Lead Infrastructure Architect – Position Description
Duties and Responsibilities
This position involves analysing end-to-end IT requirements for IBM customer’s projects to ensure that appropriate infrastructure is designed and implemented in accordance with the client’s requirements and global and local IBM standards. Whilst, the position requires primarily architectural work (dealing with all components of an IT environment: server, network, security, storage, systems management, integration, backup and recovery), it is expected that the IT Architect will be able to understand these technologies at a deeper level.
The position will be required to work with other architects (applications, infrastructure etc), IT Specialists, application developers and operations staff to ensure an appropriate solution is designed. The IT Architect will be able to understand and balance requirements from different sources in complex environments and translate these into robust infrastructure designs.
Infrastructure includes:
• Intel and midrange server environments
• Storage technologies, such as SAN, fibre-channel, NAS technologies
• LAN / WAN and other networking technologies
• Security infrastructure
• Systems management
• On-demand and cloud based models
• Virtualisation
• Integration technologies
• Backup and recovery methodologies
• DR facilities
• Facilities management
Required Experience
§ Understand future customer, industry and information technology trends; possesses the ability to analyse the client's technical and business environment. Apply this understanding to develop conceptual, often innovative solutions and to identify opportunities for future business.
§ Provide the expert technical knowledge and creativity in the sale of highly complex solutions. Position requires expert knowledge across multiple client platforms, processes or architectures.
§ Influence client personnel and organisations, including executive management, when issues are complex / difficult and require considerable creativity and diplomacy.
§ Capture, articulate and apply formal requirements, design and development methodologies to analyse customer needs and opportunities. Qualify requirements for IT solutions, technology and infrastructure platforms.
§ Lead assessment of cost, schedule and dependencies associated with marketing and proposal activities and with solution development.
§ Work with customers, from team members to executive levels, to ensure understanding of, acceptance of and satisfaction with IT solution and development approach. Activities directly affect customer satisfaction. Work is visible to and recognised by all levels of customer organization.
§ Possesses the ability to adapt communications and approaches to conclude negotiations with various partners resulting in common agreements.
§ Experience of infrastructure lifecycle management and design methodologies is mandatory with a strong understanding of systems management processes and techniques.
§ Documentation required includes proposals, Technology Blueprints, Technology Plans, Scope of Requirements (SORs), Statements of Work (SoWs), cost models and high level technical designs.
§ Lead solution design and delivery teams
Required Business skills
• Excellent presentation, written and verbal communication skills, including interpersonal skills
• Flexibility to meet deadlines and work under pressure
• Understanding of utility models
• Understanding of a range of IT infrastructure including Intel and midrange (eg pSeries) platforms
• Demonstrated track record as a team player
• Time management
• IT Architect leadership within large IT account and complex projects
• Significant experience in strategic outsourcing
Required Qualifications
• Bachelor's Degree in an Information Technology related discipline
• At least 4 years experience as an IT Architect for a major customer
• At least 5 years experience in IT infrastructure
• At least 2 years experience in Intel and midrange platforms
• English: Fluent
Senior Technical Solution Architect - Position description
Duties and Responsibilities
This position involves analysing IT requirements for customer’s projects and designing of appropriate infrastructure so that the solutions are implemented in accordance with the client’s requirements and global & local IBM standards. Whilst, the position requires primarily architectural work (dealing with all components of an IT environment: server, network, security, storage, systems management, integration, backup and recovery), it is expected that the IT Architect will be able to understand these technologies at a deeper level.
The position will be required to work with other architects (applications, infrastructure etc), IT Specialists, application developers and operations staff to ensure an appropriate solution is designed. The IT Architect will be able to understand and balance requirements from different sources in complex environments and translate these into robust infrastructure designs.
Infrastructure includes:
§ Intel and midrange server environments
§ LAN / WAN and other networking technologies
§ Storage technologies, such as SAN, fibre-channel, NAS technologies
§ Security infrastructure
§ Systems management
§ Utility based models for server and storage capacity
§ Integration technologies
§ Backup and recovery methodologies
§ DR facilities
§ Facilities management
Required Experience
§ Detailed application of infrastructure technology, tools and concepts to attain project/business unit objectives. Ability to apply this knowledge without direct guidance.
§ Communicates with other professionals (project managers, architects, IT specialists, consultants, and sales professionals) in the team on tools, technology and methodology related to the design and development.
§ Works effectively with other team members to understand customer needs in order to design, evaluate and implement infrastructure solutions to meet those needs.
§ Analyses problems and suggests infrastructure solutions involving IT technology, methodology, process, tools and solution components.
§ Experience with infrastructure lifecycle management and design methodologies is mandatory with a strong understanding of systems management processes and techniques.
§ Experience in designing and costing infrastructure solutions. Documentation required includes proposals, Statements of Work (SoWs), cost models and high level technical designs.
Required Business skills
§ Excellent presentation, written and verbal communication skills, including interpersonal skills
§ Problem solving skills
§ Understanding of utility models
§ Understanding of a range of IT infrastructure including Intel and midrange (eg pSeries) platforms
§ Flexibility to meet deadlines and work under pressure
§ Demonstrated track record as a team player
§ Time management
§ Large IT account and projects exposure as an IT Architect
Required Qualifications
• Bachelor's Degree in an Information Technology related discipline
• At least 2 years experience as an IT Architect for a major customer
• At least 4 years experience in IT infrastructure
• At least 2 years experience in Intel and midrange platforms
• English: Fluent
