About Doherty Associates
Doherty Associates (DA) has delivered high quality IT solutions for over 30 years to world renowned, international clients. We provide a broad range of consulting and managed services to a loyal and growing client base, specialising in risk focused sectors such as private equity and legal, where security, resilience, and service quality are paramount.
We are a highly accredited Microsoft partner, holding five Microsoft Solutions Partner Designations, alongside ISO27001, ISO9001, and Cyber Essentials Plus certifications. And operate a multi-geographic, 24/7 support service.
Our customers rely on us for specialist expertise and innovation across cloud and hybrid infrastructure, modern workplace, data and BI, cyber security, governance, and compliance. We have built a strong reputation for keeping our promises and delivering consistently high-quality outcomes.
About the Role
This is a senior leadership role suited to an experienced technical professional who is passionate about helping organisations transform and evolve their technology platforms and services. As a Systems Architect, you will provide technical leadership and design authority across Microsoft cloud services, with a strong focus on Azure. You will act as a technical author and consultant, supporting presales and project delivery, across the full project lifecycle to ensure solutions meet both business and technical requirements. You will bring deep expertise in designing and delivering enterprise-scale cloud and hybrid infrastructure solutions, including Azure IaaS, Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), Azure Arc, and monitoring platforms.
Responsibilities
- Act as the technical design authority for Azure migration and transformation projects. Work with subject matter experts and promote collaborative decision making and shared technical ownership.
- Design and deliver Azure solutions, producing clear, well governed migration and implementation plans aligned to best practices and customer standards.
- Lead the design and implementation of Azure Virtual Desktop solutions, including sizing, configuration, identity integration, and security.
- Own end to end technical delivery, including planning, build, testing, deployment, and operational handover.
- Mentor and guide delivery teams to ensure high quality outcomes and consistent technical standards.
- Work closely with Project Managers to ensure effective coordination and smooth transition to operational support teams.
- Engage with customers to understand business objectives, technical requirements, and constraints.
- Lead and contribute to customer workshops and technical assessments focused on Azure migration and modernisation strategies.
- Provide technical leadership during presales activities, including solution design, estimates, and peer reviews.
- Collaborate with Enterprise Architects to ensure solutions align with customer strategy and long-term architectural goals.
Architecture, Standards & Professional Practice
- Act as a visible senior technical professional within the organisation, supporting onboarding, mentoring, and skills development of engineers.
- Stay current with Azure platform developments, particularly in migration tooling, automation, DevOps practices, and governance frameworks.
- Apply enterprise scale Azure architecture principles to deliver secure, compliant, and scalable solutions, proactively managing risk and stakeholder expectations to maximise business value.
Qualifications, Skills & Experience
- Extensive hands-on experience delivering Azure migration and transformation projects, including VMware-to-Azure transitions
- Strong expertise in Azure IaaS, networking, identity (Active Directory / Entra ID), and automation using PowerShell, Bicep, and/or Terraform
- Solid understanding of Azure networking and architecture patterns, including Private Endpoints, Virtual WAN, hub and spoke, and Azure Landing Zone (ALZ) modules
- Experience designing and delivering Azure Virtual Desktop solutions at scale
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage confidently with both technical and non technical stakeholders
- Experience with Azure Local design and migration planning, including VMware-to-Azure transition strategies, and/or hands on delivery of Azure Virtual Desktop environments would be highly advantageous
Preferred Microsoft Certifications (one or more)
- Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ 305)
- Cybersecurity Architect Expert (SC 100)
- Identity and Access Administrator (SC 300)
About the person
- A professional, consultative individual with strong leadership and influencing skills
- Highly analytical and detail oriented, with a passion for solving complex technical challenges
- Collaborative and supportive, with a genuine commitment to mentoring and knowledge sharing
- Curious, proactive, and motivated to stay ahead of Azure innovation and best practice
- Patient and committed to coaching, mentoring and actively sharing knowledge with others
- Resilient
What we offer in return
- Basic salary plus performance bonus
- 34 days of annual leave (incl. 8 UK bank holidays and a day off on your birthday)
- Incentives for achieving Microsoft accreditations
- Enhanced family friendly benefit schemes including company sick pay
- Sponsored training and development and, where applicable to the role, a technical exams incentive scheme
- Private medical insurance and Employee Assistance Programme