Senior Engineer, Cloud Operation

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Global Standards Adoption & China Localization

• Global Standards First: Adopt AZ Global IT cloud operations standards, processes, and frameworks as the default baseline for AZ China across Alibaba Cloud, AWS, and the data center, ensuring consistency with global ways of working rather than building separate local frameworks. 

• China Localization: Where necessary, tailor and localize global processes (e.g., incident, problem, change, request, backup and disaster recovery management) to address China-specific regulatory, platform, and MSP operating requirements, keeping deviations minimal, justified, documented, and aligned with Global IT. 

• Roles & KPIs/SLAs: Clarify roles and responsibilities (RACI) among China IT, Global IT, the local MSP, and the data center service provider within the global operating model; apply global KPI/SLA definitions, localize them where needed, and provide regular reporting to make operational performance transparent to stakeholders. 

• Compliance & Audit Readiness: Ensure cloud operations comply with AZ IT policies, China regulations (e.g., Cybersecurity Law, Data Security Law, PIPL), and pharmaceutical regulatory requirements where applicable, including GxP, Computerized System Validation (CSV), and data integrity for GxP-relevant systems; maintain complete operational evidence to support internal and external audits. 

Service Provider Performance Management (Alibaba Cloud & Data Center)

• Service Delivery Oversight: Act as the primary point of contact for the local MSP operating Alibaba Cloud, overseeing day-to-day service delivery against contractual scope, SLAs, and operational standards. 

• Data Center Operations: Manage and oversee China data center operations, including infrastructure availability, capacity, hardware lifecycle, physical security and environmental controls, backup, and disaster recovery. Govern the designated data center operations provider through regular performance management. 

• Regular Performance Reviews: Run a structured performance governance cadence (weekly operations reviews, monthly service reviews, and quarterly business reviews) to assess MSP and data center provider performance, track action items, and drive continuous service improvement. 

• Escalation & Root Cause Analysis: Lead escalation and root cause analysis for major incidents and recurring issues, ensuring corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) are implemented and closed on time. 

• Contract & Cost Management: Support MSP contract renewals, scope changes, and commercial evaluations; monitor cloud resource consumption and drive cost optimization (FinOps) initiatives. 

Global AWS Operations Collaboration

• Global Partnership: Build a close working partnership with the Global IT AWS operations team, serving as the China interface to represent local business needs, regulatory requirements, and operational priorities. 

• Communication Mechanism: Establish structured communication and collaboration mechanisms with the global team, such as regular operations syncs, shared dashboards, defined escalation paths, and joint service reviews, to bridge time zones and organizational boundaries. 

• Service Alignment & Performance Tracking: Ensure global operations services meet China requirements for quality, timeliness, and compliance on AWS China regions; track and report global operational performance to China stakeholders and drive improvement where gaps exist. 

• Change & Release Coordination: Coordinate platform changes, releases, and major initiatives between global and local teams to minimize business disruption in China and ensure GxP change control requirements are followed. 

AI-Enabled Operations Management

• AI-Driven Operations: Identify and implement AI use cases that empower cloud operations management, such as intelligent incident analysis, anomaly detection (AIOps), and automated SLA/KPI monitoring. 

• Management Efficiency: Leverage AI assistants, agents, and automation tools to streamline repetitive management activities (e.g., vendor performance reporting, ticket trend analysis, meeting minutes and action tracking), significantly improving management efficiency. 

• Knowledge Management: Build and maintain an operations knowledge base (runbooks, SOPs, lessons learned) and enable AI-powered knowledge retrieval for internal teams and MSPs. 

• Continuous Innovation: Keep abreast of AI and cloud operations trends, and drive the adoption of new tools and practices to continuously raise operational maturity. 

JOB REQUIREMENTS & COMPETENCIES

Job requirements

Academic / Professional qualification

• Bachelor’s degree or above in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, or related technical disciplines. 

• Cloud certifications preferred, such as AWS Certified SysOps Administrator / Solutions Architect, or Alibaba Cloud Certified Professional (ACP) / Expert (ACE); ITIL 4 Foundation or higher is a plus. 

Technical / skill training

• Solid knowledge of public cloud services and operations on Alibaba Cloud and AWS (including AWS China regions), covering compute, network, storage, IAM, monitoring, backup, and disaster recovery; working knowledge of data center infrastructure (servers, storage, network, power and cooling) and hybrid cloud environments. 

• Training in IT Service Management (ITIL) processes, including incident, problem, change, and service level management, as well as vendor / MSP management practices. 

• Practical knowledge of AI and automation tools (e.g., generative AI assistants, AI agents, scripting, AIOps platforms) applied to operations and management efficiency. 

Working experience

Essential

• 8+ years of experience in cloud or IT infrastructure operations, including at least 3 years operating Alibaba Cloud and/or AWS in an enterprise environment, as well as hands-on experience in enterprise data center operations. 

• Proven experience managing MSPs or outsourced IT service providers, including SLA/KPI management, regular performance reviews, and escalation handling. 

• Experience working with global IT teams in a matrix organization, adopting global standards and processes and localizing them for China where required. 

• Familiarity with China cloud and data regulations (e.g., Cybersecurity Law, Data Security Law, PIPL) and their implications for cloud operations. 

Desirable

• Experience in pharmaceutical, life sciences, or other regulated industries, with exposure to GxP, Computerized System Validation (CSV), and data integrity requirements for regulated IT systems. 

• Hands-on experience applying AI, AIOps, or automation to improve operations management, reporting, or vendor governance. 

• Experience in cloud cost management (FinOps) and commercial / contract management of cloud services. 

Language ability

• Fluent in English and Mandarin, with strong written and verbal communication skills to work effectively with global teams across time zones and with local vendors. 

Others

• Strong stakeholder management, communication, and influencing skills, able to drive outcomes with global partners and local vendors without direct authority. 

• Strong sense of ownership, service mindset, and structured problem-solving; passionate about continuous improvement and applying AI to raise operational efficiency. 

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements.