Technical Infrastructure Architect
Abit about the role
The Technical Infrastructure Architect is accountable for the creation, management and socialisation of technology designs, standards and reference artefacts within Tech and the broader business community and ensuring alignment to technology policies and wider strategy.
The role works closely with Solution Architects, Managers within Platform Engineering and Technology Delivery to understand the business’ strategic needs, how they can be supported through the effective deployment of technology, the options available and how to effectively transition to the target state. This role is also responsible for influencing and transitioning into the IT support teams to ensure that the right changes are taking place to achieve target solutions.
Effectively document the low-level baseline infrastructure architecture, including reference to the relevant business, information and technology domain components as stated in the business requirements.
Engage with project teams to define and document the technical configuration and components of the solution, provide ongoing assurance of technology solutions through to delivery.
Understanding and adherence of technology roadmaps and all major transition states.
Effectively apply the IT strategy and architecture principles to all low level designs and ensure they are achieved through delivery of the projects.
Working closely with Tech teams to ensure all environments align to designs, are standardised, and fit for purpose.
Carry out options analysis to evaluate the technology impact as well as the risk and support implications of each option.
Liaise with 3rd party suppliers and vendors to understand the available product features and longevity.
Define and gain business agreement for the technology requirements for each project that requires infrastructure change e.g., performance, capacity, availability, security, conducting planning for future growth and ensuring those requirements are met through solution design.
Carry out research and development to explore emerging technologies and investigating how they may be incorporated into the technology roadmaps.
Actively participate in project/architectural governance, approving solutions, conducting quality assurance, identify risks exposed by proposed solutions, identifying mitigating actions and following them through to closure.
Abit about you
Experience as a Technical Architect or Infrastructure Engineer is necessary for this role.
Experience of retail or other types of high availability environments is essential.
Experience influencing stakeholders and communicating complex ideas and solution options in a simple and resonant way to gain buy-in and commitment.
Experience of a mixed complex estate including legacy systems that need to be securely maintained until their planned decommission date.
Experience in supporting project delivery involving both in-house and third-party design, development, testing and project management.
Experience of different delivery lifecycles and service delivery methods will be beneficial.
Experience of operating with a high level of autonomy and the ability to manage delivery to agreed timescales
Excellent knowledge of supporting systems essential to the running of a highly available technology estate is essential (e.g., Security, Monitoring, Alerting, Logging, Reporting etc).
Experience of capacity planning and cyber resilience highly beneficial
Whilst this is not a Cloud Role, while you will be working with and/or supporting our cloud teams, this role is specifically targeted at on premises infrastructure.
Technical Skills
Strong understanding of VMWare virtualisation
Strong understanding of core infrastructure concepts (such as AD, DNS, routing, networking protocols)
Strong understanding of firewall design via the principle of secure by design
Any exposure to the Oracle Applications, beneficial
Experience working with 3rd party managed hosting providers
Exposure to Linux (RHEL or Debian beneficial); Detailed understand of Windows (Desktop and Server) estates essential.
Good knowledge of design principles and standards for LAN, WAN, SAN infrastructure is essential, and any knowledge of Wi-Fi and Telephony (at scale) is beneficial
Ability to identify multiple solution options to address a business problem and analyse, assess their impact, and make appropriate recommendations.
Ability to rapidly analyse and understand functions and operation of existing solutions and capabilities of new technologies.
Ability to identify and plan for the information management, security, performance, capacity, availability, reliability, flexibility, and supportability aspects of a solution across a diverse variety of technologies and topologies.
Personal Attributes/ Behavioural Skills
Effectively communicate the transition and target architectures to all relevant work stream stakeholders including Heads of, Senior Managers, Principle/Delivery Managers, Business Analysts, Solution Architects and Business Leads.
Motivated self-starter, enthusiastic, resilient, personally effective, pro-active and with a flexible attitude to work.
Strong strategic and analytical problem-solving skills, has a keen attention to detail and a good commercial sense.
Quickly builds strong relationships and credibility with both the business and within Information Systems.
Excellent person/people management skills, especially in developing consensus across diverse groups.
Makes customer-oriented decisions and shares great stories of exceptional customer service.
Remains visible to customers as one of the faces of Tech to listen to their concerns and share these with others.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with an ability to handle difficult or sensitive situations.
Communicates information in a relevant and concise fashion, mindful of and tailored to the audience.
Proactively identifies areas for improvement, shares lessons learned with colleagues and encourages others to do the same.
Ability to continually question current customs and practice, think laterally to resolve project issues and initiate quality improvements.
Prioritises work and remains focussed on the most critical tasks, ensuring time and resources are used efficiently and effectively.
Confident, able to make tough decisions and stick to them when questioned.
Strong sense of ownership and ability to follow tasks through to completion.
Ability to work as part of an effective and highly skilled team.
Ability to deliver in a high-pressure, dynamic environment.