Technical Infrastructure Architect - Cloud Infrastructure

Our client is a leading European IT services organisation supporting the full software lifecycle, they cover application development and management, testing, digital media, consulting services, infrastructure management and cloud services. Industry-focused verticals are led by professionals who speak the customers’ language, designing services for clients, complemented by world class delivery. Their solutions transform systems, platforms and processes for the world’s leading brands in Capital Markets, Banking, Payments, Insurance, Media, Retail and Telecommunications. We are seeking an experienced Technical Infrastructure Architect, with a strong background in scoping and designing critical Cloud infrastructures and server application solutions, to lead new opportunities. This is a leading role for a technical expert with history of hands-on and practical deployment experience. The successful candidate will be a self-starting, detail-minded design expert, with good customer soft skills and a proven understanding of cost modelling, estimations, technical suitability and fixed-price delivery success factors. You will have a track record of designing appropriate and profitable solutions. This role can be based out of either our client’s Central London or Oxford offices. Skills and Experience required: Hands-on delivery of public, private and hybrid Cloud infrastructure projects. Proven track record of detailed infrastructure design and accurate solutions estimations (including scalability, performance, availability, reliability and security) in the following technology areas: VMware virtualisation Amazon Web Services Microsoft Windows Server and Active Directory Microsoft Clustering and Load Balancing Microsoft SQL Server Server hardware Enterprise storage Backup and recovery Basic networking and security Experience of using automation tools and technologies for build and deployment. Performance planning, measurement and impact assessment. Excellent soft-skills particularly in client expectation management. Able to articulate ambiguous client requests into guaranteed-performance solutions. Highly articulate and literate, with excellent levels of written and spoken English. Ability to maintain initiative and focus during negotiations. Experience of working in a service provider environment. High levels of ownership, and a ‘make it work first time’ work ethic. Desirable: • AWS Solutions Architect certification – Professional level Experience with: Microsoft Azure Microsoft Office 365 Microsoft Lync/Skype For Business Microsoft Exchange Server Citrix XenApp HP 3Par Enterprise Storage Responsibilities: Architect new solutions or re-architect existing solutions for public, private and hybrid Cloud infrastructures and services based on Microsoft and other major vendor server technologies. Building strong partnership relationships with customers through presales and thought leadership activities. Owning the coordination and delivery of technical input to proposals, RFP responses and bids. Validating client propositions and gathering both business and non-functional requirements. Delivery modelling, service scoping and price estimations. Writing detailed technical documents making sure the non-functional requirements are addressed by the technical design of the solution, with minimal subject-matter expert assistance. Balancing client needs, SLAs, critical success factors with delivery capabilities and risks. Technical leadership of customer projects and oversee solution implementation. Proactively review customer solutions and propose improvements and strategic direction, anticipating client goals. Working with commercial and sales management and participating in reviews. Product selection and capability testing for specific technology and versions. Promoting common delivery standards and processes. Managing vendors and suppliers. Activity reporting and time management. Buzzwords: Technical Infrastructure, Cloud Infrastructure, Infrastructure Design, VMware virtualisation, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Windows Server and Active Directory, Microsoft Clustering and Load Balancing, Microsoft SQL Server, Server hardware, Enterprise storage, Backup and recovery, London, Oxford