Meet Pavel Souček, Cloud Architect at Devoteam G Cloud

As a skilled Cloud Architect and a senior member of our Devoteam G Cloud team in the ALPS region, Pavel has a pivotal role in many of the projects we undertake. With his unmatched expertise, he’s often the driving force that enables us to set the pace, move together and go big. How did he get to where he is today? And what’s the best part of his job?

Pavel, how did you get to the position of Cloud Architect?
I originally used to be a Network Engineer, which enabled me to get familiar with basic principles of networking, data flow, security and some scripting and automation. It was a solid foundation. Throughout the years, I went from that role to being a System Administrator, a Consultant for Monitoring Tools, an ITSM and Monitoring Architect and finally I transitioned into being a Cloud Architect. That requires a deep understanding of major cloud platforms and their services, knowledge of infrastructure as code, orchestration systems and concepts like microservices and serverless computing.

What’s the best thing about your job?
You get to work with cutting-edge technologies and platforms. The constant evolution of technology makes the role dynamic and stimulating. You’re challenged by complex problems on a daily basis, which makes the job incredibly satisfying for someone who enjoys these kinds of challenges.

What is the most challenging aspect of being a Cloud Architect?
Keeping the pace with technology. You need to find optimal work-life balance in order to stay competitive from a long-term perspective.

What does the day of a Cloud Architect look like?
Every day brings new challenges and opportunities. The day kicks off with our daily stand-up meeting, whether in person at the office or virtually. We come together as a team to discuss our plans, ongoing projects, and address any obstacles that might hinder our progress. It’s a great opportunity to align our ideas and thoughts and ensure we’re all on the same page.

One of the highlights of my day is an online meeting with a client, where we dive deep into understanding the customer’s infrastructure and discuss their business goals. These discussions are at the core of every migration project we implement. 

As part of a project task on cloud migration assessment, I delve deeper into the data gathered from the Stratozone discovery tool and combine them with the results gained from client meetings. It allows me to develop a migration strategy. From determining what needs to be moved and when with focus to minimise disruption and ensuring security and compliance requirements are met. In addition to this, there are other ongoing responsibilities. As an example, I need to prepare changes to Kubernetes deployment and docker image and ensure they reflect the latest security requirements.

As the day progresses, I wrap up by documenting the work accomplished and committing any code changes made. Sometimes, I use this time for personal growth and development. Studying new concepts and technologies allows me to stay up to date with the latest trends. I also do code reviews and provide constructive feedback to my team members.

What’s your greatest moment as a G Clouder?
It’s always a great feeling when I can present an innovative solution I’ve designed to a customer and help them discover infinite  possibilities.

How would you describe the G Cloud team?
It’s a group of highly focused and highly motivated people who constantly work towards accomplishing the same goal and go out of their way to share their skills with others in order to better achieve this goal.

How do you imagine a successful Cloud Architect?
Cloud Architects should embrace continuous learning to thrive in their field, not only by remaining curious, patient, and receptive to new information but also by pursuing professional certification programs. It’s crucial for them to attend cloud-focused conferences where they can gain insights into the latest trends and innovations. They should also participate in knowledge-sharing sessions, a collaborative approach that allows them to share their acquired skills and expertise with the rest of the team. It helps them to have a competitive edge and the ability to create great solutions that shape the tech world.

Your job in one phrase?
The best one! (laughs)