Apex Informatics

Compensation

Full Description

Location: Remote Interview Mode: Virtual Interview Type: Contract Work authorization: W2 Project Description: CPS is seeking one Azure expert with strong experience in Azure terraforming, Infrastructure as Code (IaC) practices, and tenant-to-tenant network communications. This role will play a crucial part in ensuring the stability, scalability, and resilience of our cloud-based applications and infrastructure. This engagement may extend, based on priorities and resources within the District. Vendors must adhere to their contracted rates or the bid will be deemed non-responsive. This is a 4-5 month, full-time (9 a.m. - 5 p.m., M - F) day-today remote position. The Office of Information and Technology Services (ITS) works to build the capacity of schools to use information and technology, maintain network infrastructure, security standards, and support other departments to meet district goals. ITS provides innovative technology solutions that improve the quality of education for students, reduce the administrative burden on educators, facilitate parent interaction, increase community engagement, and support CPS' mission of transparency by focusing on the ease and equity of access to information. The ideal candidate will be an Azure expert with strong experience in Azure terraforming, Infrastructure as Code (IaC) practices, and tenant-to-tenant network communications. This role will play a crucial part in ensuring the stability, scalability, and resilience of our cloud-based applications and infrastructure. The Public Cloud Services Engineer will be held accountable for the following responsibilities: • Design, build, and manage cloud infrastructure using Azure and Terraform. • Implement and manage Infrastructure as Code (IaC) solutions using tools like Terraform and ARM templates. • Design and implement tenant-to-tenant network communications, ensuring secure and optimal interconnectivity between Azure environments. • Ensure the security, scalability, and reliability of the company's cloud infrastructure and applications. • Collaborate with DevOps, Development, and IT teams to create cloud strategies and best practices. • Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to Azure infrastructure and associated services. • Stay updated with Azure's latest features, pricing, and best practices to optimize cost and performance. • Provide technical expertise and support for Azure migration projects. • Automate routine tasks and infrastructure deployments using Azure DevOps, CI/CD pipelines, and scripting. • Document architectural designs, procedures, and best practices for implemented cloud solutions. • Participate in Windows server "On-Call" rotation, which provides for an engineer to be available to deal with server emergencies on a 24x7 basis. • Other duties as assigned In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Public Cloud Engineer must possess the following qualifications: Education Preferred: • Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university • Azure certifications, such as AZ-303, AZ-304, or equivalent, are a plus. Experience Required: • Minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in Azure cloud services and infrastructure management. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: • Strong cross-functional knowledge (network, database, web services, AI, Infrastructure) • Database skills are a plus • Programming/scripting skills are a plus (PowerShell, python, terraforms, c#) • Comprehensive understanding of cloud delivery models: PaaS, SaaS, and IaaS. • Strong expertise in Azure Terraform and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) concepts. • In-depth understanding of tenant-to-tenant network communications in Azure. • Familiarity with continuous integration/deployment processes and tools such as IDEs (Eclipse), Source Code management. (GIT/Stash), Jenkins, Maven, Nexus artifacts, etc.. • Must have good interpersonal, leadership, collaboration, facilitation, and negotiation skills and be able to manage conflict. • Must have excellent communication skills, and be able to explain complex technical issues in a way that non-technical people can understand as well as be able to explain customer needs and priorities in a way that technical people can understand. • Must be dedicated to improving the lives of Students, Parents, Teachers, and Principals through the judicious use of Information Technology Milestones & Deliverables: 1. Milestone: Project Kickoff • Deliverable: Project Initiation Document (PID) detailing the scope, timeline, resources, and objectives. 2. Milestone: Infrastructure Assessment • Deliverable: Comprehensive report detailing the current on-premise infrastructure, dependencies, integration points, and potential challenges. 3. Milestone: Azure Environment Setup • Deliverable: Fully configured Azure environment tailored for the Aspen Student Information System. • Deliverable: Network setup ensuring secure connections between the organization's premises and the Azure environment. 4. Milestone: Test Migration • Deliverable: Successful test migration of a subset of data, ensuring data integrity and system functionality. • Deliverable: Test report, detailing the results, any encountered issues, and resolution strategies. 5. Milestone: Data Migration • Deliverable: Complete data migration from the on-premise system to Azure, ensuring data consistency and integrity. 6. Milestone: Application & Service Migration • Deliverable: All Aspen application services successfully migrated and operational in the Azure environment. 7. Milestone: Integration & Interoperability Testing • Deliverable: Comprehensive testing report of the system integrations, ensuring all components and third-party systems interact seamlessly. 8. Milestone: Performance & Security Optimization • Deliverable: Report on performance benchmarks and security measures, ensuring the Azure-hosted system meets or exceeds on-premise performance and is compliant with security standards. 9. Milestone: User Acceptance Testing (UAT) & Training • Deliverable: UAT report with feedback from end-users and stakeholders. • Deliverable: Training materials and sessions for users and IT staff on the new Azure-hosted system operations. 10. Milestone: Final Migration & Go-Live • Deliverable: Official switch-over from the on-premise system to the Azure-hosted system. • Deliverable: Documentation detailing migration processes, system configuration, and rollback procedures. 11. Milestone: Post-migration Monitoring & Support • Deliverable: A two-week post-migration report detailing system performance, user feedback, and any identified issues. 12. Milestone: Project Closure • Deliverable: Final project report summarizing activities, challenges, lessons learned, and recommendations for future migrations or improvements. Assumptions: 1. The Aspen Student Information System is compatible with Azure services. 2. Any required licenses or subscriptions related to Azure or Aspen will be provided or acquired as needed. 3. There will be regular checkpoints and communication between the Azure Cloud Engineer, IT team, and other stakeholders. 4. The success of this migration project depends on the timely completion of each milestone and the collaboration between all involved parties. Regular status updates, reviews, and adjustments will ensure the project stays on track and meets its objectives.