Overview
Hybrid
$80 - $100
Contract - Independent
Contract - W2
Contract - 12 Month(s)
Skills
UCSX
vmware
datacenter
data center
Job Details
Position Overview
The Data Center/Cloud Architect Cisco UCSX / VMware is responsible for designing, implementing, maintaining,
and optimizing enterprise-grade data center and hybrid cloud environments with a strong focus on Cisco UCSX,
VMware vSphere 7/8/9, Microsoft Azure, and enterprise storage platforms (NetApp, Pure. Dell, HPE).
This role ensures the high availability, performance, scalability, and security of the organization s hybrid
infrastructure supporting mission-critical business systems. The engineer will be a subject matter expert for
VMware upgrades, NetApp/Pure/Dell/HPE storage capacity and performance, and automation/scripting for
operational insight and efficiency.
Key Responsibilities
Infrastructure Design & Implementation
? Design, deploy, and maintain data center solutions leveraging Cisco UCSX blade and rack servers,
including Intersight, fabric interconnects, and service profiles.
? Architect and implement VMware vSphere 7/8/9 clusters (compute, storage, and network) to support
high availability and performance.
? Design and maintain hybrid cloud architectures integrating on-premises infrastructure with Microsoft
Azure (IaaS/PaaS) and related hybrid services.
? Engineer and support enterprise storage platforms with an emphasis on NetApp (ONTAP) and Dell
storage arrays, including SAN/NAS designs and data protection strategies.
Operations, Upgrades & Maintenance
? Monitor and maintain server, virtualization, and storage infrastructure to ensure uptime, performance,
and SLA adherence.
? Plan, test, and execute VMware vSphere/vCenter upgrades, including compatibility checks, rollback
planning, and post-upgrade validation.
? Apply firmware, driver, and software updates across Cisco UCSX, VMware, and NetApp/Dell storage
environments.
? Manage backups, replication, and snapshot configurations to ensure data protection, retention
compliance, and business continuity.
? Troubleshoot complex issues across compute, storage, virtualization, and network layers in a hybrid on-
prem/Azure environment.
Storage Capacity, Performance & Optimization
? Analyze and forecast NetApp and Dell storage capacity, utilization trends, and growth to support
proactive planning and budgeting.
? Monitor and tune storage performance (IOPS, latency, throughput) and recommend configuration or
architectural changes to meet workload requirements.
? Develop and maintain reporting on storage health, capacity, and performance for technical and
management stakeholders.
Cloud & Virtualization
? Integrate on-premises VMware and storage environments with Azure using services such as Azure Arc,
ExpressRoute, VPN, and hybrid identity.
? Manage and optimize VMware clusters, including resource pools, vMotion, DRS, HA, and lifecycle
management.
? Assist with workload migrations between on-premises and Azure, and between virtualized and physical
environments as needed.
Automation, Scripting & Observability
? Leverage tools such as PowerShell, vRealize, Azure Automation, or Terraform to streamline deployments
and configuration management.
? Create and refine dashboards and reports to provide visibility into infrastructure health, utilization, and
trends for both technical teams and leadership.
Security, Compliance & Collaboration
? Implement and maintain security best practices for compute, storage, virtualization, and cloud
infrastructure in alignment with organizational policies and frameworks.
? Collaborate with security/cybersecurity teams to ensure patch compliance, vulnerability remediation,
and audit readiness.
? Provide technical guidance, documentation, and knowledge transfer to operations staff and peer teams.
Required Qualifications
? Bachelor s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field; equivalent experience
may be considered.
? 7+ years of experience supporting enterprise data center environments in a hybrid on-prem/cloud
setting.
? Strong, hands-on expertise with Cisco UCSX Intersight, fabric interconnects, service profiles, and
firmware management.
? Advanced administration experience with VMware vSphere, vCenter, and ESXi, and upgrade/migration
planning.
? Proven experience managing NetApp (ONTAP) and Dell enterprise storage (SAN/NAS), including capacity
planning and performance tuning.
? Experience supporting and integrating with Microsoft Azure (IaaS/PaaS) in a hybrid cloud model.
? Solid understanding of backup, replication, and disaster recovery concepts and tools.
? Proficiency with scripting and automation (e.g., PowerShell, PowerCLI, Python; Terraform or similar is a
plus) to collect data, automate tasks, and improve operational efficiency.
? Familiarity with networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, VLANs, routing, load balancing) as they relate to
virtualized and storage environments.
Preferred Qualifications
? Relevant certifications such as Cisco CCNP Data Center, VMware VCP-DCV (or higher), Microsoft
Certified: Azure Administrator Associate / Solutions Architect, NetApp Certified Data Administrator
(NCDA) or equivalent storage certification
? Experience with enterprise backup and DR solutions (e.g., Veeam, Commvault, Rubrik, Azure Site
Recovery).
? Experience with monitoring and observability tools (e.g., vRealize Operations, SolarWinds, NetApp
monitoring tools, Azure Monitor).
? Working knowledge of containerization platforms (Kubernetes, Docker) in relation to storage and
virtualization is a plus.
Soft Skills
? Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, especially in complex, multi-vendor environments.
? Excellent communication and documentation skills, including the ability to convey technical concepts to
non-technical stakeholders.
? Ability to work independently and collaboratively across infrastructure, application, security, and vendor
teams.
? Strong customer service mindset, attention to detail, and ownership of outcomes for mission-critical
systems.
Employers have access to artificial intelligence language tools (“AI”) that help generate and enhance job descriptions and AI may have been used to create this description. The position description has been reviewed for accuracy and Dice believes it to correctly reflect the job opportunity.