6 free templates for the cloud architect and its specializations: solutions, platform, security, infrastructure, and enterprise architect, with the scope and seniority handled for each. Download as DOCX.
A cloud architect designs and owns an organization's cloud computing strategy, how it builds, migrates, secures, and scales its workloads on AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. It is a senior, design-focused technology role, distinct from a cloud engineer who builds and operates what the architect designs, and it comes in several specializations: solutions, platform-specific, security, infrastructure, and the broader enterprise architect.
These six templates cover that range so you can match the posting to the specialization and platform you actually need, rather than starting from a generic version that fits none of them well. For the fundamentals behind any posting, the guide to writing a job description is a useful companion, and FirstHR helps run the onboarding once a technical hire is made.
TL;DR
Six free cloud architect job description templates by specialization: general, solutions, AWS/Azure/GCP platform, security, infrastructure, and enterprise architect. A cloud architect designs cloud strategy and architecture (versus an engineer who builds it), is a senior exempt role, and usually reports to a VP of Engineering or CTO. The closest federal category, computer network architects, reports a median of $130,390 (May 2024). Download all six as DOCX.
What a Cloud Architect Does
A cloud architect owns the design of an organization's cloud environment. The role sets the cloud strategy, the target architecture, and the standards the business builds to, choosing platforms and services, defining security and governance, and guiding engineering teams from design to deployment.
There is no dedicated federal occupation code for the title; the closest category is computer network architects, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics describes as designing and implementing data communication networks. What stays constant across cloud architect roles is the focus on design and strategy at a senior level; what changes is the specialization. A solutions architect is client-facing, a security architect owns cloud security, an infrastructure architect owns the platform layer. Because the role spans these specializations, the six templates on this page are split accordingly rather than offering one generic version.
Cloud Architect Duties and Responsibilities
Cloud architect duties center on architecture and strategy, implementation and governance, security and reliability, and leadership and collaboration. The specialization shifts the weighting, a solutions architect leans on client-facing design while an infrastructure architect leans on the platform layer, but these four categories hold across the role. These are the responsibilities grouped the way the templates use them.
Architecture and strategy
Design cloud architecture and migration roadmap
Define scalability, reliability, and cost standards
Choose platforms, services, and patterns
Implementation and governance
Guide teams from design to deployment
Set security and compliance guardrails
Optimize cost, performance, and resilience
Security and reliability
Build security into the architecture
Design for resilience and disaster recovery
Apply well-architected frameworks
Leadership and collaboration
Partner with engineering, security, product
Document architecture and mentor engineers
Evaluate and recommend new services
A strong posting picks the responsibilities from each area that match the specialization and platform, and frames them at the design level: ownership of architecture and standards rather than day-to-day implementation. Engineers read these postings to judge the real scope and seniority, so specificity about the platform and mandate matters. For a structured way to scope any role before posting, the guide to defining job responsibilities walks through the process.
Cloud Architect vs Cloud Engineer
The most important distinction to get right before posting is architect versus engineer, because the two attract different candidates and sit at different levels.
Cloud Architect
Cloud Engineer
Primary focus
Designs the system and strategy
Builds and operates the system
Seniority
Senior, strategic
Mid to senior, hands-on
Output
Architecture, standards, patterns
Infrastructure, automation, deployments
Question answered
What should we build and why
How do we build and run it
Typical reporting
VP Engineering, CTO
Architect or engineering manager
At a smaller company one person may do both, but as an engineering organization grows the roles separate: the architect sets direction and standards, the engineer implements and operates. Decide which you need, someone to design or someone to build, and post that role specifically rather than blending the two into a description that attracts neither cleanly.
Which Template Should You Use?
Pick the template by specialization; the platform, level, and compensation go in the fields. All six share the same senior-architect skeleton, but the responsibilities differ enough by specialization that the matched version reads correctly to candidates. Use this guide to choose.
Cloud Architect (General)
Cloud strategy and design
The universal version: owning cloud strategy, architecture, migration, and governance across AWS, Azure, or GCP, and guiding engineering teams from design to deployment.
Cloud Solutions Architect
Solution and client-facing
The solutions version: translating business and customer requirements into end-to-end cloud designs, often with stakeholder-facing or advisory work alongside the technical depth.
AWS / Azure / GCP Architect
Platform specialist
The platform-specific version: deep expertise in one cloud, applying its well-architected framework and best practices, for a specialist hire on AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
Cloud Security Architect
Cloud security focus
The security version: designing cloud security architecture and controls, leading threat modeling, and ensuring compliance, at the intersection of cloud architecture and security.
Cloud Infrastructure Architect
Platform and infrastructure
The infrastructure version: architecting compute, storage, networking, and the platform layer, with infrastructure-as-code standards and a focus on the foundation workloads run on.
Enterprise Architect
Org-wide technology strategy
The broadest version: aligning technology strategy with business goals across applications, data, infrastructure, and cloud, setting standards organization-wide.
Match the Template to the Specialization
Overall cloud strategy and design? Cloud Architect (General). Client-facing or solution-specific design? Cloud Solutions Architect. Deep on one platform? AWS / Azure / GCP Architect. Cloud security and compliance? Cloud Security Architect. The compute, storage, and networking foundation? Cloud Infrastructure Architect. Technology strategy across the whole organization, beyond cloud? Enterprise Architect.
6 Free Cloud Architect Job Description Templates
Download all six as a single Word document or copy individual templates. Each follows the same structure: company context, a senior technical summary, responsibilities by area, experience and certification requirements, and a compensation note. Fill in the brackets before you post.
Download All 6 Job Description Templates
General cloud architect, solutions, AWS/Azure/GCP platform, security, infrastructure, and enterprise architect. All in one DOCX.
Template 1: Cloud Architect (General)
The universal version: owning cloud strategy, architecture, migration, and governance across AWS, Azure, or GCP, and guiding engineering teams from design to deployment.
Cloud Architect Job Description (General)
CLOUD ARCHITECT JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __
Location: __ [ ] On-site [ ] Hybrid
[ ] Remote
Reports to: [VP Engineering / CTO / Director of Cloud]
The solutions version: translating business and customer requirements into end-to-end cloud designs, often with stakeholder-facing or advisory work alongside the technical depth.
Cloud Solutions Architect Job Description
CLOUD SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __
Location: __
Reports to: [Director of Solutions / VP Engineering]
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA classification: Exempt
Compensation: $_____ base + bonus + [equity]
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring a Cloud Solutions Architect to design
cloud solutions that solve specific business and customer
problems. You will translate requirements into architecture,
work closely with stakeholders or customers, and design
end-to-end solutions on [AWS / Azure / GCP] that are scalable,
secure, and cost-effective. This role blends technical depth with
client-facing and advisory work.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Translate business requirements into cloud solution designs
•Architect end-to-end solutions on [AWS / Azure / GCP]
•Engage stakeholders or customers to scope and advise
•Create solution diagrams, documentation, and proposals
•Ensure designs meet security, cost, and performance goals
•Support implementation and validate against the design
•Stay current on cloud services and reference architectures
•Partner with sales or delivery teams where applicable
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[5]+ years in cloud architecture or solutions engineering
The platform-specific version: deep expertise in one cloud, applying its well-architected framework and best practices, for a specialist hire on AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
Google Professional Cloud Architect] certification
•Multi-region or large-scale [platform] experience
•DevOps, containers, or serverless on [platform]
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $_____ base + bonus + [equity]
Benefits: __
To apply, send your resume to __.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 4: Cloud Security Architect
The security version: designing cloud security architecture and controls, leading threat modeling, and ensuring compliance, at the intersection of cloud architecture and security.
Cloud Security Architect Job Description
CLOUD SECURITY ARCHITECT JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __
Location: __
Reports to: [CISO / VP Security / VP Engineering]
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA classification: Exempt
Compensation: $_____ base + bonus + [equity]
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring a Cloud Security Architect to design and
own the security of our cloud environment. You will define the
cloud security architecture, set controls for identity, data, and
network security, ensure compliance with relevant frameworks, and
guide teams to build securely on [AWS / Azure / GCP]. This role
sits at the intersection of cloud architecture and security.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Design the cloud security architecture and controls
•Define identity, access, data, and network security standards
•Lead threat modeling and security reviews of designs
•Ensure compliance with [SOC 2 / ISO 27001 / HIPAA / FedRAMP]
•Implement and oversee cloud security tooling and monitoring
•Guide engineering teams on secure cloud practices
•Lead incident response readiness for cloud workloads
•Stay current on cloud threats and security services
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[5-8]+ years in security, with cloud security focus
•Deep knowledge of [AWS / Azure / GCP] security services
•Experience with identity, encryption, and network security
•Familiarity with compliance frameworks relevant to your business
•Bachelor's degree in a computer field or equivalent experience
•Experience with zero-trust or regulated environments
•IaC security and policy-as-code experience
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $_____ base + bonus + [equity]
Benefits: __
To apply, send your resume to __.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 5: Cloud Infrastructure Architect
The infrastructure version: architecting compute, storage, networking, and the platform layer, with infrastructure-as-code standards and a focus on the foundation workloads run on.
Cloud Infrastructure Architect Job Description
CLOUD INFRASTRUCTURE ARCHITECT JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __
Location: __
Reports to: [Director of Infrastructure / VP Engineering]
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA classification: Exempt
Compensation: $_____ base + bonus + [equity]
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring a Cloud Infrastructure Architect to
design and own the foundational infrastructure of our cloud
environment. You will architect compute, storage, networking, and
the platform layer, define infrastructure-as-code standards, and
build the reliable, scalable foundation that applications run on.
This role focuses on the infrastructure and platform layer rather
The broadest version: aligning technology strategy with business goals across applications, data, infrastructure, and cloud, setting standards organization-wide.
Enterprise Architect Job Description
ENTERPRISE ARCHITECT JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __
Location: __
Reports to: [CTO / VP Architecture]
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA classification: Exempt
Compensation: $_____ base + bonus + [equity]
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring an Enterprise Architect to align our
technology strategy with business goals across the organization.
Broader than a cloud architect, you will define the target
architecture spanning applications, data, infrastructure, and
cloud, set technology standards, and guide major initiatives so
that systems work together coherently and support where the
business is going.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Define enterprise technology strategy and target architecture
•Align technology decisions with business objectives
•Set standards across applications, data, and infrastructure
•Guide major technology initiatives and roadmaps
•Govern architecture decisions and reduce technical debt
•Partner with leadership across business and technology
•Evaluate vendors, platforms, and build-versus-buy choices
•Mentor architects and engineering leaders
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[8-10]+ years in architecture, engineering, or technology
leadership
•Broad experience across applications, data, and cloud
•Strong grasp of enterprise architecture frameworks
•Ability to align technology strategy with business goals
•Bachelor's degree in a computer field or equivalent experience
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Enterprise architecture certification (TOGAF or equivalent)
•Experience leading architecture across a large organization
•Prior cloud or solutions architect background
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $_____ base + bonus + [equity]
Benefits: __
To apply, send your resume to __.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Roles, Certifications, and Specializations
Three things shape a credible cloud architect posting: the architect-versus-engineer distinction, how to treat certifications, and matching the specialization to what you actually need designed. Getting these right is what makes the posting land with the right candidates.
Architect versus engineer: design versus build
The most common confusion in cloud hiring is between a cloud architect and a cloud engineer, and the distinction matters for the posting. A cloud architect designs the system: the strategy, the target architecture, the standards, and the patterns the organization will build to. A cloud engineer builds and operates it: implementing the infrastructure, writing the automation, and keeping workloads running. Architects are typically more senior and more strategic, engineers more hands-on with day-to-day implementation, though the line blurs at smaller companies where one person does both. If you need someone to set direction and standards, you are hiring an architect; if you need someone to build and run, you are hiring an engineer. Posting the wrong one of the two is the fastest way to attract the wrong candidates.
Certifications signal platform depth, not seniority
Cloud architecture roles lean heavily on platform certifications, and they are worth naming in the posting, but for the right reason. Certifications such as the AWS Solutions Architect, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, and Google Professional Cloud Architect credentials demonstrate depth on a specific platform and a baseline of well-architected knowledge. They do not by themselves establish the seniority or judgment an architect role needs, which comes from years of designing and operating real systems. Treat a relevant certification as a strong signal of platform expertise and a reasonable preferred qualification, especially for platform-specific roles, while setting the experience bar separately. Listing the specific certification that matches your platform helps the right specialists self-select.
Match the specialization to what you actually need designed
Cloud architect is an umbrella over several specializations, and the most useful thing a posting can do is name the one you need. A general cloud architect owns overall strategy and design; a solutions architect designs for specific business or customer problems and is often client-facing; a platform architect is a deep AWS, Azure, or GCP specialist; a security architect owns cloud security and compliance; an infrastructure architect owns the compute, storage, and networking foundation; and an enterprise architect spans the whole technology estate beyond cloud. Each draws a different candidate pool. Choosing the matching template and writing the responsibilities to that specialization produces a far sharper posting than a generic cloud architect description that tries to cover all of them at once.
For the wage-and-hour classification that applies to these senior technical roles, the exempt vs non-exempt guide covers the computer-employee and professional exemptions that a cloud architect clears.
Requirements and Skills to Include
Requirements for a cloud architect center on platform depth, design judgment, and the years of experience behind them, not a long tool list. The SHRM job description tools describe a good job description as a plain-language summary of a role's duties and requirements, and for a senior technical role that means stating the platform and experience clearly. The difference shows in how the lines are written.
Weak requirement
Strong requirement
Cloud experience
5+ years architecting on AWS, Azure, or GCP
Knows security
Designed cloud security controls and compliance guardrails
Good communicator
Guided engineering teams from architecture to deployment
Certifications a plus
AWS, Azure, or Google cloud architect certification
Strategic thinker
Designed scalable, resilient, cost-optimized cloud systems
Set the bar at demonstrated platform depth and design experience, name the matching certification as preferred, and keep every line job-related and neutral. The EEOC rules on job advertisements prohibit postings that express preferences based on protected characteristics, so the demands of the role belong in the posting written as the job's requirements, not a sketch of the person imagined doing it.
Cloud Architect Salary
A cloud architect is a senior, well-compensated technical role, with pay varying by platform expertise, specialization, region, and company, and meaningful variable pay at larger technology companies. Anchor on the federal category, recognize its limits, then benchmark to your role.
A Senior Technical Pay Tier (BLS)
There is no dedicated federal code for the title; the closest category, computer network architects, reports a median annual wage of $130,390 as of May 2024 (10th percentile $79,520, 90th percentile above $198,030), with employment projected to grow 12 percent from 2024 to 2034. Commercial sources for the cloud architect title specifically often report higher, with total compensation above $200,000 at larger companies.
Within that tier, base pay for the cloud architect title commonly runs from the mid $120,000s to roughly $150,000, with bonus and equity pushing total compensation higher, and the security and enterprise specializations and solutions architect roles tending toward the upper end. The federal network-architect category is a conservative proxy because it predates cloud-specific roles. Because the range is wide and includes significant variable pay, benchmark to your specific platform, specialization, and market rather than relying on a single national figure.
Is a Cloud Architect Exempt From Overtime?
Yes, in nearly all cases. A cloud architect is a senior technical role that clears the federal exemption tests on more than one basis.
A Computer and Professional Employee
A cloud architect generally qualifies as exempt under the computer employee exemption, whose primary duties involve systems analysis, design, and development, and often the learned professional exemption as well. The compensation is well above the federal salary thresholds, and senior roles clear the highly compensated employee level. Classification follows actual duties, but this is rarely a close call. This is general information, not legal advice.
The practical point for the posting is to classify the cloud architect as an exempt role and state it plainly, rather than treating it as hourly. The classification follows the employee's actual duties and compensation, both of which a senior architect role clears comfortably, though employers should confirm the analysis and any state-specific rules.
After You Hire: Onboarding a Cloud Architect
Onboarding a cloud architect combines a standard technical-hire start with the access provisioning and context a senior, high-privilege role needs. Beyond the offer, the architect needs secure access, a clear mandate, and the team relationships to start designing quickly.
Send the offer
Confirm the title, level, base, bonus, and any equity in writing. An offer letter makes the compensation structure and exempt classification clear from the start.
Provision access securely
Plan cloud and system access for a role that will hold significant privileges, with least-privilege onboarding and the right approvals documented.
Align on the architecture mandate
Agree on the priorities, standards, and what good looks like in the first 30, 60, and 90 days, so the design mandate is shared from day one.
Onboard into the teams
Introduce the architect to the engineering, security, and product partners they will guide, with the context to start designing quickly.
Once the offer is ready, the offer letter template handles the hire with the title, level, and compensation stated, and the onboarding template gives a structured first weeks. FirstHR connects the offer, e-signature, document storage, and onboarding workflow in one place, so the people and engineering teams can run a consistent process for a senior technical hire and the access and context they need. FirstHR is an HR and onboarding platform, not an identity or cloud-access management system, and it does not run payroll or administer benefits, so pair it with those tools. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
Key Takeaways
A cloud architect designs an organization's cloud strategy and architecture, distinct from a cloud engineer who builds and operates what the architect designs.
The title spans specializations: general, solutions, platform-specific (AWS/Azure/GCP), security, infrastructure, and the broader enterprise architect.
Match the template to the specialization and platform, since each draws a different candidate pool and a generic posting attracts none cleanly.
Treat platform certifications as a signal of depth and a preferred qualification, while setting the experience bar separately.
A cloud architect is a senior exempt role; it clears the computer-employee and professional exemptions and the federal salary thresholds.
Pay is high and varies by platform and specialization; the closest federal category reports a median of $130,390 (May 2024), with cloud-specific data often higher.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a cloud architect do?
A cloud architect designs and owns an organization's cloud computing strategy and architecture. They decide how the business builds, migrates, secures, and scales its workloads on cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud, set standards and best practices, and guide engineering teams in turning architecture into reliable, cost-effective systems. Day to day, that means designing the target architecture and migration roadmap, choosing platforms and services, setting governance and security guardrails, optimizing cost and performance, and mentoring engineers. It is a senior, design-focused role that sits at the center of a company's technology strategy, distinct from a cloud engineer who builds and operates what the architect designs. The specialization varies, a solutions architect is more client-facing, a security architect owns cloud security, an infrastructure architect owns the platform layer, so a strong posting names the specific kind of cloud architect you need. This is general information, not legal advice.
What are a cloud architect's duties and responsibilities?
A cloud architect's duties group into architecture and strategy, implementation and governance, security and reliability, and leadership and collaboration. Architecture and strategy: designing the cloud architecture and migration roadmap, defining standards for scalability, reliability, and cost, and choosing platforms and patterns. Implementation and governance: guiding engineering teams from design to deployment, setting security and compliance guardrails, and optimizing cost and performance. Security and reliability: building security into the architecture, designing for resilience and disaster recovery, and applying well-architected frameworks. Leadership and collaboration: partnering with engineering, security, and product, documenting architecture, mentoring engineers, and evaluating new services. The weighting shifts by specialization, a solutions architect leans on client-facing design while an infrastructure architect leans on the platform layer, so a strong posting picks the responsibilities that match the specific role and platform you are hiring for. This is general information, not legal advice.
What is the difference between a cloud architect and a cloud engineer?
The difference is design versus build. A cloud architect designs the system: the cloud strategy, target architecture, standards, and patterns the organization builds to. A cloud engineer implements and operates it: building the infrastructure, writing automation, deploying workloads, and keeping systems running. Architects are typically more senior and strategic, setting direction; engineers are more hands-on with day-to-day implementation. The line blurs at smaller companies, where one person may both design and build, but at scale they are distinct roles with distinct postings. There is also a related distinction between a cloud architect, who owns overall design, and a solutions architect, who designs for specific business or customer problems and is often more client-facing. When hiring, decide whether you need someone to set direction and standards (architect) or to build and run systems (engineer), and post accordingly, because the two attract different candidates. This is general information, not legal advice.
What qualifications does a cloud architect need?
A cloud architect typically needs several years of experience in cloud, infrastructure, or software engineering, deep hands-on expertise with at least one major platform (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud), and strong knowledge of networking, security, and infrastructure-as-code tools such as Terraform. Most roles expect a bachelor's degree in a computer-related field or equivalent experience, and many prefer a platform certification such as the AWS Solutions Architect, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, or Google Professional Cloud Architect credential. Beyond the technical foundation, the role calls for the judgment to design scalable, resilient, cost-effective systems and the communication skills to guide engineering teams and stakeholders. Specialized versions add specific requirements: a security architect needs cloud security depth and familiarity with compliance frameworks, an enterprise architect needs breadth across the technology estate. List the platform, the experience level, and the certification that match your specific role rather than a generic catch-all. This is general information, not legal advice.
Who does a cloud architect report to?
A cloud architect usually reports to an engineering or technology leader, such as a VP of Engineering, a CTO, a Director of Cloud, or a Director of Infrastructure, depending on the size and structure of the organization. A cloud security architect may report into a CISO or VP of Security, and an enterprise architect often reports to a CTO or VP of Architecture given the broader, organization-wide scope. In smaller engineering organizations, the architect may report directly to the CTO or head of engineering. The reporting line signals the seniority and scope of the role, so it is worth stating in the job description. Cloud architects are senior individual contributors or technical leaders rather than people-managers in many organizations, though some lead a team of engineers or other architects, which the posting should make clear if it applies. This is general information, not legal advice.
How much does a cloud architect make?
A cloud architect is a senior, well-compensated technical role. There is no dedicated federal occupation code for the title; the closest Bureau of Labor Statistics category, computer network architects, reports a median annual wage of $130,390 as of May 2024, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $79,520 and the highest 10 percent more than $198,030. Commercial sources focused on the cloud architect title report averages varying by methodology, commonly from the mid $120,000s to roughly $150,000 in base pay, with total compensation including bonus and equity often above $200,000 at larger technology companies. Cloud solutions architect roles often run higher still. Pay varies with platform expertise, specialization, region, and company, and the security and enterprise specializations tend toward the upper end. Because the range is wide and includes significant variable pay at many companies, benchmark to your specific role, platform, and market. This is general information, not legal or compensation advice.
Is a cloud architect exempt from overtime?
Yes, in nearly all cases. A cloud architect generally qualifies as exempt from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act, typically under the computer employee exemption, the learned professional exemption, or both, and the compensation is well above the federal salary thresholds in any case. The computer employee exemption covers higher-level computer roles whose primary duties involve systems analysis, design, and development, which describes a cloud architect's work closely. Because the role is senior and highly paid, it also clears the highly compensated employee threshold at many organizations. As always, the exempt classification follows the employee's actual duties and compensation rather than the job title alone, so employers should confirm the analysis for the specific role and any state-specific rules, but a cloud architect is rarely a close call. This is general information, not legal advice.
What should a cloud architect job description include?
A strong cloud architect job description names the specialization first, since general, solutions, platform-specific, security, infrastructure, and enterprise architect are different roles that draw different candidates. It should state the cloud platform or platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), the reporting line, and a summary that frames the design-and-strategy mandate. Group the responsibilities into architecture and strategy, implementation and governance, security and reliability, and leadership and collaboration, and set the experience bar along with any preferred platform certification. Because this is a senior, exempt role, state the FLSA classification and a realistic compensation structure with base, bonus, and any equity. Distinguish it clearly from a cloud engineer role so candidates self-select correctly. Close with an equal opportunity statement and clear application instructions. Matching the specialization and platform to the actual need is what separates a sharp posting from a generic one. This is general information, not legal advice.
