Compute Architect

Role Summary

We are seeking a Compute Architect to lead the compute platform architecture and technical delivery for a new data center (primary/secondary). This role partners with network, storage, security, backup/DR, and facilities teams to deliver a production-grade compute environment. The architect will own platform standards, capacity/performance design, lifecycle management, and implementation governance across build, migration readiness, and stabilization.

Key Responsibilities

• Compute Platform Architecture: Define target-state compute architecture (bare metal + virtualization), cluster strategy, availability zones/hosts, and build standards aligned to resiliency and operational requirements.

• Virtualization & Management Stack: Design and guide implementation of virtualization (e.g., VMware vSphere/VCF or equivalent), vCenter design, host profiles, distributed switching alignment, and platform management components.

• Capacity & Performance Engineering: Lead sizing for CPU, memory, NUMA considerations, oversubscription strategy, workload placement, and performance baselines; define growth model and capacity triggers.

• Host Build & Standardization: Own golden build patterns: BIOS/firmware standards, secure configuration baselines, OS/hypervisor build, patching approach, and compliance hardening.

• Lifecycle & Operations Readiness: Define lifecycle management (patch cadence, upgrades, compatibility matrices), monitoring/alerting integration, logging/SIEM hooks, and operational runbooks.

• Automation & Tooling: Drive Infrastructure-as-Code / automation where possible (Ansible/Terraform/PowerCLI or equivalents), build pipelines, and repeatable provisioning patterns.

• Integration & Dependencies: Coordinate with network/storage for connectivity, datastores, multipathing, VLAN/VRF alignment; integrate with backup/DR and replication tooling for recoverability.

• Security & Access Controls: Implement RBAC, MFA/PAM alignment, certificate management, key operational controls, and secure admin model; support vulnerability remediation and audit needs.

• Implementation Governance: Review vendor BOMs and designs, validate build outcomes, lead technical workshops, oversee MOPs, testing, and production readiness gates.

Required Qualifications

• 8 12+ years in compute/virtualization architecture, with proven delivery experience in new DC builds or large infrastructure refresh/migrations.

• Deep expertise in VMware vSphere/VCF (or equivalent) including cluster design, HA/DRS, distributed switching concepts, and troubleshooting.

• Strong knowledge of server hardware (HPE/Dell/Cisco or similar), firmware/BIOS standards, RAID/HBA/NIC design, and performance tuning basics.

• Experience defining capacity models, operational standards, patching/upgrades, and creating HLD/LLD + runbooks.

• Ability to lead cross-team delivery and communicate clearly with engineering, security, and operations stakeholders.

Preferred

• Experience with HPE GreenLake or similar consumption platforms; exposure to VMware HCX, vSAN, or composable infrastructure.

• Familiarity with compliance-driven environments (banking/regulated) and audit-ready documentation practices.

Scripting/automation: PowerShell/PowerCLI, Ansible, Terraform, Git-based workflows.