Digital Solution Engineer - Azure Platform, French Speaking

Overview

Azure, a rapidly expanding $100 billion business at Microsoft growing over 40% annually, is driven largely by application modernization. Customers are shifting from questioning if they should migrate to the cloud to deciding the best Azure destinations for their applications and how quickly they can migrate. As a Digital Solution Engineer in the Azure Platform team, you will support mid-market clients by guiding their application and data platform modernization efforts.

This technical sales role encompasses assisting customers in moving beyond simple lift-and-shift scenarios to re-platforming their applications on optimal Azure services such as Azure App Service, Azure Container Apps, or Azure Kubernetes Service, complemented by the appropriate data platforms including Azure SQL or open-source databases like PostgreSQL or MySQL. The position demands translating technical architectural decisions into tangible business benefits like cost reduction, improved release cycle speed, enhanced security, and AI readiness.

Working within the Small, Medium Enterprises and Channel (SME&C) group, you will be part of a fast-growing, AI-driven global sales team, closely linked with partners, and dedicated to driving customer successes. This team combines multiple segments to unlock expansive opportunities leveraging AI and a broad partner ecosystem to help businesses adopt technology for innovation and growth. SME&C fosters a culture of innovation, inclusivity, and collaboration in a fast-paced digital environment, ideal for continuous learners eager to make real impacts.

Primary Role Focus: Application Modernization

The key responsibility involves assessing customers’ existing application portfolios to determine their ideal Azure destination considering operational models, scalability, costs, compliance constraints, and developer productivity. Recommendations are expected to be tailored and justified for each workload.

Expertise in the full Azure application platform is necessary, with clear communication to architects on when to use:

• Azure App Service for web apps and APIs, providing fully managed PaaS with minimal overhead and rapid migration from Windows/IIS and Java/Tomcat environments.
• Azure Container Apps for containerized microservices and event-driven tasks needing container management without owning clusters.
• Azure Kubernetes Service for complex, large-scale, or portable environments requiring detailed orchestration and networking control.
• Complementary platforms like Azure Functions, Azure Arc, and Azure Virtual Machines for event-driven code, hybrid/edge scenarios, or IaaS workloads.

You will effectively explain cost, operational trade-offs, skill requirements, and containerization/refactoring paths involved in choosing the best platform.

Data Platform Modernization

Modernizing applications without addressing the data layer limits value. You will demonstrate depth across Azure’s database options:

• Azure SQL Database and Azure SQL Managed Instance for evolving SQL Server workloads toward PaaS, assessing compatibility and advanced service tiers.
• SQL Server on Azure VMs for scenarios requiring full control or third-party dependencies, with clear plans to transition to PaaS.
• Azure Database for PostgreSQL and Azure Database for MySQL (Flexible Server) as open-source destinations suitable for Oracle migrations and LAMP stack applications.
• Azure Cosmos DB supporting globally distributed, NoSQL, and APIs like MongoDB and PostgreSQL.

You will lead open-source database modernization conversations covering economics, compatibility, availability, and migration paths, including Oracle or MongoDB transitions.

Modernization Methods and Architecture

• Perform portfolio assessments using the 6R migration strategy (rehost, replatform, refactor, rearchitect, rebuild, replace) to segment and sequence workloads.
• Use best containerization and refactoring practices supported by AI-based tools for code analysis and transformation.
• Design supporting architectures including hybrid cloud networking, virtual networks, private connectivity, secure routing, identity management, and compliance-focused landing zones.
• Integrate Microsoft technologies with partner solutions like NetApp, VMware, Red Hat, and SAP to build secure, optimized migration paths.
• Ensure all solutions incorporate Azure security services and maintain compliance with regulatory standards to future-proof cloud estates.

Opportunities for Growth

• Lead modernization projects that are central to a high-growth, multibillion-dollar business unit.
• Enhance technical expertise via hands-on architecture design, migration planning, and cloud-native/hybrid implementations.
• Develop strategic leadership through guiding destination choices that directly impact cost and agility.
• Collaborate extensively with engineering teams, partners, and customers to achieve impactful outcomes.
• Continuous professional development supported by certifications and exposure to evolving Microsoft technologies including AI.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver technical sales support through architecture workshops, demos, proof of concepts, and modernization accelerators to shape solution design and drive deployment.
• Assess application portfolios and recommend optimal Azure application and data platform targets, backed by comprehensive rationale on cost, scalability, operations, and developer productivity.
• Lead workshops and assessments covering App Service, Container Apps, AKS, Azure SQL, and open-source database offerings.
• Build strong relationships with platform owners, application teams, and data groups to collaboratively design secure, scalable, cost-effective solutions.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical challenges by partnering with engineering, product teams, and external partners, and feeding customer insight back into product development.
• Maintain expertise in cloud migration and modernization technologies including Windows, Linux, .NET, Java, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, containers, as well as security, resiliency, and compliance.
• Expand knowledge of adjacent enterprise applications and solutions including SAP, Oracle, and Azure VMware Solution (AVS).
• Act as Microsoft's representative in community and customer forums by providing thought leadership on application and data modernization.

Required Qualifications

• Significant experience in technical pre-sales or technical consulting;
• Or a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, IT or related disciplines paired with relevant technical consulting or pre-sales experience;
• Or a Master’s degree in Computer Science, IT or equivalent field plus demonstrated consulting or pre-sales expertise;
• Hands-on application modernization experience migrating and replatforming workloads such as Windows, Linux, .NET, Java, SQL Server, and PostgreSQL;
• Practical knowledge with Azure managed application platforms like App Service, Container Apps, AKS and containerization strategies;
• Experience modernizing commercial and open-source databases (SQL Server/Azure SQL, PostgreSQL, MySQL, NoSQL);
• Expertise in hybrid networking, secure connectivity, and network performance optimization in enterprise scenarios;
• Advanced understanding of Azure cloud services including security, compliance, and hybrid cloud deployments;
• Ability to engage both technical and business stakeholders to create scalable and secure cloud solutions.

Additional Information

Typical base salary in Ireland ranges from €60,300 to €102,600 annually. In France, the range is €69,000 to €119,200 annually. Eligibility for various benefits and other compensation may apply.

Microsoft commits to equal employment opportunity and considers all applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics. Accommodations for religious or disability needs during the application process are available upon request.