Azure AKS Platform Architect (Kubernetes, Cilium, Gateway API)Location: Dallas, TXDuration: 6 monthsResponsibilities:Define and lead architecture for Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) platformDesign greenfield and manage bluefield AKS cluster strategiesLead migration from NGINX ingress to Azure Managed Gateway APIArchitect network transformation from kubenet to Azure CNI (Cilium)Establish platform-level standards for security, networking, and operationsDrive cloud-native architecture aligned with scalability and performance goalsCollaborate with engineering and DevOps teams for implementationDefine and enforce DevOps and GitHub governance standardsOwn non-functional requirements such as availability, scalability, and DRMentor teams on Kubernetes best practices and architectural complianceEssential Skills:Strong hands-on experience with Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)Expertise in Kubernetes networking including Azure CNI and CiliumExperience with Gateway API and ingress controllers (NGINX, Azure Managed Gateway)Deep knowledge of IP planning, subnetting, and pod networkingExperience with Azure Key Vault and secrets managementStrong understanding of RBAC, Azure Policy, and security best practicesExperience with CI/CD pipelines and GitHub governanceKnowledge of high availability, disaster recovery, and performance optimizationStrong troubleshooting and performance tuning skillsAbility to lead complex migrations and platform transformationsCore Skills:AKS architecture and platform engineeringKubernetes networking (Azure CNI, Cilium)Gateway API and ingress managementCloud security and identity managementInfrastructure design and scalabilityDevOps and CI/CD governanceHigh availability and disaster recovery designPerformance optimization and capacity planningMulti-tenancy and workload isolationCloud-native architecture and modernizationExperience Required: 10 years or above