Principal Storage Architect

ZT Systems; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 148,000 - 247,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Bonus eligibility

401(k) retirement savings

Tuition reimbursement

Wellbeing resources

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

ZT Systems seeks a Storage Architect to drive storage product strategy for major cloud providers, balancing performance and cost. You will engage vendors, coordinate with product managers, and develop roadmaps while monitoring industry trends and training the sales team.

You have 12+ years (or 10+ with MS) in storage engineering, hands-on benchmarking experience, and a proven ability to architect cloud-based solutions across globally dispersed teams.

Qualifications

• Hands-on storage benchmarking experience (Orion, IOMeter, SPC).
• Ability to optimize storage solutions for workloads based on performance metrics.
• Experience working in globally dispersed teams.
• Ability to assess technology, reliability, and cost for new offerings.
• Proven track record of adapting to volatile business requirements.
• Experience architecting cloud-based storage solutions.
• Strong network within the storage community.

Responsibilities

• Engage storage vendors to build compelling solutions for customers.
• Coordinate vendor engagements with storage product managers.
• Develop roadmaps and close gaps for next-gen storage products.
• Monitor industry storage solutions and train the sales team.
• Develop understanding of storage workloads and connectivity trends.
• Collaborate with QRE to monitor quality and assess offerings.

Skills

Storage benchmarks analysis

Global teams experience

Cloud-based storage architecture

Performance vs cost tradeoffs

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or software engineering

Master's degree in a related field (optional)

Job description

We are seeking a Storage Architect to enhance and drive forward ZT's storage products. Based on an in-depth understanding of the customer requirements and storage technology trends, architect and deliver compelling storage solutions to the largest cloud providers with the right balance between performance and cost.

What You Will Do:

• Engage strategic storage vendors (HDD, SSD, RAID, HBA, JBOD enclosures, chassis port expander) in developing compelling storage solutions for customers. Identify opportunities to partner with vendors on optimized and validated solutions for customer workloads.
• Work very closely with storage product managers to coordinate all vendor engagements to successfully achieve all of the company's business goals.
• Assess existing storage solutions being sold to customers today. Develop a roadmap for next generation storage products based on existing storage products. Identify storage roadmap gaps. Work with senior management on determining viability of closing roadmap gaps with new storage products.
• Monitor storage solutions from across the industry that includes DAS, SAN, NAS, NAND-based, PCIe connected, and Cold Store. Develop collateral and train the sales team on the strengths and weaknesses of ZT storage products.
• Develop and maintain in-depth understanding of industry standard storage workloads and trends in connectivity.
• Work with quality and reliability engineers (QRE) to monitor quality of deployed storage solutions in the field. Use this data in assessing new storage offerings from vendors.

What You Will Bring:

• BS degree – preferably in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or software engineering – with 12+ years of experience (alternatively a MS and 10+ years).
• Hands-on experience in running storage-based benchmarks (Orion, IOMeter, SPC). Ability to interpret results and optimize solutions for specific workloads that may be sensitive to IOPs, latency, or other performance metrics as defined by the customer.
• Experience working in globally dispersed teams.
• Ability to provide both technology, reliability, and cost assessments on new storage product offerings.
• Track record of being able to course correct in a highly volatile business environment based on new requirements or updated information.
• Experience in architecting cloud-based storage solutions.
• Strong network and relationships in the storage community (highly desired).

ZT Systems assesses market data to ensure a competitive compensation package is created for all our employees. The typical base salary for this position is expected to be between $148,125 and $246,875 per year. If hired, the final base salary will be determined on an individual basis taking into consideration experience, skills, knowledge, education and/or certifications.

Base salary is just one component of ZT Systems total rewards philosophy. We take pride in offering a wide range of benefits and perks that appeal to the variety of needs across our diverse employee base. Other rewards may include bonus, paid time off, generous 401k match, tuition reimbursement, wellbeing resources, and more.

We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this opportunity but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

#ZTSANENG2025!

About ZT Systems

At ZT Systems, a Sanmina Company, you'll get to do work you are proud of alongside smart, passionate people. Every day, there are opportunities to collaborate with the best in the industry to design, build, and deliver impactful solutions to world-class customers. Along the way, you will gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced environment that's challenging, rewarding, and career-defining.

A culture built around our values we work hard and think fast. We view challenges as opportunities—to do better, push harder, and be faster than we were the day before. When we fail, we learn from it and move on together. And when we succeed, we use the momentum to go even further. We create value with everything we do, building the foundation of today—and transforming the future of tomorrow.

Join ZT Systems and help us build technology infrastructure that connects the world.

What We Offer

At ZT Systems, a Sanmina Company, we believe that investing in our people is key to our continued growth and innovation. When you join our team, you'll gain access to a comprehensive and inclusive benefits package designed to support your well-being, financial security, and professional development—both now and in the future.

Compensation & Financial Security

• Competitive base salary
• Performance-based annual bonus eligibility
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Tuition reimbursement for eligible education programs

Health & Wellness

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with access to leading providers
• Mental health resources and employee wellness support programs
• Company-paid life and disability insurance

Time Away & Work-Life Balance

• Paid time off (PTO) and company-paid holidays
• Parental leave and family care support programs

Growth & Purpose

• Structured training programs and on-the-job learning opportunities
• Matching gifts and volunteer programs to support causes you care about

These benefits are available to eligible employees and are designed to grow with you as your career evolves. Full benefits and eligibility varies by work location. Learn more about our benefits here.

ZT Group Int'l. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. ZT Systems provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Please be aware that certain positions may require the applicant to either 1) be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. 1158, or 2) be eligible to obtain an export control license or license exception from the Bureau of Industry and Science & U.S. Department of Commerce. All offers of employment will be conditional subject to the foregoing.