VMware Lead Solution Architect

We are looking for a highly experienced Datacenter & Cloud Solution Architect to support a strategic infrastructure transformation initiative focused on defining the next-generation enterprise datacenter architecture technology stack and operating model.

The role requires a strong combination of hands-on infrastructure knowledge enterprise architecture capability and executive-level advisory skills. The successful candidate will help shape a future-state architecture that is technically sound resilient scalable commercially supportable and suitable for long-term business growth.

The architect will lead the technical assessment of the existing infrastructure landscape and translate business operational resilience security and technology requirements into a clear set of architecture principles and future-state recommendations.

A key part of the role is maintaining an independent and technology-neutral perspective while evaluating different infrastructure virtualization cloud and managed-service options.

Responsibilities will include:

• Assessing the current datacenter and infrastructure environment
• Identifying technology dependencies constraints lifecycle risks and modernization opportunities
• Defining future-state architecture principles and technical standards
• Designing target architecture across:
  • Compute
  • Storage
  • Networking
  • Virtualization
  • Platform services
  • Backup and recovery
  • Disaster recovery
  • Monitoring
  • Automation
  • Infrastructure management
• Evaluating alternative technology and architecture scenarios
• Comparing different platforms and technology providers objectively
• Assessing feasibility complexity compatibility operational impact lock-in and strategic alignment
• Developing technical decision frameworks and architecture comparison models
• Assessing opportunities to reuse existing infrastructure and identifying refresh requirements
• Defining high-level migration strategies dependencies sequencing and major risks
• Evaluating internal hybrid and managed operating models
• Providing technical assumptions to support sizing licensing lifecycle support migration effort and cost assessments
• Supporting executive stakeholders with clear technical recommendations and decision materials

The role may contribute to or own outputs such as:

• Current-state infrastructure assessment
• Architecture requirements and guiding principles
• Future-state datacenter architecture
• Technology option analysis
• Feasibility and risk assessment
• Architecture decision framework
• Recommended technology stack
• High-level migration roadmap
• Compatibility and lifecycle assessment
• Infrastructure sizing assumptions
• Licensing and support assumptions
• Migration and operational effort estimates
• Hardware refresh assumptions
• Technical inputs for Bill of Materials and cost modelling
• Operating model considerations
• Executive architecture recommendation
• Technology selection documentation

The architect will provide the technical foundation for financial and commercial evaluations while not being responsible for commercial negotiations or detailed financial modelling.

Strong experience with Microsoft Azure is required particularly across:

• Landing zone architecture
• Identity and security integration
• Networking
• Compute and storage
• Governance and policy
• Monitoring and observability
• Hybrid connectivity
• Cloud operating models
• Cost optimization and FinOps considerations

Experience designing architectures that span on-premise hybrid and cloud environments is essential.

Candidates should bring strong end-to-end knowledge of enterprise infrastructure including areas such as:

• Enterprise compute platforms
• Storage architectures
• Datacenter networking
• VMware and/or Hyper-V environments
• Enterprise backup and recovery platforms
• Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
• Windows and Linux environments
• Database infrastructure
• Monitoring and management platforms
• Automation and orchestration
• Disaster recovery and business continuity
• Datacenter facilities and infrastructure dependencies

The ideal candidate will have previously supported large-scale infrastructure or cloud transformation programs involving complex environments multiple systems business units or locations.

Relevant experience may include:

• Datacenter consolidation or modernization
• Cloud and hybrid-cloud migrations
• Virtualization platform transformation
• Infrastructure refresh programs
• Application and workload migration planning
• Operating model redesign
• Managed-services transitions
• Platform standardization
• Infrastructure lifecycle modernization

The architect should be able to define migration waves dependencies technical sequencing resource assumptions risks and validation requirements.

The role requires the ability to operate effectively between senior management and deeply technical teams.

You should be comfortable facilitating workshops and working with stakeholders across:

• Infrastructure
• Network
• Cybersecurity
• Cloud
• Operations
• Architecture
• Project and program management
• Vendor management
• Technology suppliers and service providers
• Senior IT leadership

Strong written communication is essential particularly the ability to produce concise and well-structured architecture reports executive recommendations and technical decision documents in English.

A core requirement of the role is the ability to assess technologies independently and objectively.

Candidates should be comfortable evaluating competing architectures based on criteria such as:

• Technical fit
• Scalability
• Resilience
• Security
• Compatibility
• Operational complexity
• Migration effort
• Vendor dependency
• Lifecycle considerations
• Supportability
• Strategic flexibility

We are looking for a senior or lead-level architect with extensive experience in infrastructure datacenter cloud systems management or enterprise architecture.

A strong profile would typically include significant experience with complex enterprise environments and direct ownership of infrastructure architecture or transformation assessments.

Experience with large infrastructure estates distributed operational environments managed services DevSecOps FinOps vendor orchestration and operational governance will be particularly valuable.

Exposure to AI infrastructure readiness accelerated computing or emerging datacenter requirements associated with AI workloads would also be considered an advantage.

This is a senior architecture advisory engagement requiring strong technical ownership independent judgement and the ability to translate complex infrastructure topics into clear recommendations for decision-makers.

Commercial terms will depend on experience availability and scope of responsibility.