VMWare/VDI Senior Engineer || Chevy Chase, MD or Washington DC or Ashburn, VA (Locals Preferred)

Job Title: Infrastructure Systems Engineer / Architect

Location: Chevy Chase, MD or Washington DC or Ashburn, VA (Locals Preferred)

Duration: Fulltime

Job Description:

Responsible for architecting and implementing a stable, secure, manageable, and cost-effective VMware infrastructure and heterogenous Windows mission critical server environment in support of the client scientific mission as well as its operational support functions. Solutions and applications must be designed to operate 24x7x365 in a cost-effective manner, requiring minimal off-hours support. Responsible for selection, configuration, implementation, and support of a variety of hardware and software for services supporting operations and research functions in the lab and the data center. These services include VMware infrastructure, Microsoft Windows Servers, Datacenter DR planning, file services, and a variety of other Windows and Virtualization based applications.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the design and implementation of hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) and software-defined networking (SDN) solutions.
• Architect, implement and provide end-user support for a diverse and heterogeneous Windows environment

o In collaboration with the science teams, design, implement and maintain supportable and secure server operating system configurations for Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems. This includes backup/restore and file services.

o Implement a secure, supportable environment for computer-based laboratory instrumentation and support systems.

o Assist in the design, implementation, and support of systems for operation support functions such as warehouse management, facilities management, facility monitoring, property management, information security, physical security, and facility access systems.

o Provide secure, robust server systems for client operations

o Develop systems and procedures to ensure the security and integrity of Headquarters administrative support servers and their associated data

o Provide a systematic process for managing, monitoring, and logging upgrades, patches, security enhancements and bios upgrades for all servers in all environments

• Ensures the development and use of an effective preventive maintenance program suitable to meet the operation objective of "99.99% availability".

• Design, implement and provide end-user support for a diverse and heterogeneous laboratory environment

o Develop systems and procedures to ensure the security and integrity of client s systems and their associated data

o Provide a systematic process for testing, managing, monitoring, and logging upgrades, patches, security enhancements and bios upgrades for all servers supporting the laboratories

• Architect the company s administrative servers infrastructure

o Provide cost-effective server solutions for company.

o Present solutions to technical and non-technical audiences

o Continuously monitor and evaluate new server and storage environments to provide the most cost-effective solutions

o Develop reports for tracking the inventory, warranties, support agreements and depreciation schedules for support servers in use

o Develop mechanisms to track and report on software licensing requirements unique to the Janelia environment and those that are part of the larger client corporate license agreements

• Provide escalation services as needed to assist the Service Desk and Infrastructure Systems Engineering team
• Responsible for staying abreast of emerging technologies and solutions to continually improve the quality and number of services provided
• Interface with client s IT to coordinate the efficient and effective interoperability of client IT solutions
• Vendor Management: Working with account teams from Dell, HPe, Broadcom (VMware), Omnissa (Horizon View), and Microsoft
• Team Leadership: Mentoring junior engineers, leading cross-functional teams
• Document architecture designs, operational procedures, and system configurations.
• Automate infrastructure tasks using PowerShell and other scripting tools.
• Oversee disaster recovery planning and implementation
• Attend Change Control Board meetings

In addition to the duties specifically identified by this job description, the position will include other duties if and as assigned by the direct supervisor or others with supervisory authority over this position.

Experience:

• Eight to ten years of progressive experience in enterprise infrastructure, including virtualization, systems architecture, Windows server administration, and disaster recovery planning.
• Five to seven years in customer service, desktop, and user support
• Experience in working in a research environment
• knowledge in enterprise storage solutions
• Experienced in supporting various server hardware platforms, virtualization environments, and Windows infrastructure services and applications for ongoing 24x7x365 operations. Supported applications include:
• VMware vSphere: Advanced knowledge of ESXi hosts, vCenter Server, clustering, HA/DRS, VM image lifecycle (templates, version control, deployment), VM lifecycle management
• VMware NSX: micro-segmentation, distributed firewall, logical switching/routing, and security policies.
• Omnissa Horizon View: Connection Servers, Unified Access Gateways, NVidia GPU Windows/Linux VMs.
• vSAN: Design, deployment, performance tuning, and troubleshooting of hyper-converged storage.
• Disaster Recovery and Replication: Zerto Virtual Replication (ZVR)
• Familiarity with Microsoft Active Directory
• Microsoft DFS: Namespace and replication design
• Microsoft Key Management Services (KMS)
• DNS
• Familiarity with Windows DHCP
• Datacenter Disaster Recovery Planning
• Networking
• Windows Server Security
• Scripting (PowerShell, Batch, etc.)
• Windows file services, including sharing and NTFS permissions
• Windows Update Services, PDQ, Etc.
• Dell and HPe Servers: Lifecycle management, updates, diagnostics, Architecture, VMware integration and storage/network configuration.
• RAID & Storage: Configuration, performance tuning, fault tolerance
• Windows Server Operating system image management and deployments
• Cloud & Hybrid infrastructure
• Knowledge of SQL: failover clustering setup, restores, queries, and Always On cluster configuration.
• SFTP
• Visio
• Other duties as needed.

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to manage multiple priorities
• Ability to learn and support new applications rapidly
• Results oriented with strong customer service skills in dealing with end-users
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to document and present analysis of new services in a clear manner for technical and non-technical audiences
• Knowledge and history of designing and supporting Microsoft Server infrastructure
• Knowledge and history of designing VMware infrastructure
• Ability to work with varied levels and positions within the organization s professionals
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Proven ability to support end-users and services in a 24/7 environment
• Experience working in research or high-performance computing environments.
• Proven ability to work well in a high-performance team

Education:

• Bachelor s degree in computer science or a combination of education and related experience required. Certifications in VMware, Microsoft, or related technologies.