Data Center Solution Architect __ Durham, NC (Onsite) __ Contract

Hl Solutions - Durham, NC

Full-time

Durham, NC

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

The Data Center Solution Architect position in Durham, NC, is a contract role focused on delivering comprehensive solutions for data center environments. The ideal candidate will possess a thorough knowledge of VMware Virtual Services delivery environments, including ESXi and VMs, and will be well-versed in VCF Stretch Cluster and vCenter Data Center Services. The role requires extensive experience with the VMware Aria Suite, which encompasses vRealize Automation, vRealize Orchestrator, Operations Manager, Log Insight, NSX-T, and Life Cycle Manager (LCM). Additionally, the candidate should have a strong background in storage solutions, including SAN, vSAN, and NAS, with specific expertise in NetApp MetroCluster, Storage Grid, E-Series, and Filers. The Data Center Solution Architect will be responsible for designing and delivering highly available, reliable, and cost-effective data center compute and storage automation solutions. This includes conducting extensive data center, network, and security analysis, as well as risk assessments of all proposed solutions to identify potential systems, network, and security vulnerabilities. The role involves obtaining requirements from end users, R&D, application owners, and other IT discipline teams to ensure that solutions meet organizational needs. In addition to technical expertise, the architect will provide guidance and leadership for all IT Data Center Services initiatives. This includes performing proof of concept (POC) testing of new technologies and capabilities, creating and maintaining enterprise-level technical documentation for designs, configurations, procedures, and test results. The architect will collaborate with IT teams to create solution architectures, documentation, and operational support procedures prior to moving forward with POCs. Furthermore, the role involves documenting and reviewing IT Data Center Services policies, procedures, and solutions, as well as promoting activities that foster new capabilities and effective risk management awareness, including disaster avoidance, mitigation, and remediation.

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver highly available, reliable, and cost-effective Data Center compute and storage automation solutions.
• Conduct extensive Data Center, Network, and Security analysis and risk assessments of proposed solutions.
• Obtain requirements from end users, R&D, Application Owners, and other IT discipline teams.
• Provide guidance, leadership, and technical expertise for all IT Data Center Services initiatives.
• Perform proof of concept (POC) testing of new technologies and capabilities, including documentation.
• Create and maintain enterprise-level technical documentation for design, configurations, procedures, and test results.
• Collaborate with IT teams to create solution architectures and operational support procedures before moving forward with POCs.
• Document and review IT Data Center Services policies, procedures, and solutions.
• Promote and lead activities to foster new capabilities in IT Data Center Services.
• Promote effective risk management awareness, including disaster avoidance, mitigation, and remediation.

Requirements

• Thorough knowledge of VMware Virtual Services delivery environments (ESXi, VMs).
• Experience with VCF Stretch Cluster and vCenter Data Center Services.
• Extensive knowledge of the VMware Aria Suite, including vRealize Automation, vRealize Orchestrator, Operations Manager, Log Insight, NSX-T, and LCM.
• Strong background in storage solutions such as SAN, vSAN, and NAS.
• Expertise in NetApp MetroCluster, Storage Grid, E-Series, and Filers.
• Thorough knowledge of Data Center Services including AD, DNS, DHCP, and RDS.
• Experience with container infrastructure (Kubernetes, Docker, Open-Shift, Tanzu).
• Proven ability to conduct risk assessments and identify vulnerabilities in systems, networks, and security.