Principal, Storage Engineering Expert (NAS)

Summary of Position:

The Senior Storage Engineer File (NFS) & Hybrid Cloud is a hands-on role responsible for engineering and delivering enterprise storage solutions across file storage (primary) hybrid cloud file services (primary) block storage (secondary) and SAN connectivity (supporting). This role is 7090% hands-on keyboard and is accountable for both engineering (standards architectures observability automation governance) and delivery (EoL replacements migrations performance improvements and implementation execution).

An MSP-led operations team performs day-to-day BAU operational duties; this role provides technical direction engineering guardrails and governance and partners closely with operations for clean handoffs. There is no formal on-call rotation at this time; however the role is expected to join P1/P2 severity calls when they occur and serve as a senior escalation SME for complex issues.

This role is ideal for an engineer who can design the right patterns and then deliver the work creating repeatable methods and standards that scale through MSP operations.

Key Responsibilities:

1) Engineering & Architecture (Balanced with Delivery)

• Define and maintain reference architectures engineering standards and operational guardrails for file hybrid block and SAN-related storage services.
• Design storage services to meet business requirements for availability resiliency performance security and recoverability across Windows and Linux workloads.
• Partner with network compute security and data center teams to ensure end-to-end storage connectivity and performance (IP and SAN where applicable).
• Provide technical governance and oversight for MSP operations ensuring support processes runbooks monitoring and changes align with engineering standards.

2) Delivery & Execution (EoL Migrations Performance)

• Lead hands-on delivery for EoL refresh and replacement initiatives (hardware/software lifecycle) including planning validation cutover execution and rollback readiness.
• Plan and execute file migrations and consolidations using supported tools and repeatable methodologies to minimize downtime and risk; develop playbooks/templates to scale delivery.
• Drive performance troubleshooting and optimization for file services and hybrid patterns using data-driven analysis (latency/IOPS/throughput/utilization); implement corrective and preventative improvements.
• Identify and deliver pragmatic standards and automation improvements to reduce engineering cycle time and increase operational reliability (repeatable provisioning/configuration/reporting).

3) Enterprise File Storage Engineering (Primary Focus NFS)

• Engineer and optimize enterprise file storage services with a primary emphasis on NFS (and multiprotocol where required): exports/shares snapshots replication tiering quotas upgrades and lifecycle management.
• Troubleshoot file access and performance issues across the full stack (client OS network path storage platform) and implement durable fixes that reduce recurrence.
• Deliver and document file service standards and patterns that are supportable by MSP operations (naming export policies snapshot/replication tiers and monitoring expectations).

4) Hybrid Cloud File Services (Primary Focus Net-new DR Tiering)

• Design and deliver hybrid file storage patterns for:
  • Net-new cloud workloads
  • Disaster recovery (DR)
  • Tiering / hybrid data placement
• Implement and support cloud file services such as Azure NetApp Files and Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP (or equivalent services) including operational monitoring and support models.
• Work with network/security teams to apply cloud connectivity and security best practices to storage designs (e.g. VNets/VPCs private endpoints IAM/RBAC encryption/logging).

5) Block Storage & SAN (Secondary / Supporting Scope)

• Provide engineering support for enterprise block storage platforms (e.g. IBM FlashSystem Dell PowerMax or similar): provisioning LUN design multipathing performance considerations and availability patterns.
• Support SAN-related implementation needs and governance including best practices for Fibre Channel connectivity and troubleshooting.
• Perform or govern FC zoning changes for non-production and production under controlled change processes.

6) Operational Excellence Tooling & Governance (Supportable Engineering)

• Document engineering work and outcomes in ServiceNow including troubleshooting methodology work logs implementation notes and knowledge/runbook updates designed for MSP operational handoff.
• Execute change management and audit readiness consistently with documented procedures; create or improve processes/standards where gaps exist.
• Define and govern monitoring/observability for storage services using LogicMonitor and storage analytics tooling (e.g. NetApp OnCommand Insight (OCI) in a legacy/transition state) tracking stability availability capacity and performance (latency/IOPS/throughput/utilization/errors).
• Participate as a senior escalation SME during P1/P2 severity bridges; drive RCA and corrective/preventive actions to reduce repeat incidents.
• Develop and standardize preventative maintenance and lifecycle routines (e.g. storage platform software/firmware currency health checks) aligned with production availability and performance expectations.
• Investigate troubleshoot and resolve complex incidents and problems within defined SLAs by partnering with MSP operations vendors and internal engineering teams.

Key Requirements/Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in a relevant field or equivalent practical experience.
• 5 years of enterprise storage engineering experience with significant hands-on delivery responsibility.
• Strong experience engineering enterprise file storage (NetApp) with NFS as a primary protocol.
• Working knowledge and hands-on exposure to hybrid cloud storage configuration/patterns for net-new workloads DR and tiering.
• Working knowledge of block storage fundamentals (LUN concepts multipathing) and SAN concepts (FC fundamentals; zoning familiarity).
• Strong troubleshooting skills across storage OS (Linux/Windows) network layers; ability to operate independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to deliver capacity planning life cycle management and general administration.
• Demonstrated discipline in ITSM documentation (ServiceNow) change control and audit readiness expectations.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to document and defend technical decisions partner effectively across infrastructure teams and MSP stakeholders and communicate clearly to customers and IT leadership.
• Ability to fluently read write understand and communicate in English.

Preferred Qualifications

• NetApp ONTAP depth (NFS snapshots replication upgrades migrations performance tuning tiering; ONTAP Select).
• Experience with cloud file services such as Azure NetApp Files and Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP.
• Knowledge of cloud networking/security concepts that influence storage designs (VNets/VPCs private endpoints IAM/RBAC).
• Experience with enterprise block platforms such as IBM FlashSystem and/or Dell PowerMax (or comparable arrays).
• Brocade/Cisco SAN exposure (fabric concepts zoning strategy troubleshooting).
• Automation experience using scripting and/or IaC approaches (PowerShell/Python Ansible/Terraform vendor APIs/SDKs Git workflows).

Success Measures (First 6 Months)

• EoL replacements: prioritized refresh plan and initial cutovers executed with predictable outcomes.
• Migration backlog: measurable reduction via repeatable playbooks templates and improved throughput.
• Performance: top recurring file/hybrid performance issues resolved with improved telemetry and fewer repeat incidents.
• Standards/automation: baseline engineering standards established and early automation delivered to reduce manual work and improve reliability.

Technology Environment (Examples)

• File / NAS: NetApp ONTAP Unified ONTAP Select; NFS primary (SMB/multiprotocol as required)
• Hybrid Cloud: Azure NetApp Files Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP
• Block Storage: IBM FlashSystem Dell PowerMax
• SAN: Fibre Channel connectivity; FC zoning (Brocade/Cisco exposure a plus)
• ITSM / Monitoring: ServiceNow; LogicMonitor; storage analytics tooling (NetApp OCI legacy/transition)

Work hours: 3 PM to 12 AM IST

Relocation assistance: Yes

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