DataCentre Transformation Architect

Delivery Architecture | Customer-Embedded (Onsite/Hybrid as per customer needs)

Delivery Architecture | Customer-Embedded (Onsite/Hybrid as per customer needs)

Experience

10–15+ years in Data Center / Infrastructure Architecture and Transformation

Role Overview

We are seeking a Data Center Transformation Architect to be deployed within a customer environment to lead and support their data center transformation journey end-to-end —from strategy and planning through target-state design, migration planning, governance, and execution oversight .

The architect will act as the customer’s trusted technical leader, ensuring the transformation is technically sound, secure, resilient, compliant, and operationally adoptable , while coordinating across multiple technology towers and delivery teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategy, Assessment & Planning
• Lead current-state assessments across compute, storage, network, virtualization, backup, DR, monitoring, and operational processes.
• Define transformation strategy and roadmap, including guiding principles, standards, target-state options, and phased execution plan.
• Translate business drivers (cost, resilience, regulatory requirements, exit/refresh timelines) into architecture priorities and delivery plans.
• Develop capacity and demand planning inputs (growth forecasts, constraints, critical workloads, performance baselines).
• Target-State Architecture & Design Ownership
• Own end-to-end DC target architecture, including:
• Compute platforms, HCI (where applicable), standard builds
• Storage strategy (SAN/NAS/Object, tiering, replication, backup integration)
• Network/DC fabric design (segmentation, routing, HA patterns, load balancing)
• Virtualization and platform modernization (VMware/Hyper-V/KVM; container readiness)
• Security architecture alignment (segmentation, controls, hardening, IAM integration)
• Resilience and DR architecture (fault domains, HA design, RPO/RTO mapping)
• Produce and govern architecture deliverables: HLD/LLD, reference architectures, design decisions, and patterns.
• Ensure designs are aligned to operational supportability, including monitoring, patching, backup, DR drills, and incident/problem processes.
• Migration & Transition Architecture
• Define migration approach and patterns (rehost/replatform/refactor where applicable).
• Create migration factory design inputs: wave planning, dependency mapping, cutover runbooks, rollback plans, and risk mitigations.
• Partner with application teams to validate workload suitability, downtime constraints, and sequencing.
• Ensure service continuity through cutovers, failover testing, and stabilization activities.
• Architecture Governance & Delivery Assurance
• Establish architecture governance: design reviews, checkpoints, technical risk management, and exception handling.
• Act as the final authority for technical decisions, ensuring adherence to standards and non-functional requirements.
• Guide multiple delivery streams (compute/storage/network/security/operations) to ensure integrated outcomes.
• Perform ongoing technical assurance: validate build quality, configuration compliance, performance, and resilience readiness.
• Stakeholder Management & Collaboration
• Serve as primary technical interface with customer stakeholders: Infrastructure leadership, Enterprise Architecture, Security, Operations, and Vendors.
• Communicate architecture trade-offs clearly (risk, cost, time) and maintain transparent decision logs.
• Coordinate with OEMs/partners where required for design validation, compatibility, and escalation.
• Documentation & Knowledge Transfer
• Maintain customer-ready documentation: target architecture packs, design decisions, standards, operational handover artefacts.
• Support knowledge transfer into customer operations and managed services teams, ensuring smooth transition to steady state.

Required Skills & Experience

• 12+ years of experience in infrastructure / data center architecture, with proven delivery ownership of large-scale DC transformation programs.
• Strong practical expertise across:
• Compute (x86), standard builds, lifecycle/refresh planning
• Storage architecture (SAN/NAS/Object), replication, backup integration, performance sizing
• Networking in DC environments (segmentation, HA, DC fabric concepts)
• Virtualization (VMware strongly preferred) and platform modernization
• DR/BCP design and testing practices (RPO/RTO engineering)
• Proven ability to create strategy + roadmap and translate into implementable designs.
• Strong delivery mindset: ability to work in complex environments with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Excellent documentation and communication skills, including executive-level narrative and technical depth.

Preferred / Good-to-Have

• Experience in regulated environments (pharma), audit readiness, and security control alignment.
• Exposure to hybrid connectivity patterns and integration with cloud landing zones.
• Working knowledge of automation/IaC concepts (Ansible/Terraform) and standardized build pipelines.
• ITIL/ITSM familiarity and operational model design (monitoring, patching, CMDB, change governance).
• Certifications (nice to have): VMware (VCP/VCAP), TOGAF, Cisco (CCNP), ITIL, OEM certifications.

Success Measures (What “Good” Looks Like)

• Approved DC transformation strategy and target-state architecture, with clear phased roadmap.
• Stable, repeatable design governance with reduced rework and fewer technical escalations.
• Migration execution enabled by robust wave planning, cutover runbooks, and minimized outages.
• Measurable improvements in resilience, compliance posture, standardization, and operational readiness.
• Strong stakeholder confidence and adoption by customer operations teams.

Working Style / Behavioral Competencies

• Customer-first, consultative approach with strong ownership and accountability.
• Structured problem solving, decision-making discipline, and risk-based thinking.
• Ability to operate calmly in high-pressure cutover and major incident situations.
• Strong collaboration across towers; comfortable leading without direct authority.

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