Microsoft Cloud Architect - Pre-Sales

Job Description & Summary The opportunity     PwC is   seeking   an experienced and client-focused Microsoft Cloud Architect to join our Cloud Engineering, Data & Analytics team in Bucharest. This role bridges the gap between client business challenges and cloud technology solutions, with a strong emphasis on pre-sales engagement, opportunity identification, and solution design.   You will work alongside client executives, practice leaders, and delivery teams to translate complex business requirements into technology-enabled solutions that deliver measurable business value. As a trusted advisor, you will shape cloud and AI transformation strategies while   leveraging   Microsoft Cloud technologies to support business development, solution design, and strategic client engagements.

Client Engagement & Pre-Sales (50%)   Lead discovery sessions, workshops, and assessments to   identify   business challenges, strategic priorities, and cloud & AI transformation opportunities.   Build trusted relationships with executives, business stakeholders, and technical teams, developing a deep understanding of client   objectives   and operating environments.   Present cloud and AI value propositions, architecture solutions, technology demonstrations, and executive recommendations.   Support RFPs, POCs, competitive bids, and go-to-market initiatives in collaboration with sales and delivery teams.   Assess cloud and AI readiness, define transformation opportunities, and represent PwC at client and industry events.     Solution Architecture & Design (35%)   Design scalable Microsoft cloud solutions integrated with AI and advanced analytics capabilities.   Translate business requirements into architecture blueprints, technical specifications, and implementation roadmaps.   Develop business cases, ROI analyses, and TCO models   demonstrating   the value of cloud and AI initiatives.   Design secure, compliant, and cost-optimized architectures enabling AI-ready infrastructure, cloud migration, application modernization, and hybrid-cloud adoption.   Architect AI solutions using Azure AI Services, Machine Learning, Cognitive Services, and Azure Synapse.   Conduct security, governance, and compliance assessments and ensure alignment with client strategy, budget, and organizational capabilities.     Proposal Development & Commercial Execution (10%)   Lead the development of business and technical proposals, including executive summaries, solution approaches, delivery methodologies, implementation plans, pricing models, and resource estimates.   Define business outcomes, success criteria, KPIs, and value realization metrics.   Ensure proposal quality, accuracy, competitiveness, and alignment with market positioning.   Thought Leadership & Capability Development (5%)   Maintain   expertise   in Microsoft cloud technologies, AI/ML capabilities, advanced analytics, and industry best practices.   Contribute to internal knowledge assets, reusable solution templates, and PwC cloud and AI capability initiatives.   Mentor junior architects and consultants and   participate   in industry events, webinars, conferences, and thought leadership activities.     What we need from you:       Professional Experience   8+ years of experience in cloud architecture, enterprise IT solutions, digital transformation, or consulting environments.   5+ years of hands-on Microsoft Azure experience across multiple client engagements.   Experience delivering AI/ML, advanced analytics, data engineering, or cloud transformation projects.   Proven success leading enterprise transformation initiatives, developing business cases, and supporting complex pre-sales engagements.   Experience working with C-level executives, business stakeholders, and technical teams.     Technical Expertise   Expert knowledge of Microsoft Azure, including infrastructure, networking, databases, security,