Azure Technical Operations Engineer at First Distribution

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE POSITION:

• The Azure Technical Operations Engineer serves as the primary liaison between Azure resellers and internal teams, including Sales, Operations, and Billing, for all matters related to Microsoft Azure subscription onboarding, administration, reporting, and billing. This role is responsible for the end-to-end operational management of Azure subscriptions, including onboarding, lifecycle management, cost and usage queries, billing readiness, credit tracking, suspensions, and partner access requirements.
• As part of the Azure Technical Operations function, the role works closely with Azure technical teams to ensure that all operational processes are executed accurately, efficiently, and in alignment with business standards. The position reports to the Credit & Partner Support Manager, who oversees operational governance, billing processes, and partner support coordination.

AZURE TECHNICAL OPERATIONS ENGINEER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Azure Subscription Onboarding & Lifecycle Management

• Support Azure subscription onboarding, account creation, configuration, and administration
• Process new run-rate subscription requests in line with internal standards
• Capture and validate subscription details to ensure accurate provisioning
• Manage subscription lifecycle activities, including suspensions and reactivations
• Maintain accurate subscription records for operational and audit purposes
• Assist with federated subscription workflows where required

Migration & Technical Coordination

• Collaborate with Azure technical teams on:
• Subscription migration and transfer strategies
• Tenant and identity preparation
• CSP relationship and access setup
• Subscription structuring and configuration
• Billing and cost management configuration
• Governance, policy enforcement, and security alignment
• Workload migration, validation, and optimisation

Billing, Cost Management & Queries

• Act as the first point of contact for partner cost and usage queries
• Investigate billing-related queries and coordinate with relevant teams
• Identify and escalate cost anomalies or incorrect charges
• Support monthly billing cycles through operational checks and query tracking
• Log and track credit requests through to resolution

Partner Support & Communication

• Provide guidance to partners on Azure portal navigation and access processes
• Communicate standard templates, forms, and operational procedures
• Support partners with onboarding and subscription-related queries
• Escalate technical issues to Azure engineering teams when required

Access & Governance Support

• Perform basic checks on GDAP, PAL, and reader-level permissions
• Support governance and compliance processes within Azure environments
• Monitor and report on subscription lifecycle activity, including churn trends

Operational Administration & Reporting

• Maintain and update Azure operational trackers and internal systems
• Ensure structured and accurate record-keeping for all activities
• Assist with gathering data for billing and subscription-related reporting

Support & Troubleshooting

• Troubleshoot Azure operational and technical queries from partners
• Manage queries via email and internal systems
• Log support calls with Microsoft and manage them end-to-end
• Ensure timely resolution of queries in line with SLA requirements

REQUIREMENTS:

• Internal training associated with competencies:
• During the first week of your employment, you'll be presented with a meticulously crafted learning map designed to seamlessly guide you through your on-the-job training experience.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Grade 12 (Matric)
• Degree in Computer Science or a related field (or equivalent experience)

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Azure Platform (Foundational):
• Understanding of subscriptions, tenants, management groups, RBAC, and identity models, with hands-on exposure to core services (compute, storage, networking)
• Identity & Access Management:
• Knowledge of Microsoft Entra ID, RBAC, PIM, Conditional Access, and multi-tenant access models (including DAP vs GDAP)
• Billing & Commercial Awareness (Essential):
• Understanding of CSP billing vs EA/MCA models, cost management tools, tagging strategies, and aligning technical structures with billing outcomes
• Azure Governance & Landing Zones:
• Experience with landing zones, Azure Policy, Blueprints (or alternatives), and governance implementation
• Security & Compliance:
• Familiarity with Microsoft Defender for Cloud, security best practices, and compliance requirements