Cloud Virtualization System Administrator

SDI Presence•Downers Grove, IL

About The Position

This position is responsible for the architectural design, implementation, integration, and lifecycle management of the hybrid cloud and virtual infrastructure. This includes Azure cloud services, VMware platforms, NSX, HCX and other enterprise technologies supporting IT operations. The SA/Cloud Architect provides advanced technical leadership across cloud, virtualization and hybrid network domains. This includes capacity planning, architectural road mapping, performance optimization, modernization of cloud and datacenter environments, and mentoring of technical staff. The role requires continuous improvement of systems to maintain high availability, security, and performance for mission-critical applications. The SA/Cloud Architect works both individually and in teams to support multisite operations. Business operation demands 24/7/365 continuous uptime, so the candidate must be able to perform overtime when needed, including holidays and weekends. Continuously evolving platforms require ongoing training and self-directed learning to maintain proficiency. Based on the nature of the position, the selected candidate will have administrative level access to sensitive and confidential information and must always exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality. The candidate will perform daily administrative tasks on the infrastructure as well as work on projects and provide end user support when required. Candidate will be required to maintain and continually improve the environment to provide the highest levels of service to the user base. The candidate will also be required to assess performance of systems and make adjustments, assist with end-user support, and perform software installations and upgrades. A successful candidate for this position will be able to demonstrate excellent technical skills, proficiency with design, implementation and support of Azure Cloud and VMWare based solutions and exhibit strong project management and communication skills. The candidate must have a solid understanding of Microsoft Active Directory, Enterprise networking, and Internet fundamentals. The candidate should be able to troubleshoot all aspects of Microsoft Azure cloud infrastructure and VMWare technologies effectively and understand the product flow, patch management, software distribution and logging in detail.

Requirements

Minimum 12 years’ experience working with Microsoft and VMWare technologies in a large, distributed enterprise environment
Minimum 5 years of experience administering Microsoft Azure Cloud environments
Experience with Microsoft technologies including Azure AD, Active Directory, and M365
Experience with VMWare NSX, HCX, and hybrid cloud networking
Ability to stay detail-oriented in a fast-paced setting and adapt to changing priorities
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate with all levels of associates in the organization
Proven ability to work effectively in a team setting as well as independently with minimal error and guidance
Results oriented and self-motivated with the ability to take ownership of IT projects
Must be able to handle multiple projects simultaneously while dealing with frequent interruptions and working in a high-pressure environment
Work rotating off-hour schedule with weekend support to maintain consistent system availability
Ability to perform routine server maintenance or network emergencies during non-business hours, evenings and on the weekend
Develop comprehensive planning, testing, and implementation documentation for advanced technologies related to enterprise class server architecture and infrastructure data center applications
Evaluate and test system upgrades, installs or upgrades system software applications, troubleshoots hardware/software related problems and monitors overall systems performance to ensure system upgrade objectives
Prepares and presents status reports and technical presentations to various audiences
Participates in mentoring/training of other IT System Analysts and develops documentation for user problem-solving issues, including system and user manuals
Excellent planning and organizational skills with an ability to understand the long-term ("big picture")
Ability to think strategically and implement iteratively
Excellent interpersonal skills in areas such as teamwork, facilitation and negotiation
Strong leadership skills with an ability to work with cross-functional teams in a collaborative way

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in information technology or related field
Experience with Dell PowerFlex or similar software defined storage platforms used in hybrid and high-performance workloads
Experience with MECM/SCCM, Intune
Advanced VMware experience (vSAN, SRM, NSX)
Experience administering Okta or equivalent identity/SSO platforms
Experience with Dell Data Domain / PowerProtect DDPD
Familiarity with Dell PowerFlex or other SDS platforms
Experience with VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.x environments
Familiarity with enterprise storage systems (NAS, iSCSI, SAN, fiber channel)
Experience with enterprise backup platforms (NetBackup, Networker, Data Domain, Avamar, etc.)
Experience with Citrix XenApp/Desktop and Citrix NetScaler
Technical certifications (Azure Architect Expert, VCP/VCIX, Okta Certified Professional, etc.)
Experience with Dell APEX or similar cloud integrated infrastructure platforms

Responsibilities

Architect, design, and optimize Azure cloud environments including landing zones, governance, network architecture, security baselines, and hybrid integration
Maintain and administer VMware virtualization platforms, including large multi node clusters supporting enterprise production workloads
Support and administer VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF), including VCF 9.x lifecycle management, workload domains, and integrated NSX/vSAN components
Architect and manage NSX network virtualization, micro segmentation, and distributed firewall services
Lead HCX migrations and hybrid workload mobility strategies across datacenters and cloud environments
Maintain audit ready documentation of architectural decisions, configurations, diagrams, and operational procedures
Plan and execute the rollout of changes
Download and deploy patches
Perform periodic performance reporting to support capacity planning
Performs system maintenance activities, including monitoring parameters, maintaining security/quality assurance and controlling access
Responds to user requests and system operation issues, provides assistance to programming and operations personnel in the utilization of software and resolution of user or systems problems
Determine and implement best practices for the engineering, configuration, administration, and support of Microsoft Technologies
Ensure that customer systems are available and performing within their Service Level Agreement, while identifying problems and acting appropriately to resolve issues when they occur