VMware Lead Solution Architect

Lead Datacenter & Cloud Solution Architect
We are looking for a highly experienced Datacenter & Cloud Solution Architect to support a strategic infrastructure transformation initiative focused on defining the next-generation enterprise datacenter architecture, technology stack, and operating model.
The role requires a strong combination of hands-on infrastructure knowledge, enterprise architecture capability, and executive-level advisory skills. The successful candidate will help shape a future-state architecture that is technically sound, resilient, scalable, commercially supportable, and suitable for long-term business growth.
Role Overview
The architect will lead the technical assessment of the existing infrastructure landscape and translate business, operational, resilience, security, and technology requirements into a clear set of architecture principles and future-state recommendations.
A key part of the role is maintaining an independent and technology-neutral perspective while evaluating different infrastructure, virtualization, cloud, and managed-service options.
Key Responsibilities
Responsibilities will include:
Assessing the current datacenter and infrastructure environment
Identifying technology dependencies, constraints, lifecycle risks, and modernization opportunities
Defining future-state architecture principles and technical standards
Designing target architecture across:
Compute
Storage
Networking
Virtualization
Platform services
Backup and recovery
Disaster recovery
Monitoring
Automation
Infrastructure management
Evaluating alternative technology and architecture scenarios
Comparing different platforms and technology providers objectively
Assessing feasibility, complexity, compatibility, operational impact, lock-in, and strategic alignment
Developing technical decision frameworks and architecture comparison models
Assessing opportunities to reuse existing infrastructure and identifying refresh requirements
Defining high-level migration strategies, dependencies, sequencing, and major risks
Evaluating internal, hybrid, and managed operating models
Providing technical assumptions to support sizing, licensing, lifecycle, support, migration effort, and cost assessments
Supporting executive stakeholders with clear technical recommendations and decision materials
Expected Deliverables
The role may contribute to or own outputs such as:
Current-state infrastructure assessment
Architecture requirements and guiding principles
Future-state datacenter architecture
Technology option analysis
Feasibility and risk assessment
Architecture decision framework
Recommended technology stack
High-level migration roadmap
Compatibility and lifecycle assessment
Infrastructure sizing assumptions
Licensing and support assumptions
Migration and operational effort estimates
Hardware refresh assumptions
Technical inputs for Bill of Materials and cost modelling
Operating model considerations
Executive architecture recommendation
Technology selection documentation
The architect will provide the technical foundation for financial and commercial evaluations, while not being responsible for commercial negotiations or detailed financial modelling.
Cloud & Hybrid Architecture
Strong experience with Microsoft Azure is required, particularly across:
Landing zone architecture
Identity and security integration
Networking
Compute and storage
Governance and policy
Monitoring and observability
Hybrid connectivity
Cloud operating models
Cost optimization and FinOps considerations
Experience designing architectures that span on-premise, hybrid, and cloud environments is essential.
Infrastructure Expertise
Candidates should bring strong end-to-end knowledge of enterprise infrastructure, including areas such as:
Enterprise compute platforms
Storage architectures
Datacenter networking
VMware and/or Hyper-V environments
Enterprise backup and recovery platforms
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
Windows and Linux environments
Database infrastructure
Monitoring and management platforms
Automation and orchestration
Disaster recovery and business continuity
Datacenter facilities and infrastructure dependencies
Transformation & Migration Experience
The ideal candidate will have previously supported large-scale infrastructure or cloud transformation programs involving complex environments, multiple systems, business units, or locations.
Relevant experience may include:
Datacenter consolidation or modernization
Cloud and hybrid-cloud migrations
Virtualization platform transformation
Infrastructure refresh programs
Application and workload migration planning
Operating model redesign
Managed-services transitions
Platform standardization
Infrastructure lifecycle modernization
The architect should be able to define migration waves, dependencies, technical sequencing, resource assumptions, risks, and validation requirements.
Architecture & Advisory Skills
The role requires the ability to operate effectively between senior management and deeply technical teams.
You should be comfortable facilitating workshops and working with stakeholders across:
Infrastructure
Network
Cybersecurity
Cloud
Operations
Architecture
Project and program management
Vendor management
Technology suppliers and service providers
Senior IT leadership
Strong written communication is essential, particularly the ability to produce concise and well-structured architecture reports, executive recommendations, and technical decision documents in English.
Vendor-Neutral Approach
A core requirement of the role is the ability to assess technologies independently and objectively.
Candidates should be comfortable evaluating competing architectures based on criteria such as:
Technical fit
Scalability
Resilience
Security
Compatibility
Operational complexity
Migration effort
Vendor dependency
Lifecycle considerations
Supportability
Strategic flexibility
Experience Profile
We are looking for a senior or lead-level architect with extensive experience in infrastructure, datacenter, cloud, systems management, or enterprise architecture.
A strong profile would typically include significant experience with complex enterprise environments and direct ownership of infrastructure architecture or transformation assessments.
Experience with large infrastructure estates, distributed operational environments, managed services, DevSecOps, FinOps, vendor orchestration, and operational governance will be particularly valuable.
Exposure to AI infrastructure readiness, accelerated computing, or emerging datacenter requirements associated with AI workloads would also be considered an advantage.
Engagement
This is a senior architecture advisory engagement requiring strong technical ownership, independent judgement, and the ability to translate complex infrastructure topics into clear recommendations for decision-makers.
Commercial terms will depend on experience, availability, and scope of responsibility.

Work arrangement
No