Data Center Architect

Gazelle Global; Reading; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Gazelle Global is seeking a Data Centre Architect to lead end-to-end design and governance of data centre infrastructure, spanning compute, storage, network, security and facilities. The role ensures high availability, scalability and regulatory compliance while aligning with hybrid cloud modernization goals.

The successful candidate will combine strategic leadership with hands-on technical expertise to deliver resilient, cost-efficient, and future-ready DC services that support critical retail

Qualifications

• Experience designing scalable, high-availability data center architectures (Tier II–IV).
• Proven ability to integrate on-premises DC with public cloud (hybrid/multi-cloud).
• Deep knowledge of VMware/Hyper-V/KVM and container platforms (Kubernetes, Docker).

Responsibilities

• Define and own the enterprise data center architecture roadmap.
• Design scalable, secure, and highly available infrastructure.
• Align on-prem and hybrid architecture with business strategy.
• Architect Windows and Linux platforms, VMware clusters and lifecycle management.
• Define standards for VM provisioning, patch and vulnerability management.
• Design SCOM-based monitoring and observability across the stack.
• Design Rubrik backup, DR strategies and run DR drills.
• Embed zero-trust and security-first design principles.
• Capacity planning and cost optimization across lifecycle.
• Manage OEM/vendor interactions (VMware, Microsoft, Rubrik).

Skills

Data center architecture design

Hybrid cloud integration

VMware/Hyper-V/KVM

Tools

Terraform

Ansible

PowerShell

Python

Job description

Shape large-scale Datacentre transformation – Strategic and architectural thinking

• Strong stakeholder & executive communication, ability to drive transformation programs

Influence at the highest level – Work closely with CIOs, senior IT leadership, and business stakeholders to define DC/Infra strategy, ensuring impactful decision-making and measurable business outcomes.

Deliver real business value at scale – Play a key role in transition, transformation, and steady-state excellence, ensuring resilient, compliant, and future-ready DC services that directly support critical retail operations.

About the Role

The Role A Data Centre Architect is responsible for the end-to-end design, planning, and governance of data center infrastructure—including compute, storage, network, security, and facilities. The role ensures high availability, scalability, performance, and compliance while aligning with business and digital transformation goals (e.g., hybrid cloud, modernization).

A Data Centre Architect plays a strategic and technical leadership role, bridging infrastructure, cloud, and business needs. The position demands deep technical expertise along with the ability to design resilient, scalable, secure, and cost-efficient environments.

Responsibilities

DC Architecture & Strategy

• Define and own enterprise data center architecture roadmap
• Design scalable, secure, and highly available infrastructure
• Align on-prem and hybrid architecture with business strategy
• Architect: Windows & Linux platforms, VMware clusters and lifecycle management
• Define standards for: VM provisioning baseline configurations, Patch & vulnerability management

Monitoring & Reliability Engineering

• Architect SCOM-based monitoring ecosystem
• Define proactive alerting strategy and noise reduction framework
• Enable observability across infrastructure stack

Backup, DR & Cyber Resilience

• Design Rubrik backup policies and SLA tiers
• Implement: Immutable backup strategy failover/failback plans, Conduct DR drills and audits
• Support: PoCs, pilots, large-scale rollout, hyper care

Security & Compliance

• Embed Zero Trust and security-first design principles
• Ensure: Patch compliance, Vulnerability remediation, RBAC controls

Performance & Cost Optimization

• Perform capacity planning
• Optimize: Resource utilization, Licensing (VMware, Windows), Infra costs across lifecycle
• Engage with: Business units, Security & application teams
• Manage OEM/vendor interactions (VMware, Microsoft, Rubrik)

Required Skills

• Proven experience in designing scalable, high-availability data center architectures (Tier II–IV), including compute, storage, and networking layers.
• Strong expertise in integrating on-premises infrastructure with public cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP), including hybrid and multi-cloud strategies.
• Deep knowledge of VMware, Hyper-V, or KVM along with container platforms like Kubernetes and Docker.

Advanced Networking Architecture

• Expertise in LAN/WAN design, SDN, leaf-spine architecture, network segmentation, firewalls, and load balancing.

Storage & Data Management

• Experience with SAN, NAS, object storage, backup/recovery, replication technologies, and data lifecycle management.

Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity

• Strong experience in designing DR strategies, failover models, and defining RPO/RTO aligned with business SLAs.

Security & Compliance Frameworks

• Knowledge of infrastructure security, zero-trust models, encryption, and compliance standards like ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, and regulatory requirements.

Automation & Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

• Hands-on experience with automation tools such as Terraform, Ansible, PowerShell, or Python for provisioning and configuration.

Capacity Planning & Performance Optimization

• Ability to forecast growth, optimize resource utilization, and implement performance tuning across infrastructure components.
• Experience in evaluating vendors, leading RFPs/PoCs, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver architecture solutions.

Preferred Skills

• Software-Defined Data Centre (SDDC)
• Exposure to SDDC technologies including VMware NSX,