Senior Architect - Storage and Data Protection

Core42; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 450,000 - 750,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Salary

Yearly Bonus

Exclusive Discount Cards

Premium Family Insurance

Learning & Development

Job summary

Core42 invites a Senior Architect – Storage and Data Protection to lead end-to-end architecture for multi-petabyte storage in cloud environments. You will shape standards, collaborate cross-functionally, evaluate backup technologies, and drive DR strategies across platforms.

Applicants should have 10+ years of storage design experience, including 5+ years in software-defined storage, with strong Linux scripting and security fundamentals. UAE-based, on-site role with competitive package.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, engineering, software engineering or a related technology discipline.
• 10+ years of experience designing, implementing, and managing storage solutions, including 5+ years with software-defined storage across block, file, and object storage systems.
• Expert-level knowledge of storage architecture, data protection strategies, and disaster recovery principles.
• Strong experience with storage protocols and interfaces such as iSCSI, S3, NFS, NVMe over TCP, and related technologies.
• Deep knowledge of storage platforms from vendors such as IBM, NetApp, Dell EMC, Pure Storage, HPE, and VAST Data.
• Experience with object storage solutions such as Red Hat Ceph, MinIO, Scality, Cloudian, Qumulo S3, and Dell ECS is a significant advantage.
• Experience in designing and implementing geo-distributed and large-scale storage clusters.
• Strong understanding of encryption, hardening, security controls, and compliance requirements for storage and backup platforms.
• Experience with cloud-native backup and DR solutions for OpenStack (e.g. Trilio, Hystax, Rubrik, Zerto) is highly desirable.
• Solid knowledge of Linux systems administration and scripting using Bash, Python, or similar languages.
• Understanding of modern API concepts and standards, including HTTP, REST, Swagger/OpenAPI, and gRPC.
• Experience with identity and access management concepts such as PKI, LDAP, OAuth, OpenID Connect.
• Knowledge of architecture frameworks and methodologies such as TOGAF or Zachman is an advantage.
• Ability to produce high-quality technical documentation, including architecture diagrams, design documents, operational procedures, and standards.
• Proven track record of delivering large-scale infrastructure or cloud platform projects.
• Basic knowledge of ITSM frameworks such as ITIL.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Relevant certifications in storage technologies, cloud platforms, and data protection are advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Own and lead the end-to-end architecture and design of multi-petabyte-scale storage solutions for cloud environments, ensuring high availability, performance, scalability, and compliance with industry standards and best practices.
• Define storage and data protection architecture standards, roadmaps, and service evolution across the organization’s platform portfolio.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather requirements and translate them into scalable technical solutions.
• Evaluate, select, and design storage and backup technologies, ensuring alignment with functional and non-functional requirements.
• Define and support disaster recovery strategies, including data integrity, availability, RPO/RTO and recovery validation across platforms.
• Support capacity planning, performance analysis, and lifecycle management for storage infrastructure.
• Conduct architecture reviews and configuration assessments to identify optimization, consolidation, and risk mitigation opportunities.
• Prepare, review, and approve HLDs, LLDs, SOWs, BoQs/BoMs, RFIs, RFPs, and RFQs, ensuring alignment with performance, scalability, security, and reliability requirements.
• Support procurement activities by preparing technical specifications, evaluating vendor proposals, and providing technology recommendations.
• Oversee deployment readiness, implementation quality, and acceptance testing against approved design documentation.
• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and guidance to engineering teams.
• Contribute to process improvement, operational standards, and documentation practices to enhance service quality and stakeholder experience.
• Lead the design of observability and logging systems.

Skills

Storage architecture

Disaster recovery

Linux administration

Bash/Python scripting

iSCSI/NFS/S3 experience

Security/compliance

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s in CS or related field

Tools

Ceph/MinIO/Scality

Trilio/Hystax/Rubrik/Zerto

OpenStack backup tooling

Job description

Senior Architect – Storage and Data Protection

About Us

Core42, a leader in AI-powered cloud and digital infrastructure, is driving transformative technology solutions globally. Leveraging advanced resources and partnerships, Core42 empowers clients to harness sovereign AI infrastructure, especially in sectors with stringent regulatory needs. With a mission to redefine digital transformation, we combine sovereign capabilities with scalable, high-performance compute infrastructure, positioning itself at the forefront of AI innovation in the Middle East and beyond

The opportunity

The Senior Architect – Storage and Data Protection leads the architecture, design, and supports the implementation of storage and data protection solutions. The role ensures that storage platforms are scalable, resilient, cost-effective, and aligned with Cloud and HPC business requirements.

Your key responsibilities

• Own and lead the end-to-end architecture and design of multi-petabyte-scale block, file, and object storage solutions for cloud environments, ensuring high availability, performance, scalability, and compliance with industry standards and best practices.
• Define storage and data protection architecture standards, roadmaps, and service evolution across the organization’s platform portfolio.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather requirements and translate them into scalable technical solutions.
• Evaluate, select, and design storage and backup technologies, ensuring alignment with functional and non-functional requirements.
• Define and support disaster recovery strategies, including data integrity, availability, RPO/RTO and recovery validation across platforms.
• Support capacity planning, performance analysis, and lifecycle management for storage infrastructure.
• Conduct architecture reviews and configuration assessments to identify optimization, consolidation, and risk mitigation opportunities.
• Prepare, review, and approve HLDs, LLDs, SOWs, BoQs/BoMs, RFIs, RFPs, and RFQs, ensuring alignment with performance, scalability, security, and reliability requirements.
• Support procurement activities by preparing technical specifications, evaluating vendor proposals, and providing technology recommendations.
• Oversee deployment readiness, implementation quality, and acceptance testing against approved design documentation.
• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and guidance to engineering teams.
• Contribute to process improvement, operational standards, and documentation practices to enhance service quality and stakeholder experience.
• Lead the design of observability and logging systems.

Other Responsibilities

• Comply with applicable laws, regulations, international standards and related G42 Policies and Procedures.
• Comply with G42 Acceptable Use Policy, attend mandatory information security, privacy, business continuity and HSE trainings.
• Report information security, HSE etc. incidents or suspect incidents through G42 established incident reporting channels.
• Maintain confidentiality of information and classify and handle information as per G42 Policies and Procedures.

What we’re looking for

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, engineering, software engineering or a related technology discipline.
• 10+ years of experience designing, implementing, and managing storage solutions, including 5+ years with software-defined storage across block, file, and object storage systems.
• Expert-level knowledge of storage architecture, data protection strategies, and disaster recovery principles.
• Strong experience with storage protocols and interfaces such as iSCSI, S3, NFS, NVMe over TCP, and related technologies.
• Deep knowledge of storage platforms from vendors such as IBM, NetApp, Dell EMC, Pure Storage, HPE, and VAST Data.
• Experience with object storage solutions such as Red Hat Ceph, MinIO, Scality, Cloudian, Qumulo S3, and Dell ECS is a significant advantage.
• Experience in designing and implementing geo-distributed and large-scale storage clusters.
• Strong understanding of encryption, hardening, security controls, and compliance requirements for storage and backup platforms.
• Experience with cloud-native backup and DR solutions for OpenStack (e.g. Trilio, Hystax, Rubrik, Zerto) is highly desirable.
• Solid knowledge of Linux systems administration and scripting using Bash, Python, or similar languages.
• Understanding of modern API concepts and standards, including HTTP, REST, Swagger/OpenAPI, and gRPC.
• Experience with identity and access management concepts such as PKI, LDAP, OAuth, OpenID Connect.
• Knowledge of architecture frameworks and methodologies such as TOGAF or Zachman is an advantage.
• Ability to produce high-quality technical documentation, including architecture diagrams, design documents, operational procedures, and standards.
• Proven track record of delivering large-scale infrastructure or cloud platform projects.
• Basic knowledge of ITSM frameworks such as ITIL.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Relevant certifications in storage technologies, cloud platforms, and data protection are advantageous.

What working at Core42 offers

With a diverse team of 1,100+ employees from 68 nationalities, we foster an inclusive, innovative and collaborative environment. At Core42, we foster a culture grounded in trust, accountability and high performance. We are united by our values: Grit, where we overcome challenges with resilience and determination, Passion, which drives us to pursue excellence in everything we do, and Impact, as we aim to inspire progress and create meaningful change. Our team members thrive in an environment where each person’s contributions propel us forward, and together, we commit to achieving extraordinary results.

• Competitive Salary: We offer an attractive salary package based on your skills and experience
• Yearly Bonus: In recognition of your contributions, you will receive a performance-based annual bonus
• Exclusive Discount Cards: Access special benefits with Esaad and Fazaa cards, offering discounts across a wide range of services
• Premium Family Insurance: We provide comprehensive health coverage, including dental, vision and life insurance, ensuring the well-being of you and your family
• Learning & Development: We offer access to top-tier learning platforms to help you grow in your career. Learn at your own pace with unlimited