Senior Cloud Architect

Senior Cloud Architect / Technical Lead (Permanent)

📍 Essen (Hybrid, 2 days onsite) | 💼 Pharma-focused consultancy | 💰 €80,000-€100,000

iO Associates are supporting a specialist consultancy working with pharmaceutical clients, we are searching for a Senior Cloud Architect / Technical Lead to take end-to-end ownership of a cloud-based SaaS platform.

This role combines hands-on AWS architecture with Snowflake-centric data platform leadership, acting as a mini-CTO focused on stability, scalability and cost-efficient operations.

Key Responsibilities

• End-to-end technical ownership of a cloud-based SaaS and data platform

• Architecture, operation and scaling of solutions built on AWS and Snowflake

• Design and optimisation of Snowflake data models, pipelines and integrations

• Ownership of orchestration and workflows (Apache Airflow)

• Leadership and coordination of internal and external development teams

• CI/CD, Dev/Test/Prod environments and quality assurance

• Cost optimisation across AWS and Snowflake usage

• Translation of business and customer requirements into technical solutions

Key Requirements

• 10-15 years’ experience in senior or lead cloud / data / software roles

• Strong hands-on expertise in AWS (Lambda, EC2, SageMaker)

• Proven experience designing and operating Snowflake-based data platforms

• Experience with workflow orchestration (e.g. Apache Airflow)

• Modern software architecture, CI/CD and SaaS scaling experience

• Technical leadership of distributed teams

• Strong communication skills across technology and business

• Fluent German (mandatory)

• Based within commuting distance of Essen (≤2 hours)

• Permanent employment only (no freelancers)

Nice to Have

• Experience with AI/ML platforms and modern AI stacks (e.g. AWS Bedrock)

• SaaS or AI scale-up experience

• Healthcare or pharma exposure

Interview Process

• Initial interview with CTO leadership

• Onsite technical & business interviews + lunch

• Practical assessment (AWS, Snowflake, architecture & business translation)

Start: ASAP (flexible up to 3 months notice)