Job Title: Cloud Platform Engineer (Azure Windows / SQL MI)
Location: Houston, TX (On-site)
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 at a major oil and gas organization 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.
Pay: $55 - $56 per hour