Application Architect L3

Role Overview:

We are seeking aData Center Transformation Architect to be deployed within a customer environment to lead and support their data center transformation journeyfrom strategy and planning through target-state design migration planning governance and execution oversight.

The architect will act as the customers trusted technical leader ensuring the transformation is technically sound secure resilient compliant and operationally adoptable while coordinating across multiple technology towers and delivery teams.

Key Responsibilities

1) Strategy Assessment & Planning

• Lead current-state assessments across compute storage network virtualization backup DR monitoring and operational processes.
• Define transformation strategy and roadmap including guiding principles standards target-state options and phased execution plan.
• Translate business drivers (cost resilience regulatory requirements exit/refresh timelines) into architecture priorities and delivery plans.
• Develop capacity and demand planning inputs (growth forecasts constraints critical workloads performance baselines).

2) Target-State Architecture & Design Ownership

• Own end-to-end DC target architecture including:
• Compute platforms HCI (where applicable) standard builds
• Storage strategy (SAN/NAS/Object tiering replication backup integration)
• Network/DC fabric design (segmentation routing HA patterns load balancing)
• Virtualization and platform modernization (VMware/Hyper-V/KVM; container readiness)
• Security architecture alignment (segmentation controls hardening IAM integration)
• Resilience and DR architecture (fault domains HA design RPO/RTO mapping)
• Produce and govern architecture deliverables: HLD/LLD reference architectures design decisions and patterns.
• Ensure designs are aligned to operational supportability including monitoring patching backup DR drills and incident/problem processes.

3) Migration & Transition Architecture

• Define migration approach and patterns (rehost/replatform/refactor where applicable).
• Create migration factory design inputs: wave planning dependency mapping cutover runbooks rollback plans and risk mitigations.
• Partner with application teams to validate workload suitability downtime constraints and sequencing.
• Ensure service continuity through cutovers failover testing and stabilization activities.

4) Architecture Governance & Delivery Assurance

• Establish architecture governance: design reviews checkpoints technical risk management and exception handling.
• Act as the final authority for technical decisions ensuring adherence to standards and non-functional requirements.
• Guide multiple delivery streams (compute/storage/network/security/operations) to ensure integrated outcomes.
• Perform ongoing technical assurance: validate build quality configuration compliance performance and resilience readiness.

5) Stakeholder Management & Collaboration

• Serve as primary technical interface with customer stakeholders: Infrastructure leadership Enterprise Architecture Security Operations and Vendors.
• Communicate architecture trade-offs clearly (risk cost time) and maintain transparent decision logs.
• Coordinate with OEMs/partners where required for design validation compatibility and escalation.

6) Documentation & Knowledge Transfer

• Maintain customer-ready documentation: target architecture packs design decisions standards operational handover artefacts.
• Support knowledge transfer into customer operations and managed services teams ensuring smooth transition to steady state.

Required Skills & Experience

• 12 years of experience in infrastructure / data center architecture with proven delivery ownership of large-scale DC transformation programs.
• Compute (x86) standard builds lifecycle/refresh planning
• Storage architecture (SAN/NAS/Object) replication backup integration performance sizing
• Networking in DC environments (segmentation HA DC fabric concepts)
• Virtualization (VMware strongly preferred) and platform modernization
• DR/BCP design and testing practices (RPO/RTO engineering)
• Proven ability to create strategy roadmap and translate into implementable designs.
• Strong delivery mindset: ability to work in complex environments with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Excellent documentation and communication skills including executive-level narrative and technical depth.

Preferred / Good-to-Have

• Experience in regulated environments (pharma) audit readiness and security control alignment.
• Exposure to hybrid connectivity patterns and integration with cloud landing zones.
• Working knowledge of automation/IaC concepts (Ansible/Terraform) and standardized build pipelines.
• ITIL/ITSM familiarity and operational model design (monitoring patching CMDB change governance).
• Certifications (nice to have): VMware (VCP/VCAP) TOGAF Cisco (CCNP) ITIL OEM certifications.