Data Center Infrastructure & Migration Architect

Winged IT; United States; Remote; USD 68,000 - 79,000; Part time

Job summary

Polish IT Company is seeking a Senior Data Center Infrastructure & Migration Architect to design a comprehensive data center solution and lead migrations for a client. The role focuses on rebuilding and expanding a server environment, including virtualization, storage, networking, backup and DR, with a potential long-term collaboration if the project proceeds.

The engagement is part-time and project-based, starting with discovery and architecture definition, with possible continuation into

Qualifications

• Experience designing data center, on-premise or private cloud infrastructure.
• Experience leading technical workshops with customers.
• Knowledge of virtualization, storage, networking and DR concepts.

Responsibilities

• Review technical documentation and identify gaps, risks and dependencies.
• Lead technical discovery workshops and prepare client recommendations.
• Design target data center infrastructure architecture.
• Define sizing and options with domain specialists.
• Design virtualization, compute, storage, networking, backup and DR solutions.
• Develop migration strategy for Windows and Linux environments.
• Coordinate pilots, testing, migration waves and cutover plans.
• Review designs and ensure alignment with overall architecture.
• Identify risks and propose mitigations.
• Contribute to proposals and solution presentations.
• Present architecture to client and provide oversight during implementation.

Skills

Infrastructure architecture

Stakeholder workshops

English communication

Architecture governance

Tools

VMware vSphere

ESXi

vCenter

Proxmox VE

Ceph

VMware-to-Proxmox migrations

NSX

SRM

VCF

Veeam / Commvault

Job description

Data Center Infrastructure & Migration Architect

Client: Polish IT Company

Location: Remotely from Poland

Rate: 190-220 PLN/h

Cooperation model: B2B

We are looking for an experienced Senior Data Center Infrastructure & Migration Architect to support us in designing an infrastructure solution for one of our clients and, if the project is awarded, to take architectural ownership of its implementation.

The project involves the rebuild and expansion of a server infrastructure environment, covering virtualization, compute, storage, networking, backup and Disaster Recovery, as well as the migration of existing Windows and Linux environments.

We already have specialists responsible for Microsoft and Linux systems, networking, virtualization and backup. The Architect will bring these areas together into a coherent end-to-end solution and act as the main technical partner in discussions with the client.

This is a part-time, project-based engagement. During the initial phase, expected to last approximately one month, the main objective will be to analyse the existing environment and design the proposed solution. The next step will involve presenting the architecture to the client. If the project proceeds, there will be an opportunity to continue the cooperation during implementation and migration.

Your responsibilities:

Review available technical documentation and identify missing information, assumptions, dependencies and risks.

Lead technical discovery workshops and prepare questions and recommendations for the client.

Design the target data center infrastructure architecture.

Define infrastructure sizing and alternative solution options together with domain specialists.

Design solutions covering virtualization, compute, storage, networking, backup and Disaster Recovery.

Develop the migration strategy for existing Windows and Linux environments.

Define the approach to pilots, testing, migration waves, maintenance windows, cutover and rollback.

Coordinate the preparation of technical designs, scope of work, implementation plans and responsibility matrices.

Review detailed designs prepared by infrastructure specialists and ensure alignment with the overall architecture.

Identify technical risks and recommend mitigation measures.

Provide technical input into the commercial proposal and solution presentation.

Present and discuss the proposed architecture with the client.

If the project proceeds, provide architectural oversight during implementation and migration.

Your skills and experiences:

Extensive experience designing and implementing data center, on-premise or private cloud infrastructure.

Previous experience as an Infrastructure Architect, Solution Architect, Technical Architect or in a similar role.

Strong knowledge of VMware vSphere, ESXi and vCenter and enterprise virtualization architecture.

Solid understanding of enterprise server infrastructure, storage and networking.

Experience with backup, High Availability and Disaster Recovery solutions.

Proven experience planning and delivering migrations of production Windows and Linux environments.

Experience creating high-level architectures, technical documentation and migration plans.

Experience with infrastructure sizing, capacity planning and performance considerations.

Strong experience leading technical workshops and working directly with customers.

Ability to coordinate specialists across multiple infrastructure domains and turn their input into a consistent end-to-end architecture.

Strong analytical, communication and documentation skills.

Good command of English.

Nice to have:

Experience with Proxmox VE and Ceph.

Experience with VMware-to-Proxmox or other cross-platform virtualization migrations.

Knowledge of VMware vSAN, NSX, SRM or VCF.

Experience with Veeam, Commvault or comparable enterprise backup solutions.

Experience in data center rebuild, modernization or infrastructure transformation projects.

Previous experience in pre-sales, solution consulting or preparing technical proposals.

Cooperation model:

This opportunity is intended for experienced independent Architects who are available for an additional part-time project alongside their other professional commitments.

The initial phase will focus on discovery, workshops and solution architecture. Once the proposed architecture has been prepared, the Architect will participate in presenting the solution to the client.

If the project is awarded, there will be an opportunity to continue the engagement and provide architectural leadership throughout the implementation and migration phases.