Job Description

The Japan Research Institute (JRI) Limited is a subsidiary of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) Group. SMBC Group is a Tokyo-based bank holding company that is ranked among the largest 25 banks globally by assets under management. JRI provides comprehensive, highly value-added information services through the coordinated application of its 3 functions. i.e. information systems, consulting and think-tank. As a system integrator, JRI offers services in IT strategy planning, implementation and outsourcing to a broad range of industries and activities. JRI Singapore currently supports the overall IT functions of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) in Asia Pacific Region.

Responsibilities

Architecture & Strategy

• Contribute to IT service and cloud strategy by analyzing business requirements and defining modern, scalable Azure cloud architecture solutions.
• Drive hybrid and multi‑cloud platform modernization initiatives to support business agility, operational resilience, and long‑term technology roadmaps.

Azure Cloud Engineering & Technical Leadership

• Provide expert guidance on Azure infrastructure services - including compute, storage, networking, identity, governance, and platform security.
• Architect, design, and oversee end‑to‑end deployment of cloud solutions that meet enterprise standards for security, resiliency, performance, and scalability.
• Collaborate with engineering and operations teams to ensure best practices, automation, and cloud-native patterns are consistently applied.

Governance, Standards & Documentation

• Develop and maintain architecture blueprints, engineering standards, operational procedures, runbooks, and cloud implementation guidelines with adherence to global engineering frameworks.

Cloud Security, Risk & Compliance

• Lead cloud infra platform security initiatives and ensure all Azure services comply with internal policies, security controls, and external regulatory requirements.
• Monitor industry trends, emerging threats, and changes in regulatory landscapes to strengthen the organization’s cloud risk posture.

Platform Optimization & Operational Excellence

• Continuously assess cloud platform performance, cost efficiency, security posture, and scalability; identify improvement opportunities and implement optimization strategies.
• Collaborate with Cloud Platform & Cloud Operations teams to establish proactive monitoring, incident reduction, cost governance, and lifecycle management practices.

Cloud Migration & Modernization Delivery

• Lead cloud migration efforts for applications and infrastructure, ensuring seamless transition, minimal business disruption, and optimal cost-benefit outcomes.
• Recommend modernization approaches such as PaaS/CaaS/SaaS adoption, automation enhancements, re‑platforming, and target standard architecture.

Stakeholder Management & Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner with global architects, cybersecurity, application teams, vendors, and offshore delivery partners to ensure strategic alignment and integrated solution delivery.
• Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non‑technical audiences, supporting informed decision‑making across the organization.

Requirement

• Degree from any recognized University preferably with major in computer science/engineering /Information Technology
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in IT infrastructure, with substantial exposure to cloud architecture and platform leadership within financial institutions.
• Proven experience designing and delivering Azure cloud infrastructure solutions in enterprise environments.
• Strong knowledge across Azure compute, networking, storage, identity, governance, and security services.
• Hands-on experience with IaC (Terraform, ARM/Bicep), CI/CD, monitoring, and automation.
• Possess functional or development knowledge in at least one of the following technology domains:
  • Compute: Azure VM, Azure Red Hat OpenShift, Azure Functions
  • Database: Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance
  • Storage: Azure Storage, Managed Disks, Azure Backup
  • IAM: Microsoft Entra ID, Azure Managed Identities, Entra Domain Services
  • Networking: Azure VNet, Azure Firewall & NSG, Azure DNS, ExpressRoute, Azure Load Balancer, Azure Application Gateway (WAF), Azure Firewall & DDoS.
  • Management & Governance: Azure Policy, Blueprint, Azure Monitor, Log Analytics Workspace
  • Security Infra: Microsoft Defender for Cloud, Microsoft Sentinel

• Excellent leadership and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence and drive consensus across diverse teams, stakeholders across regions, departments and external partners for platform solutioning.
• Strong delivery experience, problem-solving, analytical abilities, and effective communications skills
• Adaptability and a willingness to learn and grow together with the team
• Strong organizational and time management skill
• Good understanding of MAS regulation and compliance frameworks, prior similar experience Banking or Financial Institution Domain is highly desirable.
• Certification in TOGAF and Cloud Architecture (e.g. Azure Solutions Architect) are good to have