Cloud Operations Architect

About our Company

Lids Sports Group is the largest licensed sports retailer in North America, selling fan and fashion-oriented headwear and apparel across the US and abroad. Operating out of Indianapolis, IN, our retail stores offer officially licensed headwear and apparel from collegiate and professional sports teams, plus top brands like Nike, New Era, Lululemon, and Mitchell & Ness. In addition, to our wide assortment we are the industry leader in on demand customization.

We currently operate 1,300+ brick and mortar locations, including specialty concept stores for the NBA, NHL, Paris Saint-Germain, and the two largest MLB franchises, via our Yankees & Dodgers Clubhouse. Lids has built partnerships and collaborations with iconic global brands including Marvel/Disney, Playboy, Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack, and Post Malone. Creating a community where fans, fashion, and culture collide.

General Job Summary

As a Cloud Operations Architect, you will own the design, implementation, and governance of cloud infrastructure at Lids. You’ll drive the operational excellence of our cloud environments in Azure, ensuring they’re secure, scalable, and cost-effective. Working cross-functionally with InfraOps, DevOps, SecOps, and Application Development teams, you'll play a critical role in shaping how Lids runs and scales its cloud presence.

Key Responsibilities

· Architect and manage secure, high-availability cloud infrastructure in Azure

· Lead cloud migration strategies, including hybrid and multi-cloud solutions

· Define and enforce infrastructure-as-code standards (Terraform, ADO, etc.)

· Implement monitoring, alerting, and reporting strategies using tools like Splunk, App Insights and OpsGenie

· Ensure compliance with security and governance policies (SOX, etc.)

· Partner with DevOps teams to enable CI/CD pipelines and automated deployment workflows

· Continuously evaluate cloud cost structure and recommend optimization strategies

· Act as SME for cloud ops in cross-functional planning and incident response

Required Qualifications

· Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field—or equivalent experience

· 7+ years of experience in IT infrastructure, with 3+ years focused on cloud architecture

· Deep knowledge of Azure services and on-prem networks and servers

· Hands-on experience with Terraform, Tofu, Ansible, or similar IaC tools

· Strong knowledge of Windows and Linux operating systems

· Expertise in networking principles including LAN, WAN, wireless, and firewalls

· Proven experience managing production environments with high uptime requirements

· Experience with containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes)

Preferred Qualifications

· Certifications such as Azure Architect Expert, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, or similar

· Large retail or e-commerce experience in a high-volume environment

· Familiarity with SDLC and agile frameworks

· Experience integrating cloud services with legacy systems and on-prem environments

EEO Statement:
Hat World, Inc., Lids Holdings, Inc., dba Lids and subsidiaries is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to complying with all federal, state, and local EEO laws. Hat World, Inc., prohibits discrimination against employees and applicants for employment based on the individual's race or color, religion or creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, marital status, sex, pregnancy status, age, military status, disability, or any other protected characteristic or class protected by law. Hat World, Inc. provides reasonable accommodation for disabilities in accordance with applicable laws.

Notice to Applicants:
In connection with your application, we collect information that identifies, reasonably relates to or describes you (“Personal Information”). The categories of Personal Information that we collect include your name, government issued identification number(s), email address, mailing address, other contact information, emergency contact information, employment history, educational history, criminal record, and demographic information. We collect and use those categories of Personal Information about you for human resources and other business management purposes, including identifying and evaluating you as a candidate for potential or future employment or future contract positions, recordkeeping in relation to recruiting and hiring, conducting criminal background checks as permitted by law, conducting analytics, and ensuring compliance with applicable legal requirements and Company policies.

Need accessibility assistance to apply?
Applicants who require accessibility assistance to submit an employment application, please email us at onboardingsupport@lids.com. A member of our Talent team will respond as soon as reasonably possible. This email address and is only for individuals seeking accommodation when applying for a career at Lids.

Req ID: 23498 

Location: Corporate Office