Data Center / Could Architect

Position Overview The Data Center / Cloud Architect– Cisco UCSX / VMware is responsible for designing, implementing, maintaining, and optimizing enterprise-grade data center and hybrid cloud environments with a strong focus on Cisco UCSX, VMware vSphere 7 / 8 / 9, Microsoft Azure, and enterprise storage platforms (NetApp, Pure. Dell, HPE). This role ensures the high availability, performance, scalability, and security of the organization’s hybrid infrastructure supporting mission-critical business systems. The engineer will be a subject matter expert for VMware upgrades, NetApp / Pure / Dell / HPE storage capacity and performance, and automation / scripting for operational insight and efficiency. Key Responsibilities Infrastructure Design & Implementation Design, deploy, and maintain data center solutions leveraging Cisco UCSX blade and rack servers, including Intersight, fabric interconnects, and service profiles. Architect and implement VMware vSphere 7 / 8 / 9 clusters (compute, storage, and network) to support high availability and performance. Design and maintain hybrid cloud architectures integrating on-premises infrastructure with Microsoft Azure (IaaS / PaaS) and related hybrid services. Engineer and support enterprise storage platforms with an emphasis on NetApp (ONTAP) and Dell storage arrays, including SAN / NAS designs and data protection strategies. Operations, Upgrades & Maintenance Monitor and maintain server, virtualization, and storage infrastructure to ensure uptime, performance, and SLA adherence. Plan, test, and execute VMware vSphere / vCenter upgrades, including compatibility checks, rollback planning, and post-upgrade validation. Apply firmware, driver, and software updates across Cisco UCSX, VMware, and NetApp / Dell storage environments. Manage backups, replication, and snapshot configurations to ensure data protection, retention compliance, and business continuity. Troubleshoot complex issues across compute, storage, virtualization, and network layers in a hybrid on-prem / Azure environment. Storage Capacity, Performance & Optimization Analyze and forecast NetApp and Dell storage capacity, utilization trends, and growth to support proactive planning and budgeting. Monitor and tune storage performance (IOPS, latency, throughput) and recommend configuration or architectural changes to meet workload requirements. Develop and maintain reporting on storage health, capacity, and performance for technical and management stakeholders. Cloud & Virtualization Integrate on-premises VMware and storage environments with Azure using services such as Azure Arc, ExpressRoute, VPN, and hybrid identity. Manage and optimize VMware clusters, including resource pools, vMotion, DRS, HA, and lifecycle management. Assist with workload migrations between on-premises and Azure, and between virtualized and physical environments as needed. Automation, Scripting & Observability Leverage tools such as PowerShell, vRealize, Azure Automation, or Terraform to streamline deployments and configuration management. Create and refine dashboards and reports to provide visibility into infrastructure health, utilization, and trends for both technical teams and leadership. Security, Compliance & Collaboration Implement and maintain security best practices for compute, storage, virtualization, and cloud infrastructure in alignment with organizational policies and frameworks. Collaborate with security / cybersecurity teams to ensure patch compliance, vulnerability remediation, and audit readiness. Provide technical guidance, documentation, and knowledge transfer to operations staff and peer teams. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field; equivalent experience may be considered. 7+ years of experience supporting enterprise data center environments in a hybrid on-prem / cloud setting. Strong, hands-on expertise with Cisco UCSX Intersight, fabric interconnects, service profiles, and firmware management. Advanced administration experience with VMware vSphere, vCenter, and ESXi, and upgrade / migration planning. Proven experience managing NetApp (ONTAP) and Dell enterprise storage (SAN / NAS), including capacity planning and performance tuning. Experience supporting and integrating with Microsoft Azure (IaaS / PaaS) in a hybrid cloud model. Solid understanding of backup, replication, and disaster recovery concepts and tools. Proficiency with scripting and automation (e.g., PowerShell, PowerCLI, Python; Terraform or similar is a plus) to collect data, automate tasks, and improve operational efficiency. Familiarity with networking fundamentals (TCP / IP, VLANs, routing, load balancing) as they relate to virtualized and storage environments.