José Manuel Corral Céspedes
Cloud Solution Architect · Azure · AI · Cloud Native · Platform Engineering
Barcelona, Spain
linkedin.com/in/jmanuelcorral
josecorral.dev
Professional Summary
Cloud Solution Architect with 19+ years of experience in enterprise software engineering, application modernization, cloud-native architecture, DevOps, platform engineering, and Artificial Intelligence. Trusted advisor to enterprise customers, translating business priorities into secure, scalable, and actionable Azure adoption strategies. Combines strategic advisory with hands-on expertise across Azure Kubernetes Service, GitHub, Azure AI Foundry, Azure OpenAI, agentic architectures, Retrieval-Augmented Generation, MLOps, and modern application platforms. Experienced leading architecture reviews, technical roadmaps, executive discussions, and complex escalations across customer, engineering, product, support, and account teams.
Core Expertise
Cloud Architecture & Azure
Application Modernization
AKS & Cloud Native
Platform Engineering
DevOps & GitHub Enterprise
Azure AI Foundry & OpenAI
Agentic AI, RAG & MLOps
Security, Governance & FinOps
Professional Experience
Cloud Solution Architect (CSA) — Azure, AI & Cloud NativeJan 2026 – Present
Microsoft
Strategic and technical advisor for Spanish enterprise customers, connecting business priorities with Azure adoption, modernization, AI, DevOps, and platform engineering initiatives.
Advisory & Customer Engagement
- Build trusted relationships with customer architects, engineering leaders, platform teams, security stakeholders, and account teams to shape technical direction.
- Translate complex platform capabilities and trade-offs into clear recommendations, reference architectures, implementation plans, and executive-level messaging.
- Coordinate architecture reviews and technical escalations with Microsoft product, engineering, support, and specialist teams.
Cloud-Native Platforms & Kubernetes Advisory
- Design and review AKS architectures covering cluster topology, node pools, autoscaling, networking, identity, security, observability, and upgrade strategies.
- Guide on Azure Container Registry security, image distribution, private connectivity, and integration with AKS and delivery pipelines.
- Clarify architectural differences between Azure Functions, App Service, and Kubernetes-based workloads to support service-selection decisions.
Enterprise AI & Azure AI Foundry Advisory
- Define project, subscription, environment, governance, and deployment models for enterprise AI adoption.
- Advise on RAG, knowledge grounding, agent orchestration, model lifecycle, capacity planning, security, responsible AI, and cost optimization.
- Lead roadmap discussions relating new Foundry capabilities to existing Azure AI services; support escalations on model deployments and production-readiness.
GitHub, DevOps & Platform Engineering
- Advise on GitHub Enterprise governance, CI/CD, GitHub Actions, self-hosted and Kubernetes-based runners, identity, and organization design.
- Align developer platforms, cloud governance, automation, and software supply-chain controls with the customer operating model.
- Facilitate workshops on platform engineering, developer experience, reusable automation, and secure delivery.
Senior AI & Apps Development ConsultantAug 2023 – Jan 2026
Microsoft
IoT Edge & ML Theft Detection Platform — Retail
Hybrid cloud-edge solution for theft detection in fashion retail, combining RFID, edge processing, cloud services, and Machine Learning.
- Designed the architecture using IoT Edge, K3s, Java, cloud/edge infrastructure, RFID, and an integrated ML model.
- Enabled store-level autonomy through local processing while retaining centralized management, scalability, and observability.
- Implemented MLOps workflows automating model training, validation, deployment, and lifecycle across environments.
Agile Stock & Store Visit Management — Retail
IoT-driven platform improving stock management and store visit planning across distributed retail environments.
- Combined IoT Edge, K3s, cloud-edge integration, Machine Learning, and MLOps to support operational decisions.
- Designed ML pipelines to optimize stock distribution and enable centralized insights across multiple stores.
Enterprise Multi-Agent Customer Service Platform
AI-powered agentic platform accelerating issue resolution across enterprise ticketing ecosystems.
- Implemented specialized agent orchestration using Python, Astral, Semantic Kernel, Cognee, and custom integrations.
- Integrated ServiceNow, Jira, GitHub Issues, and organizational documentation to produce contextual responses.
- Designed workflows for ticket understanding, knowledge retrieval, response generation, and coordinated resolution.
AI Knowledge Management & RAG Solutions
Internal and customer-facing solutions providing conversational access to organizational and enterprise knowledge.
- Built an internal knowledge management tool using Python, AutoGen, and Retrieval-Augmented Generation.
- Created a document-intelligence MVP for a logistics customer, integrated across multiple bounded contexts, and evolved it toward production.
- Reduced friction in onboarding, documentation discovery, and access to information across large document sets.
Cloud-Native Logistics Platform & OSS Contributions
- Provided architectural and operational leadership for a large cloud-native transformation around vertical product teams; contributed to its Architecture Review Board.
- Contributed to CCOInsights (cloud cost & security dashboard), a documentation-based GitHub issue assistant, and an internal Industry Solutions portfolio catalog.
Application Development ConsultantJun 2021 – Aug 2023
Microsoft
DevOps Culture Transformation — Retail Logistics
- Migrated on-premises lifecycle tooling toward cloud-based solutions.
- Introduced automation and DevOps practices that reduced release cycle time from 24–48 hours to 42 minutes.
- Supported organizational, cultural, process, and tooling changes to sustain faster, more reliable delivery.
Cloud-Native Architecture Transformation — Logistics
- Defined an architecture blueprint covering service patterns, communication, persistence, bounded contexts, and platform integration.
- Collaborated on coexistence and migration strategies between legacy and modernized capabilities.
- Provided continuous coaching on cloud-native tech, agile engineering, architecture, and vertical product development.
Software Development EngineerMar 2019 – Jun 2021
Plain Concepts
- Delivered vertical user stories within large software programs involving multiple product and engineering teams.
- Built a cloud-based ERP using .NET Core, Node.js, Domain-Driven Design, Entity Framework, React, SurveyJS, and Monaco.
- Onboarded teams and delivered training on CI/CD, source control, Docker, OAuth, OpenID Connect, Kubernetes, Agile, and design patterns.
- Contributed to Microsoft OSS: eShopOnContainers, eShopOnContainersAI, SmartHotel360.
Cloud & Development Technical LeadOct 2016 – Feb 2019
Tokiota
- Led PoCs, customer workshops, presales solution design, requirements discovery, and technical proposals.
- Provided architectural guidance and participated in early-stage design, product-quality reviews, roadmaps, and delivery planning.
- Worked primarily with Azure, ASP.NET Core, Docker, SQL Server, JavaScript, TypeScript, and Vue.js.
.NET Senior Consultant & TrainerNov 2009 – Oct 2016
Capgemini (Altran)
- Developed and maintained online banking and mobile API solutions for financial-services and insurance customers.
- Served as Microsoft Official Trainer responsible for the company .NET development curriculum.
- Founded and contributed to the Altran .NET Excellence Center, supporting technical enablement and engineering quality.
Earlier Experience
- Senior Software Developer — TcMan · Jun 2009 – Oct 2009
- Consultant — FHIOS (Conzentra) · Jan 2008 – Jun 2009
- Software Developer — Wolters Kluwer (A3 Software) · Oct 2007 – Jan 2008
Selected Certifications
GitHub Foundations2024
Azure AI Fundamentals2024
DevOps Solutions Expert (AZ-400)2023
Azure Cosmos DB Developer Specialty2023
Azure Developer Associate2022
Certified ScrumMaster (Agile Alliance)2013
Microsoft Certified Trainer2013–2017
Education
Computer Science Studies
Ramon Llull University, Barcelona
Vocational Education in IT Management
Escola Xaloc · 2002–2004
Open Source & Community