Principal, Innovation & Automation

What You'll Do:

The Principal, Infrastructure Innovation and Automation is a senior architectural leader responsible for shaping the organization’s modern infrastructure strategy with a strong focus on automation, virtualization, networking, and cloud transformation. This role is critical to the enterprise’s digital evolution, leveraging deep expertise in Linux systems, Kubernetes, VMware virtualization, and networking architecture to deliver secure, scalable, and resilient infrastructure solutions. As a technology thought leader, the Principal guides cross-functional teams, influences executive-level decision-making, and ensures architectural alignment across the IT landscape.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary duty satisfactorily.

• Serve as the lead architect for enterprise infrastructure modernization initiatives—focusing on automation, virtualization, network architecture, and cloud-native platforms.

• Define and implement infrastructure design standards, reference architectures, and roadmaps that align with enterprise strategies.

• Lead the evaluation, selection, and integration of technologies including VMware (vSphere, ESXi, NSX) and next-generation networking platforms.

• Architect and oversee the implementation of robust networking frameworks (routing, switching, segmentation, firewalls, and hybrid connectivity) for on-prem and cloud environments.

• Champion infrastructure-as-code (IaC) and automation strategies using tools like Terraform, Ansible, and Puppet.

• Collaborate with enterprise architects, security teams, DevOps, and business stakeholders to ensure integrated, secure, and compliant solutions.

• Guide structured proof-of-concepts (POCs) and pilots for emerging technologies and methodologies.

• Mentor senior engineers and architects; promote best practices and continuous architectural improvement across teams.

• Provide high-level troubleshooting and support for critical incidents; contribute to root cause analysis and architectural risk mitigation.

• Lead initiatives for cost optimization, capacity planning, and infrastructure lifecycle management.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• No direct people management responsibilities, but expected to provide technical leadership, peer mentoring, and project guidance to a small group (2-4) of engineers or specialists.

Qualifications:

The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary functions.

• Professional Experience: Minimum 10 years of experience in infrastructure engineering or architecture, with demonstrated expertise in designing and delivering enterprise-scale solutions.

• Platform & Architecture Expertise:

• Deep technical expertise in Linux system administration and Kubernetes architecture.

• Extensive experience designing and operating VMware environments, including vSphere, vCenter, ESXi, and NSX.

• Strong background in network architecture—including TCP/IP, subnetting, VLANs, VPNs, load balancing, DNS/DHCP, and cloud networking (e.g., AWS VPC, Transit Gateway).

• Demonstrated ability to lead automation and IaC initiatives across hybrid infrastructure environments.

Technical Skills:

• Deep understanding of modern infrastructure architecture, including compute, network, storage, and cloud-native platforms (preferably AWS).

• Hands-on experience with infrastructure automation and IaC tools (e.g., Terraform, Ansible).

• Strong scripting skills in Python, PowerShell, or equivalent.

• Extensive experience in Linux administration, system-level debugging, and performance tuning.

• Proficiency with Kubernetes architecture, deployment strategies, and cluster management.

• Strong experience with DevOps, CI/CD pipelines, observability platforms, and ITSM tools.

• Sound knowledge of information security, compliance, and risk management as it relates to infrastructure.

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.

• Master’s degree is a plus.

Certificates or Licenses:

Mandatory: TOGAF Certification (The Open Group Architecture Framework)

Preferred:

      VMware Certified Professional (VCP-DCV)

      A