Job Title: Cloud Platform Engineer (Azure Windows / SQL MI)
Location: Houston, TX (On-site, 5 days/week)
Employment Type: Contract (W2 through ZipStaff — No C2C or 1099)
About the Opportunity:
ZipStaff is seeking a Cloud Platform Engineer for commercial, ETRM, and market-data applications supporting an oil and gas program delivered by a global technology services firm in Houston.
You will install, patch, and run vendor apps on Azure Windows Server VMs and Azure SQL Managed Instance, then automate releases with GitHub Actions, Terraform, and PowerShell. This is application-platform engineering—not a greenfield cloud-architect seat.
What You'll Do:
- Install, deploy, configure, upgrade, patch, and administer commercial, ETRM, market-data, and vendor apps across non-prod, DR, and production.
- Own readiness, configuration, reliability, performance, and lifecycle on Azure.
- Deploy and configure apps on Azure Windows Server VMs (services, IIS, schedulers, middleware, clients).
- Administer Azure SQL MI: deploy, connectivity, SQL Agent jobs, backup/restore coordination, diagnostics, capacity.
- Turn vendor install docs into repeatable build, validation, cutover, rollback, and transition plans.
- Tune using OS metrics, SQL diagnostics, logs, and vendor guidance.
- Troubleshoot Windows, SQL MI, integrations, certificates, storage, service accounts, and connectivity.
- Build GitHub Actions for install, release, config, DB deploy, validation, approvals, and rollback.
- Use Terraform in approved patterns; write PowerShell for setup, patching, health checks, and log collection.
Required Qualifications:
- 5+ years application platform engineering, DevOps, app ops, or SRE.
- 3+ years Azure-hosted Windows and SQL business applications.
- Hands-on Azure Windows Server VMs and Azure SQL Managed Instance.
- GitHub Actions, Terraform, PowerShell, Git, CI/CD, release management.
- Windows services, IIS, scheduled tasks, certificates, service accounts, SQL diagnostics, backup/restore.
- Ability to work on-site in Houston, TX, 5 days/week.
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future.
Preferred Qualifications:
- ETRM/CTRM, market data, risk, scheduling, logistics, settlement, or pricing platforms.
- RightAngle, TriplePoint, PlanLogic, Endur, ZEMA, or similar.
- Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, Application Insights, Splunk.
- AZ-104, AZ-204, or AWS SAA-C03; GitHub Foundations.
- SOX, ITIL, change governance, DR in a regulated environment.
- Azure API Management / App Service (listed on the requisition; confirm weight with the hiring manager).
About ZipStaff:
ZipStaff partners with leading organizations to connect skilled technology professionals with high-impact contract opportunities. We focus on quality matches, clear communication, and long-term success for candidates and clients.
To apply, submit your resume highlighting Azure Windows VMs, SQL MI, GitHub Actions, Terraform, and vendor-app installs you owned.