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- Tasks: Lead the design of innovative VMware Cloud solutions for clients, ensuring security and resilience.
- Company: Join Softcat, a unique tech company that values passion, intelligence, and community.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working hours, competitive salary, and a comprehensive benefits package.
- Other info: Embrace diversity and individuality while growing your career with excellent opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by architecting cutting-edge cloud solutions in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: VCF 9 Architect certification and strong experience in VMware architecture required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
The Architecture Services department is made of two technical areas: Solutions and Vendor-based presales. The Solutions Architects focus on complex architecture with knowledge ranging more broadly across one or more disciplines, whilst Vendor Architects specialise in providing expertise within specified vendors and provide a deeper level of understanding of those vendors.
As a Datacentre Vendor Architect, you will work as a member of the Architecture Services department to translate a client's technical requirements into innovative, thoughtful, and well-designed solutions either on premise or via a public or private cloud offering. This role is focused on architecting VMware Cloud Foundation 9 (VCF 9) instances and operating models for modern private cloud, covering compute, storage, networking, security, management, and automation.
You will act as a subject matter expert and technical design authority for VCF 9 architectures, guiding customers from discovery through design and into delivery with a clear focus on security, resilience, supportability, and commercial outcomes.
As Senior Architect – VMware, you'll be responsible for:
- Leading customer discovery to capture requirements, constraints, and priorities (e.g. MoSCoW), including stakeholder workshops and options/decision papers.
- Designing and acting as technical authority for VCF 9 architectures (management/workload domains, multi-cluster and multi-site), producing and contributing to High Level Designs aligned to operating model, governance, and compliance.
- Defining upgrade and migration strategies into VCF 9 (and earlier versions), covering risks, dependencies, and cutover planning.
- Architecting VCF 9 networking, security, and storage, including NSX-aligned designs, segmentation, vSAN architectures, and integration with physical networks and external storage where required.
- Designing for modern platform consumption on VCF 9, including Kubernetes-enabled workloads (VKS), multi-tenancy, and tenant/chargeback models.
- Collaborating with cross-discipline specialists to deliver end-to-end solutions (hardware, backup/DR, observability, public cloud integrations).
We'd love you to have:
- VCF 9 Architect certification (VCP VCF 9 Architect).
- VCAP specialization aligned to VCF 9 in at least one area: Networking (NSX), Storage, or VKS.
- Earlier certifications including VCAPs (vSphere v7 or higher) are required to demonstrate depth of design and delivery capability.
- Demonstrable presales experience designing and communicating modern private cloud/hybrid platform solutions, with deep VMware architecture capability.
- Prior delivery experience (hands-on project delivery) designing and implementing VMware Cloud Foundation environments.
- Strong architectural knowledge of the VCF 9 stack and operating model, including how vSphere, vSAN, NSX, and VCF management components integrate in a supportable reference architecture.
- Ability to understand and ratify technical designs at high level, balancing customer outcomes, operational reality, security/resilience, and commercial considerations.
- AVS (Azure VMware Solution) or VMware Cloud on AWS (VMC) architecture experience.
- Other technology vendor experience and certifications (e.g., server, storage, networking), demonstrating you can design how hardware platforms and the VCF stack interoperate in real-world datacentre environments.
Work in a way that works for you:
- Working flexible hours – flexing the times you start and finish during the day.
- Flexibility around school pick up and drop offs.
Wherever you work, we want you to experience the freedom and autonomy to realise your potential. You will feel supported by a team that celebrates individuality, encourages different perspectives, and embraces every background. If you have a disability or neurodiversity, we can provide support or adjustments that you may need throughout our recruitment process or any mitigating circumstance you wish for us to consider. Any information you share on your application will be treated in confidence.
We offer a competitive salary and benefits package and will provide you with opportunities to grow, flourish, and achieve great things.
Benefits include:
- Pension
- Share incentive plan
- Life Assurance
- Holiday Trips
- Vouchers
- Partner/family Benefits
- Maternity, Paternity and Adoption support
Locations: Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Marlow, Newcastle, South Coast.
Senior Architect - VMware in Manchester employer: Softcat plc
Contact Detail:
Softcat plc Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Architect - VMware in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with folks in the industry. Attend meetups, webinars, or even local tech events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best work, especially projects related to VMware Cloud Foundation. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can do and set you apart from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios specific to the role. Think about how you can demonstrate your expertise in VCF 9 and your problem-solving skills. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our community at Softcat.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Architect - VMware in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience with VMware Cloud Foundation 9. We want to see how your skills align with the specific requirements mentioned in the job description.
Showcase Your Expertise: Don’t hold back on showcasing your technical knowledge! Include details about your VCF 9 Architect certification and any relevant projects you've worked on. This is your chance to shine as a subject matter expert.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points for key achievements and make sure your passion for architecture and technology comes through. We love a well-structured application!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, you’ll get to explore more about our culture and values!
How to prepare for a job interview at Softcat plc
✨Know Your VMware Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your VMware Cloud Foundation 9 knowledge. Be ready to discuss its architecture, including vSphere, vSAN, and NSX. Prepare to explain how these components integrate into a supportable reference architecture, as this will show your depth of understanding.
✨Showcase Your Presales Experience
Since the role involves presales activities, be prepared to share specific examples of how you've designed and communicated modern private cloud solutions. Highlight any workshops or stakeholder engagements you've led, as this demonstrates your ability to capture requirements effectively.
✨Understand the Softcat Values
Familiarise yourself with Softcat's core values: Passion, Intelligence, Fun, Responsible, and Community. Think of ways to weave these values into your responses during the interview, showing that you align with their culture and can contribute positively to the team.
✨Prepare for Technical Design Questions
Expect to face questions about designing VCF 9 architectures and migration strategies. Practice articulating your thought process around risks, dependencies, and cutover planning. This will demonstrate your capability as a technical design authority and your strategic thinking skills.