Tanzu / VKS Architect

Description and Overview

The VKS Architect will design Kubernetes strategies, guide customer adoption of VKS, and ensure modern application platforms align with enterprise business objectives. This role focuses on solution design, integration strategy, and technical leadership for VKS within the broader VCF architecture.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead design sessions with customer stakeholders for VKS on VCF 9.
• Define architecture for VKS clusters, workload domains, and integration with NSX and VCF Suite.
• Provide technical roadmap and adoption strategy for Kubernetes-based workloads.
• Advise customers on container adoption, governance, security, and operational models.
• Develop architecture artifacts, reference designs, and executive-level presentations.
• Mentor consultants and customer technical staff on containerization best practices.

Required Skills & Experience

• 5+ years Kubernetes experience and enterprise architecture exposure.
• Hands-on experience with VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2; exposure to or training in VCF 9.
• Strong background in Kubernetes, VKS (formally TKG), and modern application platforms.
• Familiarity with container networking (NSX), storage (vSAN/CNS), and monitoring (VCF Ops for Containers).
• Proven customer-facing experience in professional services or consulting.
• Understand load balancing and product knowledge of AVI load balancer
  • Kubernetes certifications (CKA/CKAD/CKS).
  • Hybrid cloud experience (VMC on AWS, Azure VMware Solution, Google Cloud Platform VMware Engine).
  • Knowledge of DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and GitOps workflows.

Certifications

• VMware Certified Professional – VMware Cloud Foundation Architect (2V0-13.25)

Skills Checklist

Kubernetes & Container Platform Design

• VKS (VMware vSphere Kubernetes Service) architecture and design
• VKS cluster design and deployment
• Kubernetes workload domain strategy
• Container governance, security, and RBAC models
• DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and GitOps workflows

VCF Integration & Networking

• VKS integration with VCF 9 architecture
• NSX container networking and security design
• AVI load balancer design and implementation
• Container storage design (vSAN/CNS integration)
• VCF Operations for container monitoring

Customer Engagement & Strategy

• Lead customer-facing design sessions and workshops
• Define Kubernetes adoption roadmap and strategy
• Translate business requirements into container platform requirements
• Executive-level presentations and stakeholder communication
• Advise on container adoption and operational models

Architecture & Documentation

• Develop VKS architecture artifacts and reference designs
• Create integration specifications with NSX , AVI and Aria Suite
• Document design decisions and tradeoffs
• Build deployment blueprints for VKS
• Capture functional and non-functional requirements

Technical Leadership & Oversight

• Oversee consultant deployment activities
• Ensure delivery alignment with VKS design specifications
• Mentor consultants and customer teams on containerization
• Provide technical guidance on Kubernetes best practices
• Quality assurance and design validation

Platform Knowledge

• VCF 5.2+ hands-on experience with VCF 9 exposure
• Modern application platform architecture
• Container security and compliance frameworks
• Multi-tenancy and workload isolation strategies
• Hybrid cloud Kubernetes (VMC on AWS, AVS, GCVE)

Operations

• Day-2 operations strategy for Kubernetes platforms
• Container lifecycle management
• Monitoring, logging, and observability design Backup and disaster recovery for containerized workloads