Data Center Architect in London

Role: Data Center Transformation Architect

Location: London

Role Overview

We are seeking a Data Center Transformation Architect to be deployed within a customer environment to lead and support their data center transformation journey end-to-end —from strategy and planning through target-state design, migration planning, governance, and execution oversight .

The architect will act as the customer’s trusted technical leader, ensuring the transformation is technically sound, secure, resilient, compliant, and operationally adoptable , while coordinating across multiple technology towers and delivery teams.

Key Responsibilities

1) Strategy, Assessment & Planning

• Lead current-state assessments across compute, storage, network, virtualization, backup, DR, monitoring, and operational processes.
• Define transformation strategy and roadmap , including guiding principles, standards, target-state options, and phased execution plan.
• Translate business drivers (cost, resilience, regulatory requirements, exit/refresh timelines) into architecture priorities and delivery plans .
• Develop capacity and demand planning inputs (growth forecasts, constraints, critical workloads, performance baselines).

2) Target-State Architecture & Design Ownership

• Own end-to-end DC target architecture , including:
• Compute platforms, HCI (where applicable), standard builds
• Storage strategy (SAN/NAS/Object, tiering, replication, backup integration)
• Network/DC fabric design (segmentation, routing, HA patterns, load balancing)
• Virtualization and platform modernization (VMware/Hyper-V/KVM; container readiness)
• Security architecture alignment (segmentation, controls, hardening, IAM integration)
• Resilience and DR architecture (fault domains, HA design, RPO/RTO mapping)
• Produce and govern architecture deliverables: HLD/LLD, reference architectures, design decisions, and patterns .
• Ensure designs are aligned to operational supportability , including monitoring, patching, backup, DR drills, and incident/problem processes.
• Define migration approach and patterns (rehost/replatform/refactor where applicable).
• Create migration factory design inputs : wave planning, dependency mapping, cutover runbooks, rollback plans, and risk mitigations.
• Partner with application teams to validate workload suitability, downtime constraints, and sequencing.
• Ensure service continuity through cutovers, failover testing, and stabilization activities.

4) Architecture Governance & Delivery Assurance

• Establish architecture governance: design reviews, checkpoints, technical risk management, and exception handling .
• Act as the final authority for technical decisions, ensuring adherence to standards and non-functional requirements.
• Guide multiple delivery streams (compute/storage/network/security/operations) to ensure integrated outcomes.
• Perform ongoing technical assurance : validate build quality, configuration compliance, performance, and resilience readiness.

5) Stakeholder Management & Collaboration

• Serve as primary technical interface with customer stakeholders: Infrastructure leadership, Enterprise Architecture, Security, Operations, and Vendors.
• Communicate architecture trade-offs clearly (risk, cost, time) and maintain transparent decision logs.
• Coordinate with OEMs/partners where required for design validation, compatibility, and escalation.

6) Documentation & Knowledge Transfer

• Support knowledge transfer into customer operations and managed services teams, ensuring smooth transition to steady state.

Required Skills & Experience

• Strong experience in infrastructure / data center architecture, with proven delivery ownership of large-scale DC transformation programs.
• Strong practical expertise across:
• Compute (x86), standard builds, lifecycle/refresh planning
• Storage architecture (SAN/NAS/Object), replication, backup integration, performance sizing
• Networking in DC environments (segmentation, HA, DC fabric concepts)
• Virtualization (VMware strongly preferred) and platform modernization
• DR/BCP design and testing practices (RPO/RTO engineering)
• Proven ability to create strategy + roadmap and translate into implementable designs .
• Strong delivery mindset: ability to work in complex environments with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Excellent documentation and communication skills, including executive-level narrative and technical depth.

Preferred / Good-to-Have

• Experience in regulated environments (pharma), audit readiness, and security control alignment.
• Exposure to hybrid connectivity patterns and integration with cloud landing zones.
• Working knowledge of automation/IaC concepts (Ansible/Terraform) and standardized build pipelines.
• ITIL/ITSM familiarity and operational model design (monitoring, patching, CMDB, change governance).
• Certifications (nice to have): VMware (VCP/VCAP), TOGAF, Cisco (CCNP), ITIL, OEM certifications.

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