The IT Infrastructure Architect is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining a scalable, secure, and reliable IT infrastructure. This role involves managing cloud (Azure, Office 365), on-premise, and hybrid environments to support organizational needs. Working closely with the IT Infrastructure Manager, the architect will ensure infrastructure solutions align with current and future business goals, maintaining high performance and security standards.
The IT Infrastructure Architect will collaborate with various teams across the organization to align technology infrastructure with business objectives, ensuring performance, scalability, and security. This role requires strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills to work effectively across departments and with external partners.
Key Responsibilities:
- Infrastructure Design and Architecture:
- Design and develop infrastructure solutions to support business operations across cloud (Azure, Office 365) and on-premise environments.
- Create and maintain detailed documentation of infrastructure architecture, standards, and processes.
- Ensure all solutions meet high availability, performance, and security requirements.
- Cloud Management:
- Lead the deployment and optimization of cloud services, primarily within Azure and Office 365 environments.
- Integrate cloud services with on-premise systems to create a seamless hybrid environment.
- Manage cloud infrastructure costs and ensure cloud resources are being used efficiently.
- Networking:
- Design and maintain enterprise-wide network architecture, including LAN, WAN, VPN, and firewalls.
- Implement secure, scalable networking solutions that ensure reliable connectivity and security.
- Monitor and troubleshoot network performance, making necessary adjustments to improve performance and security.
- Driving IT Infrastructure Projects Forward:
- Lead and manage end-to-end IT infrastructure projects, including upgrades, migrations, cloud deployments, and network improvements.
- Define project scope, timelines, milestones, and deliverables in collaboration with stakeholders.
- Ensure timely execution of projects to meet deadlines and business goals.
- Identify potential project risks and develop mitigation strategies to minimize impact on deadlines, budgets, or resources.
- Provide regular updates and reports to senior leadership on the status of infrastructure projects, identifying potential roadblocks and solutions.
- Security & Compliance:
- Implement and maintain IT security standards, ensuring all infrastructure components meet internal security policies and external regulatory requirements.
- Work closely with the cybersecurity team to ensure systems are protected against evolving threats.
- Conduct regular security assessments and vulnerability scans to identify and mitigate risks.
- Backup and Disaster Recovery:
- Design and implement backup and disaster recovery solutions that ensure data protection and business continuity.
- Regularly test disaster recovery plans to ensure quick recovery from potential system failures or security incidents.
- Collaboration and Leadership:
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including IT operations, application development, and business units, under the guidance of the IT Infrastructure Manager to align infrastructure projects with business goals.
- Provide technical leadership and guidance to the IT infrastructure team and mentor junior staff.
- Manage relationships with third-party vendors and service providers to ensure effective delivery of IT services.
- Performance Monitoring and Troubleshooting:
- Continuously monitor IT infrastructure for performance, reliability, and security.
- Troubleshoot and resolve complex infrastructure-related issues to minimize downtime and impact on business operations.
- Implement proactive measures to optimize infrastructure performance and reduce potential failures.
Qualifications:
- Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
- Relevant certifications such as Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect, Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), or similar are highly desirable.
- Experience:
- 5+ years of experience in IT infrastructure, with a focus on system architecture, cloud computing, and networking.
- Proven experience working with Azure and Office 365 environments.
- Strong background in networking, including experience with firewalls, VPNs, routers, and switches.
- Experience with security frameworks and practices (encryption, identity management, etc.).
- Solid understanding of data backups, disaster recovery, and high availability solutions.
- Technical Skills:
- Deep expertise in cloud platforms, particularly Azure IaaS, PaaS, and Office 365.
- Strong networking skills (TCP/IP, DNS, routing, switching, and firewalls).
- Experience with virtualization technologies (e.g., VMware, Hyper-V).
- Expertise in IT security best practices, including identity and access management, encryption, and threat protection.
- Familiarity with backup solutions and disaster recovery tools (e.g., Veeam, Azure Backup, etc.).
- Soft Skills:
- Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
- Leadership and project management skills, including the ability to guide cross-functional teams.
- Ability to work independently and make strategic decisions.