Senior Cloud Architect

Summary

Join Rackspace as a Cloud Architect, a key role in our support infrastructure. You will provide expert guidance on solutions, advise on potential infrastructure pitfalls, and address customer needs using existing and new technologies. This role involves evaluating solutions, training staff, and serving as the final escalation point for complex technical issues. You will partner with vendors, identify training opportunities, and contribute to the development of technical best practices. The position requires extensive experience and expertise in cloud platforms and related technologies.

Requirements

• Possess expert-level knowledge of any 2 Cloud Platform Products such as AWS, Azure, GCP, or Openstack
• Possess expert-level understanding of OS specific webhosts and database technologies, such as MSSQL/IIS for Windows or MYSQL/APACHE for Linux
• Have AWS hands-on experience, IAC, and DevOps experience
• Have a High School Diploma or regional equivalent
• Have a Bachelor's Degree, preferably in a field related to the role (additional relevant experience may substitute degree requirement at the manager’s discretion)
• Have 3 Azure/AWS/GCP specialty Certifications
• Have AWS Master Status and AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional level certification OR AWS DevOps certification for AWS Specialists
• Have 3 Microsoft Certifications for Hyper-V Specialists: Azure Fundamentals, Software Defined Storage, Software Defined Networking
• Have VCP-DCV Certification for VMware Specialists
• Have 12-14 years of experience in the field of the role

Responsibilities

• Resolve customer issues, collaborating with partners across the business as needed
• Create and deliver customer solutions that maintain, deploy, upgrade, and troubleshoot infrastructure solutions
• Participate in and define future state end-to-end architectures, platforms, products, tools, and solutions to advance security capabilities
• Work closely with customers in the pre-implementation process to design and architect desired customer solutions which may require products not currently in the supported product portfolio
• Research, plan and coordinate complex maintenance activities
• Lead analysis efforts to support and drive Root Cause Analysis (RCA) exercises to drive process & technology improvements related to systems support products
• Review vendor support escalations to identify training opportunities
• Collaborate and share knowledge with other administrators and engineers via wiki articles and training presentations
• Contribute to the development of technical best practices for administrative responsibilities
• Prepare and review defined policy and process standards
• Own assigned account-specific complex projects and act as an informal project lead to work with stakeholders
• Actively engage partners and vendors to understand vendor products, proof of concept implementations, and guide successful onboarding and integration of new Cloud technologies
• Coach, mentor and assist Rackers across the business
• Collaborate with Account Managers and Business Development Consultants to build strong customer relationships
• Collaborate and share knowledge with the OS support floor
• Perform AWS Well Architect Framework Reviews & Operations review, Discover & Enhancement workshops, White boarding sessions
• Address Delivery & Deployment Approach, Infrastructure & Cost Optimization
• Handle RFP/RFI, Scoping, Solution Sizing, Technical Proposal, Cloud Assessment & Readiness, Platform Evaluation, TCO analysis, Bill of Material, Resource effort price, modelling
• Build and propose Solution Architecture, High and Low-Level Design
• Perform other incidental tasks related to the job, as necessary

Preferred Qualifications

• Possess relevant technical certifications around Red Hat, MySQL, CCIA, CCEE, CCEA, CCA, MCSE/MCITP, MCSA, VCP-DCV, vRealize Operations, NXS and/or vSAN badge certifications
• Possess Agile/Lean Development Skills
• Be proficient with Artifact Manager/Repository Tools
• Be proficient with CI/CD Tools
• Be proficient with Cloud Automation Tools
• Have knowledge of Cloud Computing
• Have knowledge of Computer Networking
• Be proficient with Container Platform Tools
• Have knowledge of Data Analysis
• Have knowledge of Data Management
• Have knowledge of Identity and Access Management (IAM)
• Have knowledge of Linux/Unix OS
• Have knowledge of Network Compliance/Security
• Have knowledge of Process Improvement
• Have knowledge of Product/Technical Project Management
• Be proficient with Software Development Tools
• Have knowledge of Stakeholder Management (external/internal)
• Have knowledge of Technical Troubleshooting
• Be proficient with Virtual Machine Tools

Benefits

• Occasional domestic/international travel, less than 50%
• Schedule flexibility to include working weekends and/or evenings and holidays as required by the business for 24/7 operations