Cloud Platform Senior Consultant Full Time NEW

Simpson Associates transforms raw data into actionable insights that drive positive change.

Our Microsoft data expertise, our specialist sector knowledge, plus our innovative and trusted advice and guidance are just some of the reasons clients choose to work with us.

Our mission is to help purpose-led organisations from within the public and private sectors to harness data as a lever for change and enable them to realise business value more quickly. We provide the full range of services to support organisations on their data transformation journey. From advisory support and data strategy, to developing Data & AI solutions, right through to providing a range of managed services.

We are a Microsoft Solutions Partner, holding Specialisations in AI Platform on Microsoft Azure, Analytics on Microsoft Azure, Data Warehouse Migration to Microsoft Azure and Migrate Enterprise Applications to Microsoft Azure, as well as holding Solutions Partner designations in Data & AI (Azure); Digital & App Innovation (Azure); Infrastructure (Azure) and Security.

But it’s not just about the badges. We are proud to be recognised as the winner of the 2024 Microsoft Community Response Partner of the Year award, reflecting our dedication to using technology for positive change. We are also a Databricks partner, and an IBM Gold Partner, specialising in Cognos Analytics and Planning Analytics.

With offices in York and Sheffield, and a team based throughout the UK – we champion creativity, innovation and collaboration in the workplace.

The Role

As a Cloud Platform Senior Consultant within the Cloud Platform and Security Team, you will be a specialist in Microsoft Fabric and Microsoft Purview, leading the design, deployment, and governance of data platform and information protection solutions for our clients. You will take a senior technical lead on engagements, combining deep expertise in Microsoft Fabric’s analytics and engineering capabilities with a comprehensive understanding of Microsoft Purview’s governance, data security, risk, and compliance pillars.

You will be responsible for the supporting Azure infrastructure that underpins these platforms – from networking and identity to capacity management, storage architecture, and integration runtimes – ensuring that Fabric and Purview environments are well-architected, secure, and operationally resilient. You will guide clients on platform design decisions, lead discovery and implementation engagements, and work closely with internal data platform and cloud infrastructure colleagues to deliver end-to-end solutions.

You will bring a strong mix of technical depth and consultancy skills, with the ability to engage senior client stakeholders, translate complex platform concepts into practical recommendations, and take ownership of delivery quality. You will contribute to the Cloud Platform and Security Team’s growing Fabric and Purview practice, share knowledge across the team, and help develop reusable accelerators, patterns, and internal guidance.

Key Responsibilities

Microsoft Fabric

• Lead the design and implementation of Microsoft Fabric environments, including workspace architecture and capacity planning.
• Advise clients on Fabric capacity sizing, licensing models, and workspace governance structures to ensure appropriate performance and cost control.
• Implement Git integration and CI/CD pipelines for Fabric deployments using Azure DevOps or GitHub Actions.
• Configure and manage Fabric networking controls including private endpoints, managed VNets, and workspace-level access controls.
• Support clients in migrating existing data platform workloads (Azure Synapse, Databricks, Azure Data Factory) to Microsoft Fabric where appropriate.

Microsoft Purview

• Lead the design and implementation of Microsoft Purview solutions covering all pillars: Data Governance, Data Security, Risk & Compliance, and Data Security Posture Management (DSPM).
• Design and deploy the Microsoft Purview Data Map, including data source registration, scanning, classification, and lineage configuration across Azure, on-premises, and multi-cloud sources.
• Configure Microsoft Purview Information Protection including sensitivity labels, label policies, and automatic labelling for Microsoft 365 and Azure data assets.
• Implement Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies across Microsoft 365 services, Microsoft Fabric, and Azure, aligned to client data protection requirements.
• Configure Insider Risk Management, Communication Compliance, and Audit solutions where required by client compliance frameworks.
• Support clients in deploying and operating Compliance Manager, including regulatory assessment templates and improvement actions.
• Implement Data Lifecycle Management and Records Management controls to support clients’ retention and disposition requirements.
• Advise clients on Purview DSPM capabilities, including data security posture assessments and integration with Microsoft Defender for Cloud.
• Configure and manage self-hosted integration runtimes to enable Purview scanning of on-premises and private network data sources.

Cloud Platform and Infrastructure

• Design and implement Azure infrastructure solutions, ensuring scalability, reliability, and security across a range of client environments.
• Implement and manage infrastructure as code using Azure Bicep and/or Terraform, with deployments automated through Azure DevOps or GitHub Actions pipelines.
• Manage and optimise Azure resources for performance and cost efficiency, applying FinOps principles and Azure Well-Architected Framework guidance.
• Implement and maintain cloud security controls including RBAC, Azure Policy, Key Vault, Defender for Cloud, and network security configurations.
• Monitor and troubleshoot cloud infrastructure to ensure high availability and performance, contributing to managed service operations where required.
• Design and manage the Azure infrastructure that underpins Microsoft Fabric and Purview deployments, including private endpoints, managed VNets, private DNS zones, and Entra ID controls.
• Configure Azure Key Vault for secrets management and customer-managed key (CMK) scenarios relevant to Fabric and Purview.
• Advise on and implement on-premises data gateway and self-hosted integration runtime deployments to support hybrid connectivity scenarios.
• Participate in the on-call rota, supporting managed service customers.

Client Delivery and Stakeholder Management

• Lead client engagements with confidence, taking ownership of delivery quality and managing client relationships throughout the engagement lifecycle.
• Plan and facilitate discovery workshops, technical design sessions, and stakeholder reviews, adapting communication style to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Produce high-quality client-facing deliverables including architecture documentation, implementation plans, and technical guidance.
• Contribute to the development of reusable accelerators, delivery frameworks, and internal knowledge across the Cloud Platform and Security Team.

Technical Requirements

• Hands-on experience implementing Microsoft Fabric & Microsoft Purview
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Purview, covering the Data Governance, Data Security, Risk & Compliance, and DSPM pillars.
• Experience configuring Microsoft Purview Information Protection, sensitivity labels, DLP policies, and data classification.
• Understanding of Microsoft Purview Data Map architecture including scanning, classification rules, and lineage across heterogeneous data sources.
• Experience with Azure networking as it applies to Fabric and Purview: private endpoints, managed VNets, private DNS zones, and VNet peering.
• Proficiency with infrastructure as code using Azure Bicep and/or Terraform, and CI/CD pipelines in Azure DevOps or GitHub Actions.
• Experience with Microsoft Entra ID including managed identities, service principals, Entra groups, and RBAC for Azure and Microsoft 365 workloads.
• Understanding of Azure storage architecture (ADLS Gen2, OneLake, Azure Blob Storage) and its role in supporting Fabric and Purview.
• Familiarity with Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and Fabric capacity monitoring for operational oversight.
• Working knowledge of the Azure Well-Architected Framework and Cloud Adoption Framework as applied to data platform and governance workloads.
• Experience with Microsoft Compliance Manager, Insider Risk Management, Audit, or eDiscovery solutions is advantageous.

Skills and Attributes Required

• A confident senior technical consultant able to lead client engagements and take ownership of delivery quality.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage and influence at both technical and senior business levels.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex platform concepts into clear guidance for clients.
• A natural problem solver with excellent analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• The ability to prioritise workload under pressure and deliver to tight deadlines.
• A collaborative team player who contributes to a culture of knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
• Enthusiastic, proactive, and confident in driving engagement progress without close day-to-day oversight.

Advantageous Qualifications and Skills

• Microsoft Certified: Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate (DP-600).
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate (DP-203).
• Microsoft Certified: Information Security Administrator Associate (SC-401).
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305).
• Experience with Microsoft Defender for Cloud and its integration with Purview DSPM.
• Experience with Azure Synapse Analytics and familiarity with migration pathways to Microsoft Fabric.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Databricks and its relationship to Fabric data engineering workloads.
• Atlassian Jira and project delivery tooling.
• Presenting skills and confidence speaking in front of an audience.
• Experience working with NHS, police, local government, or regulated private sector clients.