Cloud Architect

Who we are:GIG Gulf (a Fairfax company) is part of the Gulf Insurance Group (GIG), the #1 largest regional composite insurer in the Middle East and North Africa, with presence in 12 markets including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Turkey. GIG Group reported consolidated assets of US$ 3.83 billion and $69 million net profit for the year 2023. The majority shareholder of GIG Group is Toronto based Fairfax Financial Holding, a global leader in insurance and reinsurance with a presence in 40 markets.GIG Gulf is an ‘A’ rated regional insurer with a top 5 position in each of its markets (UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain). GIG Gulf has been present in the region for over 70 years with a strategic focus on both growth and investments and is a one stop shop offering a wide range of insurance products and services that cater to a broad variety of needs for corporates, SMEs and individual customers throughout UAE, Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar. GIG Gulf also owns a 50% stake in GIG Saudi. Our strategic objectives and guiding principles are focused on Regional Growth, Customer Experience and Digital Transformation.GIG Gulf has created a diverse and inclusive working environment and culture with a workforce of over 800 employees, with over 60 nationalities, across 15 branches and retail shops region-wide and over 1 million customers. GIG Gulf is a caring partner that encourages customers to achieve their goals and live an inspiring and fulfilling life. We are obsessed with customer feedback and continuously evolving to become the region’s digital insurer of reference, committed to running our operations in a responsible, sustainable way.Job purpose:As a Cloud and AI Architect, you will work closely with business and IT stakeholders to:define and evolve enterprise cloud and AI architecture standards, patterns, and guardrailslead pilots, POCs and exploration of new innovative solutions, practices and patternsdesign and deliver cloud‑based and AI‑enabled solutions that are secure, scalable, and fit for purposeactively contribute to the organization’s cloud and AI roadmap and delivery priorities, ensuring alignment with business outcomes, regulatory requirements, and operational realitiesKey Responsibilities:In collaboration with GIG Gulf business and IT stakeholders and considering information system landscape, business ambitions, recommendation, best practices, technology evolution and market trends:ArchitectureLead the definition and maintenance of enterprise cloud and AI architectures, standards, and target‑state roadmapsEnsure cloud and AI architecture are aligned with business strategy, regulatory constraints, and enterprise architecture including multi-country hostingContribute to IT strategy and planning activities covering cloud platforms, automation and AI capabilitiesSupport evaluation, selection, and evolution of cloud services, AI platforms, and strategic technology partnersCloud & AI Platform LeadershipDefine architectural patterns for supporting core systems, digital channels, integrations, analytics, and AI‑enabled use casesDesign cloud foundations that are AI‑ready, including data, integration, security, and automation layersEnsure consistency, reuse, and simplicity across solutions, avoiding fragmented or ad‑hoc implementationsWork closely with information security, business continuity, operations and platform teams to embed governance, security and control requirementsTechnical LeadershipStrong technical leader with broad and in-depth understanding of:Public cloud platforms (AWS and/or Azure)Cloud‑native architecture patterns, automation, and solutionsAI and machine‑learning solution patterns, including generative (LLM, SLM etc.) and agentic AI (RAG, vector datastores, memory, cognitive reasoning etc.) working knowledge (desirable)Secure design principles, identity and access management, and regulatory considerations relevant to insuranceOperational & Technical Responsibilities:Cloud & AI Architecture Function as an active, hands‑on Cloud and AI Architect for enterprise initiatives:Define and maintain cloud and AI architecture frameworks, design guidelines, and reference patternsDesign cloud architectures for solutions, including core applications, data platforms, and AI‑enabled servicesDesign architecture that supports AI workloads including (desirable):Secure integration of AI services with enterprise dataPatterns for AI‑enabled automation and decision supportControlled use of foundation or public models where approvedLead pilots, proofs of concepts and controlled trials to explore emerging cloud, automation and AI technologiesTangible Outcomes & Delivery FocusMaintain a strong delivery and results orientation:Contribute to the cloud and AI roadmap aligned to business priorities and delivery plansSupport and guide implementation of cloud solutions on AWS and/or AzureGuide teams on cloud‑native design, automation, and deployment practicesEnsure solutions are production‑ready, cost‑aware, documented, and operationally supportedGovernance & SecurityDefine architectural guardrails, including:Data access, privacy, and residency controls across cloud platformsEnsure solutions align with security standards, regulatory and operational requirementsEmbed FinOps principles into cloud architecture to ensure cost transparency, accountability and optimizationResponsible and compliant use of AI and generative AI servicesIntegration patterns for AI‑enabled workflows and servicesSupport controlled evaluation and adoption of AI technologies, avoiding unmanaged experimentationCommunication & Stakeholder EngagementPrepare clear and structured architecture proposals, options, and decision papersCommunicate architectural choices and tradeoffs to both technical and non‑technical stakeholdersProvide practical recommendations focused on business outcomes, risk, and sustainabilityPromote collaboration, reuse, and shared ownership across delivery teamsQuality & Operational ExcellenceEnsure high‑quality design, testing, and operational readiness of cloud and AI solutionsSupport incident, problem, and root‑cause analysis related to cloud platformsTrack and follow up on technical issues to ensure timely resolution and continuous improvementPeople Leadership (Where Applicable)Support onboarding and development of cloud operations and AI engineersProvide technical coaching, design reviews, and mentoringEncourage knowledge sharing, standards adoption, and disciplined architectures practicesFoster a collaborative culture aligned with organizational values and delivery commitmentsBusiness / Domain knowledge requirements (desirable)Knowledge of Health Data industryBasic knowledge of the insurance businessBasic understanding of market practices/business processesUnderstanding of regulatory challenges, including compliance, data privacy and residencyQualifications & Technical SkillsBachelor’s degree in computer science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related fieldCloud or architecture certifications (AWS, Azure or equivalent) are preferred but not mandatory where practical experience is demonstratedExperience 6–10 years of overall experience in enterprise technology or architecture rolesMinimum 4–6 years of hands‑on experience in cloud architecture across AWS and/or AzureDemonstrated experience designing and governing production cloud systemsExperience in regulated environments (insurance, financial services, healthcare) is preferredCore Skills Cloud architecture (AWS and/or Azure): Ability to design scalable, secure and resilient cloud platforms supporting enterprise solutionsSolution architecture: Proven experience defining architecture reference designs, and target‑stateSecurity & governance: Strong grounding in secure‑by‑design principles, identity, access control, data protection, and complianceProofs of concept: Hands on experience in structured PoCs and technology evaluations with clear outcomes and decisionsAI‑enabled Architectures (desirable) – Hands on experience enabling AI/ML and GenAI use cases through data foundations, including exposure to LLM‑based solutions, RAG patterns, and vector‑based retrieval where applicableAI & GenAI integration (desirable): Hands-on experience architecting AI or GenAI solutions integrated with enterprise data and systemsCollaborationStrong stakeholder management skills across business, IT, and control functionsAbility to communicate architectural decisions clearlyComfortable working in a high‑demand, delivery‑oriented environmentCommunication and Soft SkillsExcellent communication skills in English, both verbal and writtenTeam player – ability to work with a team and influence a positive collaborative cultureAbility to prioritize workload appropriately based on the impact on the businessDemonstrated ability to work independently while efficiently managing multiple projects simultaneously.