📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Cloud Engineer
Company: Herbert Smith Freehills
Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: DevOps Engineer, Cloud Engineer
Date Posted: 2025-06-20
Experience Level: 5-10 years
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

Key Responsibilities: Design, implement, and manage cloud infrastructure at scale using Microsoft Azure and AWS, with a strong focus on Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using Terraform and CI/CD pipelines.
Key Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, Infrastructure as Code, Terraform, CI/CD pipelines, Azure DevOps, Jenkins, AWS CodePipeline, monitoring, observability, networking, security protocols, and compliance requirements.
Key Challenges: Staying up-to-date with emerging cloud technologies, managing complex infrastructure at scale, and mentoring team members to foster a culture of continuous learning.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a high level of technical expertise and experience in cloud engineering, with a focus on Microsoft Azure and AWS. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their proficiency in Infrastructure as Code and CI/CD pipelines, as well as their understanding of monitoring and security best practices.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

Cloud Infrastructure Design & Management: Design, implement, and manage cloud infrastructure at scale using Microsoft Azure and AWS, ensuring high availability, scalability, and security.
Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Develop and maintain IaC using Terraform, enabling version control, automated deployment, and infrastructure as code best practices.
CI/CD Pipelines: Build, maintain, and optimize CI/CD pipelines using tools such as Azure DevOps, Jenkins, or AWS CodePipeline, supporting agile and efficient development workflows.
Monitoring & Observability: Implement and manage monitoring and observability tools and practices, ensuring the health, performance, and security of cloud infrastructure.
Security & Compliance: Maintain a security-first approach in all aspects of cloud operations, ensuring compliance with relevant standards and regulations.
Mentoring & Knowledge Sharing: Mentor team members, foster a culture of continuous learning, and contribute to the professional development of junior engineers.
Collaboration & Stakeholder Management: Work closely with development, operations, and other teams to ensure cloud infrastructure meets business needs and supports agile development practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong understanding of cloud infrastructure design, management, and best practices. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their ability to manage complex infrastructure at scale, as well as their understanding of monitoring, security, and collaboration best practices.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in computer science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Experience: Minimum of 7 years of experience in cloud engineering, with a strong emphasis on Azure services and practical exposure to AWS.

Required Skills:

Proficiency in Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Extensive experience with Infrastructure as Code (IaC), particularly using Terraform
Strong understanding of CI/CD pipelines and relevant tools (e.g., Azure DevOps, Jenkins, AWS CodePipeline)
Solid knowledge of monitoring and observability tools and practices (e.g., Azure Monitor, SCOM, SolarWinds)
Strong understanding of networking concepts, security protocols, and compliance requirements in cloud environments
Proven ability to mentor team members and foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse teams

Preferred Skills:

Experience with multi-cloud or hybrid cloud environments
Familiarity with containerization and orchestration tools (e.g., Kubernetes, Docker)
Knowledge of cloud security certifications (e.g., Azure Security Engineer Associate, AWS Certified Security - Specialty)
Experience with cloud cost management and optimization strategies
Familiarity with cloud governance and policy as code practices

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a high level of technical expertise and experience in cloud engineering. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their proficiency in Infrastructure as Code, CI/CD pipelines, monitoring, and security best practices, as well as their ability to mentor team members and collaborate effectively with diverse teams.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

A well-structured portfolio showcasing your experience with cloud infrastructure design, management, and best practices.
Examples of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) implementations using Terraform, demonstrating version control, automated deployment, and infrastructure as code best practices.
Case studies or examples of CI/CD pipelines you have built and maintained, highlighting your ability to support agile and efficient development workflows.
Demonstrations of your monitoring and observability skills, showcasing your ability to ensure the health, performance, and security of cloud infrastructure.
Examples of your security and compliance efforts, highlighting your understanding of relevant standards and regulations.

Technical Documentation:

Well-commented and well-documented code, demonstrating your attention to detail and commitment to best practices.
Version control strategies and best practices, ensuring the stability and reliability of your Infrastructure as Code implementations.
Deployment processes and server configuration documentation, demonstrating your ability to manage complex infrastructure at scale.
Testing methodologies, performance metrics, and optimization techniques, showcasing your understanding of cloud infrastructure best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong portfolio demonstrating your experience with cloud infrastructure design, management, and best practices. Candidates should be prepared to showcase their proficiency in Infrastructure as Code, CI/CD pipelines, monitoring, and security best practices, as well as their ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The salary range for this role is estimated to be AU$150,000 - AU$180,000 per annum, based on market research and industry standards for senior cloud engineers in Sydney, Australia. This estimate takes into account the candidate's experience level, the company's size, and the region's cost of living.

Benefits:

26 weeks paid parental leave
Holistic wellbeing fund
Home office allowance
Comprehensive health insurance and dental coverage
Generous superannuation contributions
Flexible working arrangements
Learning and development opportunities
Employee assistance program
Discounted gym memberships and other wellness initiatives
Social and community events

Working Hours: Full-time position with standard business hours, Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Some flexibility may be available for remote work or adjusted hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range for this role is an estimate based on market research and industry standards for senior cloud engineers in Sydney, Australia. The actual salary may vary depending on the candidate's experience, qualifications, and the company's assessment of their fit for the role.

🎯 Team & Company Context

Company Culture:

Industry: Herbert Smith Freehills is a leading international law firm with a global team of over 6,000 professionals across 26 offices. The firm is committed to high performance, collaboration, diversity, and digital innovation.
Company Size: With over 6,000 employees worldwide, Herbert Smith Freehills offers a large and diverse work environment, providing ample opportunities for career growth and development.
Founded: The firm was founded in 1825 and has a rich history of providing legal services to clients across a wide range of industries.

Team Structure:

The Information Technology team at Herbert Smith Freehills is responsible for delivering and supporting technology services to the firm's global workforce. The team is structured to provide specialized expertise in various technology domains, including cloud engineering, infrastructure management, and application development.
The Senior Cloud Engineer role will report directly to the Head of Cloud Engineering and will work closely with other cloud engineers, infrastructure managers, and application development teams to ensure the firm's technology infrastructure meets business needs and supports agile development practices.

Development Methodology:

The firm employs Agile development methodologies, with a focus on iterative development, continuous improvement, and collaboration.
The Senior Cloud Engineer will be expected to contribute to the firm's Agile practices, participating in sprint planning, code reviews, and other Agile ceremonies.
The firm uses a range of tools and technologies to support its Agile development practices, including Azure DevOps, Jira, and Confluence.

Company Website: https://www.hsf.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Herbert Smith Freehills is a large, international law firm with a strong commitment to high performance, collaboration, and digital innovation. The firm's Information Technology team is structured to provide specialized expertise in various technology domains, with a focus on Agile development methodologies and continuous improvement.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: The Senior Cloud Engineer role is a senior-level position, requiring a high level of technical expertise and experience in cloud engineering. This role offers significant opportunities for career growth and development, including the potential to move into a leadership or management role within the Information Technology team.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Cloud Engineer will report directly to the Head of Cloud Engineering and will work closely with other cloud engineers, infrastructure managers, and application development teams.

Technical Impact: The Senior Cloud Engineer will play a critical role in designing, implementing, and managing the firm's cloud infrastructure, ensuring high availability, scalability, and security. They will also mentor team members and foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement, contributing to the firm's overall technology strategy and roadmap.

Growth Opportunities:

Technical Specialization: The Senior Cloud Engineer role offers opportunities to specialize in specific cloud technologies or domains, such as multi-cloud or hybrid cloud environments, containerization, or cloud security.
Technical Leadership: With experience and demonstrated expertise, the Senior Cloud Engineer may have the opportunity to move into a technical leadership role, providing guidance and mentorship to other engineers and contributing to the firm's technology strategy and roadmap.
Management & Leadership: As the firm continues to grow and evolve, there may be opportunities for the Senior Cloud Engineer to move into a management or leadership role, overseeing teams of engineers and contributing to the firm's overall technology vision and strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Senior Cloud Engineer role at Herbert Smith Freehills offers significant opportunities for career growth and development, including the potential to specialize in specific cloud technologies or domains, move into a technical leadership role, or transition into a management or leadership position within the Information Technology team.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The firm's Sydney office is a modern, collaborative workspace designed to support agile and innovative working practices. The office features open-plan workspaces, meeting rooms, and breakout areas, as well as state-of-the-art technology infrastructure and amenities.

Office Location(s): The firm's Sydney office is located at Level 25, 160 Castlereagh Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia. The office is conveniently located in the heart of the city's central business district, with easy access to public transportation and nearby amenities.

Workspace Context:

Collaboration: The firm's open-plan workspaces encourage collaboration and communication, with dedicated meeting rooms and breakout areas available for team meetings, workshops, and informal discussions.
Technology Infrastructure: The firm's Sydney office features state-of-the-art technology infrastructure, including high-speed internet connectivity, secure network access, and advanced collaboration tools and platforms.
Work-life Balance: The firm is committed to supporting a healthy work-life balance, offering flexible working arrangements, wellness initiatives, and social and community events to help employees maintain a positive and productive work environment.

Work Schedule: Full-time position with standard business hours, Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Some flexibility may be available for remote work or adjusted hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: Herbert Smith Freehills' Sydney office offers a modern, collaborative workspace designed to support agile and innovative working practices. The firm is committed to supporting a healthy work-life balance, with flexible working arrangements, wellness initiatives, and social and community events to help employees maintain a positive and productive work environment.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Phone Screen: A brief phone call to discuss the candidate's experience, qualifications, and fit for the role.
Technical Assessment: A hands-on technical assessment, focusing on the candidate's proficiency in cloud infrastructure design, management, and best practices. The assessment may include tasks such as designing and implementing cloud infrastructure using Terraform, configuring CI/CD pipelines, and troubleshooting infrastructure-related issues.
Behavioral & Cultural Fit Interview: A face-to-face or video conference interview to assess the candidate's behavioral competencies, cultural fit, and alignment with the firm's values and mission.
Final Interview & Offer: A final interview with the Head of Cloud Engineering and potentially other senior stakeholders, followed by a formal job offer for successful candidates.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Portfolio Structure: Organize your portfolio into clear and concise sections, highlighting your experience with cloud infrastructure design, management, and best practices. Use a clean and professional layout, with easy-to-navigate menus and clear headings.
Case Studies: Include detailed case studies or examples of your work, demonstrating your ability to design, implement, and manage complex cloud infrastructure at scale. Highlight the challenges you faced, the solutions you implemented, and the outcomes you achieved.
Technical Documentation: Include well-commented and well-documented code, demonstrating your attention to detail and commitment to best practices. Use version control strategies and best practices to ensure the stability and reliability of your Infrastructure as Code implementations.
Testing & Optimization: Include examples of your testing methodologies, performance metrics, and optimization techniques, showcasing your understanding of cloud infrastructure best practices.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

Cloud Infrastructure Design: Brush up on your cloud infrastructure design skills, ensuring you are familiar with the latest best practices and architectural patterns for Microsoft Azure and AWS.
Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Familiarize yourself with Terraform and other Infrastructure as Code tools, ensuring you are comfortable with version control, automated deployment, and infrastructure as code best practices.
CI/CD Pipelines: Brush up on your CI/CD pipeline skills, ensuring you are familiar with tools such as Azure DevOps, Jenkins, or AWS CodePipeline, as well as best practices for supporting agile and efficient development workflows.
Monitoring & Observability: Familiarize yourself with monitoring and observability tools and practices, ensuring you are comfortable with tools such as Azure Monitor, SCOM, SolarWinds, or similar technologies.
Security & Compliance: Brush up on your security and compliance knowledge, ensuring you are familiar with relevant standards and regulations, as well as best practices for maintaining a secure and compliant cloud environment.

ATS Keywords: Infrastructure as Code, Terraform, Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, CI/CD Pipelines, Azure DevOps, Jenkins, AWS CodePipeline, Monitoring, Observability, Networking, Security Protocols, Compliance Requirements, Cloud Engineering, Cloud Infrastructure, Infrastructure Management, Agile Development, Continuous Improvement, Collaboration, Mentoring, Technical Leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for the Senior Cloud Engineer role at Herbert Smith Freehills is designed to assess the candidate's technical proficiency, behavioral competencies, and cultural fit. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their experience with cloud infrastructure design, management, and best practices, as well as their ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams and contribute to the firm's overall technology strategy and roadmap.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Frontend Technologies: N/A (This role focuses on cloud infrastructure and does not involve frontend technologies.)

Backend & Server Technologies:

Microsoft Azure: The firm's primary cloud provider, with a strong focus on Azure services and practical exposure to AWS.
Amazon Web Services (AWS): While the firm's primary cloud provider is Microsoft Azure, candidates should have practical experience with AWS and be comfortable working with both platforms in a multi-cloud or hybrid cloud environment.
Terraform: The firm uses Terraform as its primary Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tool, enabling version control, automated deployment, and infrastructure as code best practices.

Development & DevOps Tools:

Azure DevOps: The firm uses Azure DevOps for version control, project management, and CI/CD pipeline implementation.
Jenkins: The firm uses Jenkins for CI/CD pipeline implementation and automation, particularly for more complex or custom workflows.
SolarWinds: The firm uses SolarWinds for monitoring and observability, ensuring the health, performance, and security of its cloud infrastructure.
Azure Monitor: The firm uses Azure Monitor for monitoring and observability, providing insights into the performance, availability, and health of Azure resources.
SCOM: The firm uses SCOM for monitoring and observability, providing insights into the performance, availability, and health of on-premises and hybrid cloud resources.

📝 Enhancement Note: The firm's technology stack is focused on cloud infrastructure and includes a range of tools and technologies to support its cloud engineering, infrastructure management, and application development efforts. Candidates should be familiar with the firm's primary cloud provider (Microsoft Azure), as well as relevant Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools, CI/CD pipeline tools, and monitoring and observability tools.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Web Development Values:

Technical Excellence: The firm values technical excellence and expects its cloud engineers to maintain a high level of proficiency in cloud infrastructure design, management, and best practices.
Collaboration: The firm values collaboration and expects its cloud engineers to work effectively with diverse teams, including development, operations, and other technology teams.
Continuous Learning: The firm values continuous learning and expects its cloud engineers to stay up-to-date with emerging cloud technologies and best practices.
Security-First Approach: The firm values a security-first approach and expects its cloud engineers to maintain a strong focus on security and compliance in all aspects of cloud operations.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-Functional Integration: The firm encourages cross-functional integration between teams, with cloud engineers working closely with development, operations, and other technology teams to ensure cloud infrastructure meets business needs and supports agile development practices.
Code Review Culture: The firm employs a code review culture, with cloud engineers participating in code reviews and providing feedback on Infrastructure as Code (IaC) implementations and CI/CD pipeline configurations.
Knowledge Sharing: The firm encourages knowledge sharing and expects its cloud engineers to contribute to the professional development of junior engineers and other team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: The firm's web development values are focused on technical excellence, collaboration, continuous learning, and a security-first approach. The firm encourages cross-functional integration, code review culture, and knowledge sharing, with cloud engineers working closely with diverse teams to ensure cloud infrastructure meets business needs and supports agile development practices.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

Cloud Infrastructure at Scale: Designing, implementing, and managing cloud infrastructure at scale, ensuring high availability, scalability, and security.
Emerging Cloud Technologies: Staying up-to-date with emerging cloud technologies and best practices, integrating new tools and services into the firm's technology stack.
Multi-Cloud & Hybrid Cloud Environments: Managing multi-cloud or hybrid cloud environments, ensuring consistency, security, and performance across diverse infrastructure.
Security & Compliance: Maintaining a strong focus on security and compliance, ensuring the firm's cloud infrastructure meets relevant standards and regulations.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Technical Specialization: Specializing in specific cloud technologies or domains, such as multi-cloud or hybrid cloud environments, containerization, or cloud security.
Technical Leadership: Developing technical leadership skills, providing guidance and mentorship to other engineers and contributing to the firm's technology strategy and roadmap.
Management & Leadership: Developing management and leadership skills, overseeing teams of engineers and contributing to the firm's overall technology vision and strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Senior Cloud Engineer role at Herbert Smith Freehills presents significant technical challenges and growth opportunities. Candidates should be prepared to design, implement, and manage complex cloud infrastructure at scale, stay up-to-date with emerging cloud technologies, and contribute to the firm's overall technology strategy and roadmap.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Cloud Infrastructure Design: What are some of the key considerations when designing cloud infrastructure at scale? Can you provide an example of a complex cloud infrastructure design you have implemented?
Infrastructure as Code (IaC): How do you ensure the stability and reliability of your Infrastructure as Code (IaC) implementations? What are some best practices for version control, automated deployment, and infrastructure as code?
CI/CD Pipelines: How do you approach designing and implementing CI/CD pipelines? What are some best practices for supporting agile and efficient development workflows?
Monitoring & Observability: How do you ensure the health, performance, and security of cloud infrastructure? What are some best practices for monitoring and observability in cloud environments?
Security & Compliance: How do you maintain a strong focus on security and compliance in cloud environments? What are some relevant standards and regulations, and how do you ensure your cloud infrastructure meets these requirements?

Company & Culture Questions:

Cloud Engineering at Herbert Smith Freehills: What are some of the unique aspects of cloud engineering at Herbert Smith Freehills? How does the firm's approach differ from other organizations?
Agile Development: How does Herbert Smith Freehills approach Agile development methodologies? What are some of the firm's key Agile practices and how do they support cloud engineering efforts?
Collaboration & Teamwork: How does Herbert Smith Freehills foster collaboration and teamwork between cloud engineers and other technology teams? What are some examples of successful cross-functional collaboration initiatives?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Cloud Infrastructure Case Studies: Prepare detailed case studies or examples of your cloud infrastructure design, implementation, and management experience. Highlight the challenges you faced, the solutions you implemented, and the outcomes you achieved.
Technical Documentation: Include well-commented and well-documented code, demonstrating your attention to detail and commitment to best practices. Use version control strategies and best practices to ensure the stability and reliability of your Infrastructure as Code implementations.
Testing & Optimization: Include examples of your testing methodologies, performance metrics, and optimization techniques, showcasing your understanding of cloud infrastructure best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for the Senior Cloud Engineer role at Herbert Smith Freehills is designed to assess the candidate's technical proficiency, behavioral competencies, and cultural fit. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their experience with cloud infrastructure design, management, and best practices, as well as their ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams and contribute to the firm's overall technology strategy and roadmap.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Cloud Engineer position at Herbert Smith Freehills:

Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your experience with cloud infrastructure design, management, and best practices, as well as your proficiency in Infrastructure as Code (IaC), CI/CD pipelines, monitoring, and security. Include relevant keywords and phrases to optimize your resume for the firm's Applicant Tracking System (ATS).
Prepare Your Portfolio: Organize your portfolio into clear and concise sections, highlighting your experience with cloud infrastructure design, management, and best practices. Include detailed case studies or examples of your work, demonstrating your ability to design, implement, and manage complex cloud infrastructure at scale.
Research the Firm: Familiarize yourself with Herbert Smith Freehills' company culture, values, and technology stack. Understand the firm's approach to cloud engineering, Agile development methodologies, and collaboration between cloud engineers and other technology teams.
Prepare for the Interview: Brush up on your technical skills, ensuring you are comfortable with cloud infrastructure design, management, and best practices. Prepare for behavioral and cultural fit interview questions, focusing on your ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams and contribute to the firm's overall technology strategy and roadmap.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and web development/server administration industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Senior Cloud Engineer