Principal Infrastructure Architect

• Infrastructure Architect with hands-on Network and Systems experience.
• CTH for 3-6 month
• On-site two days a week in Buena Park, California.
• No visa sponsorships available. Must be able to work for any employer without restrictions.
• W2-$85/$95/hr
• Conversion Salary: $140K/$165K

Seeking an experienced Principal Infrastructure Architect to lead the design, development, and implementation of my client's infrastructure solutions. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in designing and implementing complex IT Infrastructure systems, including networks, servers, storage, and cloud-based solutions. They should be a strategic thinker with excellent communication skills, capable of collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative and reliable infrastructure solutions.

Position Summary:

1. Suggest improvements to network performance, capacity and scalability.
2. Maintains, monitors, and ensures all switches, routers, and other applicable devices and applications are properly configured, utilized, and maintained with latest firmware/software revisions.
3. Proposes and implements system enhancements. Updates skills as changes occur in the hardware/software infrastructure.
4. Position may require travel between various OPS divisions.
5. Position may require participating in meetings outside of normal business hours including occasional evenings and/or weekends.
6. Position requires being available after hours in the event of a system outage or similar event.
7. Performs other duties and/ or responsibilities as assigned.
8. Updates documentation/application and owns the infrastructure side rea
9. Great communication skills and personable
10. Provide solutions and be able to pass down and work with the implementors
11. Good documentation skills
12. Ability to write business cases.
13. 10 plus years
14. Ability to work with Firewalls
15. Ability to work with infrastructure systems and network.
16. Must have data center experience
17. Ability to work around different storage configurations

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• 10+ years of experience as a solutions architect, with a specialization in infrastructure
• Knowledge of software development life cycle (SDLC) practices, including Agile
• Deep understanding and experience in IT Infrastructure and across other multiple technical domains including web, mobile applications and services, middleware, compute, network, workload automation, cloud deployment patterns
• 5+ years of experience of managing and supporting network architecture for multinational enterprises
• In-depth understanding of the most widely used network Infrastructure Architecture and Standards
• Expert in project management process for network projects, including planning, deploying and evaluating
• Excellent communication skills; excellent attention to detail; able to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines; strong interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability to use problem solving techniques such as root cause analysis to resolve issues
• Working knowledge supporting of AWS and Azure public cloud.
• Strong grasp of DNS and prior experience using Route53 or Azure DNS to implement robust infrastructure solutions
• Experience in establishing and maintain secure public endpoint solutions via Cloud and/or on-premise DMZ environment
• Comprehensive knowledge of security model in AWS and/or Azure cloud and compliance with major security frameworks
• Knowledge of EMC and NetApp
• High level of competency in support and use of major Linux distributions
• Knowledge of Cisco IOS, MS Visio, and MS Project
• Ability to provide comprehensive documentation of processes, procedures and network configurations
• This position requires the ability to demonstrate the following competencies:
• Problem solving and judgment
• Leadership in your role
• Manage execution of roles and responsibilities
• Teamwork

*Additional Plus Skills

• Voice/Telco
• Experience with implementing and supporting PBX, VOIP, voicemail, wireless phone integration, data networking equipment, cabling management and support
• Experience and knowledge with Cisco VOIP, Shortel, Nortel Option 11, 60, 80, BCM, and Norstar solutions
• Knowledge and experience with Call Accounting software, ACD, IVR and Auto Attendant applications
• Experience and familiarity with the design, installation, turn-up, troubleshooting, and support of voice circuits
• Experience and familiarity communicating with and supporting customers and vendors, dealing with voice contracts, agreements, and billing
• Server
• Maintains Active Directory users and groups, Exchange email accounts, Internet access, remote access, and application and file system security. This includes password maintenance, new user logon and setup, file access permissions, and data protection procedures.
• Planning, configuring, implementing and maintaining the Active Directory Domain infrastructure, including building, maintaining, upgrading and supporting Domain Controllers.
• Monitors server and storage performance, diagnoses server issues, and performs emergency and scheduled maintenance.
• Knowledge and experience with Exchange Server, Anti-virus software, System monitoring software, HP servers (Physical / Blade), and domain migrations/upgrades
• Good working knowledge of LAN/WAN infrastructure setups, switches, routers, firewalls, servers, VPN, and internet/intranet security architecture and applications
• Maintains application/system portfolio benchmarking, evaluating and making recommendations for the selection of server and storage management software and hardware products.
• Monitors server and storage performance, diagnoses server issues, and performs
• Good working knowledge of LAN/WAN infrastructure setups, switches, routers, firewalls, servers, VPN, and internet/intranet security architecture and applications
• Maintains application/system portfolio benchmarking, evaluating and making recommendations for the selection of server and storage management software and hardware products.
• Monitors server and storage performance, diagnoses server issues, and performs emergency and scheduled maintenance.

Responsibilities of the position:

1. Infrastructure Strategy:

• Develop and maintain the organization’s infrastructure strategy, ensuring alignment with business objectives and industry best practices.

1. Architecture Design:

• Lead the design and architecture of complex infrastructure solutions, incorporating scalability, security, and reliability considerations.

1. Technical Leadership:

• Provide technical leadership and guidance to cross-functional teams involved in infrastructure projects, ensuring adherence to architectural standards and best practices.

1. Vendor Management:

• Evaluate and select appropriate technology vendors and partners, negotiating contracts and managing vendor relationships to ensure the delivery of high-quality solutions.

1. Cloud Infrastructures:

• Design and implement cloud-based infrastructure solutions, leveraging platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud to meet business requirements efficiently.

1. Security & Compliance:

• Ensure that infrastructure solutions comply with industry regulations and security standards, implementing appropriate security measures and protocols.
• Design and architect DMZ environments, providing separation of unsecure Internet environments and Internal or secured environments.

1. Performance Optimization:

• Continuously monitor and optimize the performance of infrastructure systems, identifying areas for improvement and implementing solutions to enhance efficiency.

1. Escalation Support:

• Server as a point of escalation for technical issues related to infrastructure, providing troubleshooting assistance and coordinating resolution efforts with internal teams and vendors.

1. Voice and Telco Experience:

• Design and support voice and telco systems, including PBX, VoIP, and telecommunication infrastructures, ensuring reliability and performance.

1. Server/Compute Support:

• Provide support for server and compute infrastructures, including hardware, Software, virtualization, upgrades, and troubleshooting.
• Creation of scripts that automate the deployment or enhancement of system and application configurations.

1. Storage Solutions:

• Design, implement, and manage storage solutions to meet the evolving needs of our organization. Storage architectures should provide scalability, reliability, and high performance.
• Knowledge of EMC and NetApp desired

1. Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity:

• Develop and maintain disaster recovery and business continuity plans, ensuring the resilience of infrastructure systems against potential disruptions.

1. Documentation:

• Create and maintain comprehensive documentation for infrastructure designs, configurations, and procedures, facilitating knowledge transfer and support activities.

1. Collaboration:

• Collaborate with Stakeholders across the organization, including IT Teams, Business Units, and executive leadership, to understand requirements and provide strategic infrastructure guidance.

1. Project Management:

• Provide project planning, dependencies, Level of Effort (LoE) estimations, define tasks, and create Execution Tasks lists.