Data Center Architect

Role :- Data Center Architect

Location :- Durham NC(Onsite)

Job Description:

Role Overview Responsibilities Qualifications and Skills

Position Summary

A Data Center Architect is responsible for designing planning and overseeing the implementation of data center infrastructure to ensure optimal performance scalability security and reliability. This role involves working closely with stakeholders including IT leadership network engineers facilities managers and vendors to create robust solutions that support organizational objectives and future growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and Planning:

• Develop comprehensive data center architectures including physical layouts power and cooling requirements network topology and storage solutions. Create detailed blueprints and specifications for new builds or upgrades.

• Infrastructure Management:

• Oversee the selection deployment and integration of hardware (servers storage networking equipment) and software platforms. Ensure compatibility and scalability with existing systems.

• Capacity and Performance Planning:

• Assess current and future requirements to ensure the data center can handle projected workloads. Plan for expansion upgrades and resource allocation.

• Security and Compliance:

• Implement best practices for physical and digital security. Ensure compliance with relevant standards (e.g. ISO PCI-DSS) and regulatory requirements.

• Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity:

• Design and implement strategies for backup failover and recovery to minimize downtime and protect critical data.

• Vendor Management:

• Evaluate and manage relationships with vendors and service providers. Negotiate contracts and oversee procurement processes.

• Documentation and Reporting:

• Maintain detailed documentation of architecture configurations and operational procedures. Provide regular reports to management on performance capacity and risks.

• Collaboration and Leadership:

• Work cross-functionally with IT facilities and business teams. Lead technical discussions and provide guidance to engineers and technicians.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Computer Science Information Technology Electrical Engineering or a related field (Masters preferred).

• 5 years of experience in data center design management or related IT infrastructure roles.

• Certifications such as Cisco CCNA/CCNP CompTIA Data Center Uptime Institute Accredited Tier Designer or similar are highly desirable.

Core Skills and Competencies

• Deep knowledge of data center technologies including networking virtualization storage power and cooling systems.

• Experience with cloud integration and hybrid architectures (AWS Azure Google Cloud).

• Strong understanding of security protocols and compliance frameworks.

• Excellent project management and organizational skills.

• Analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Typical Work Environment

Data Center Architects typically work in office environments but may spend time in data centers for site assessments installations and maintenance. They may be required to work outside standard business hours to support critical operations or respond to emergencies.

Career Path and Advancement

Data Center Architects can progress to senior technical leadership roles such as Data Center Manager IT Infrastructure Director or Chief Technology Officer depending on their experience and organizational needs.