with exposure to other clouds as needed)
• Infrastructure Design & Optimization: Architect and continuously optimize the firm's global network, server, storage, and virtualization infrastructure, ensuring high performance and reliability
• Business Resiliency: Design and implement robust disaster recovery, business continuity, and high-availability solutions to ensure uninterrupted service delivery for critical legal applications and data
• Security Infrastructure: Collaborate closely with cybersecurity teams to design and implement secure infrastructure solutions, including network security, identity and access management (IAM), and endpoint protection
• Automation & Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Drive the adoption of automation and IaC principles for infrastructure provisioning, configuration, and management, enhancing agility and consistency.
• Performance Monitoring & Optimization: Establish metrics and implement tools for monitoring infrastructure performance, capacity, and cost, proactively identifying and resolving bottlenecks
• Vendor & Technology Evaluation: 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: Develop and enforce global infrastructure standards, policies, and best practices, ensuring consistency and compliance across all regions
• Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing: Provide technical leadership and mentorship to infrastructure engineers and operations teams, fostering continuous learning and skill development
• eDiscovery system OnPrem and SaaS: Manage all eDiscovery platforms globally, including the firm’s NUIX and Relativity on-prem and SaaS. Manage all vendor-related support incidents
• Internal eDiscovery processes: Work with GEDA leadership to manage internal litigation holds and collections for the firm
• Security Audits: Work with GEDA leadership to manage all internal security audits and incidents that directly affect the environment

Skills and experience:

• A bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related engineering discipline; a Master's degree is preferred
• Extensive experience in IT infrastructure design and operations, with substantial proven expertise in a senior infrastructure or cloud architect role within a large, international enterprise
• Experience in the legal or professional services industry is a plus
• Extensive hands-on experience designing and implementing solutions on Microsoft Azure; certifications (e.g., Azure Solutions Architect Expert) highly preferred
• Deep expertise in networking (TCP/IP, DNS, VPN, SD-WAN), virtualization (VMware), and storage technologies
• Strong understanding of cybersecurity principles and infrastructure security best practices
• Proven experience with automation tools (e.g., PowerShell, Python, Terraform, Ansible)
• Experience with DevOps methodologies and CI/CD pipelines as they relate to infrastructure
• 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, able to optimize infrastructure spend while maintaining performance and security

Reports to:  Head 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.