OnPrem VMWare to AWS Migration Engineer

Cognizant is seeking an experienced AWS Cloud Migration Engineer with strong expertise in VMware infrastructure and AWS cloud technologies to lead and execute large-scale migration initiatives from on-premises VMware environments to AWS. The ideal candidate will be responsible for assessing existing infrastructure, planning and executing migrations, building AWS environments, automating deployment processes, and ensuring successful post-migration stabilization. This is a remote role.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the US. Cognizant will not offer visa sponsorships now or anytime in the future.

Key Responsibilities

Assessment & Discovery

• Assess existing VMware vSphere environments, including ESXi, vCenter, clusters, networking, storage, and associated dependencies.

• Perform infrastructure and application discovery to identify migration candidates and readiness.

• Analyze application and workload characteristics and recommend appropriate migration strategies, including Rehost, Replatform, and Modernization approaches.

• Document application dependencies, migration waves, migration schedules, and cutover plans.

Migration Planning & Execution

• Plan, coordinate, and execute migrations of VMware virtual machines and workloads to AWS.

• Implement, configure, and manage AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) and associated migration tools.

• Execute pilot migrations and support migration factory operations at scale.

• Develop migration runbooks, rollback procedures, validation plans, and operational checklists.

• Collaborate with infrastructure, application, database, network, and security teams to coordinate migration activities.

• Perform migration cutovers and post-migration tasks while minimizing business disruption and downtime., + Support AWS landing zone validation and ensure network connectivity readiness.

Automation & Optimization

• Automate migration, provisioning, and infrastructure deployment activities using:

• Terraform

• AWS CloudFormation

• PowerShell

• Python

• VMware PowerCLI

• Develop automation workflows and scripts to improve migration efficiency and consistency.

• Optimize AWS environments for performance, scalability, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.

Validation & Stabilization

• Perform migration validation activities, including:

• Functional Testing

• Performance Testing

• Connectivity Testing

• Disaster Recovery (DR) Validation

• Troubleshoot and resolve post-migration issues during hypercare and stabilization periods.

• Support operational handoff and knowledge transfer activities to operations and support teams.

Governance & Documentation

• Maintain migration schedules, status reports, dashboards, and risk registers.

• Participate in Change Advisory Board (CAB) reviews and change management processes.

• Create and maintain technical documentation, architecture diagrams, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and operational runbooks.

• Ensure adherence to organizational governance, security, and compliance requirements throughout migration activities.

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

• 5+ years of experience supporting VMware infrastructure environments.

• 3+ years of hands-on experience designing and implementing AWS cloud solutions.

• Proven experience leading or executing VMware-to-AWS migration projects.

• Strong understanding of cloud migration methodologies, assessment frameworks, and migration best practices.

• Experience using AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) and migration tooling.

• Hands-on expertise with AWS networking, security, identity management, and compute services.

• Strong scripting and automation skills using PowerShell, Python, and VMware PowerCLI.

• Experience with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools such as Terraform and AWS CloudFormation.

• Excellent troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

• Strong communication and stakeholder management abilities.

Mandatory Technical Skills

VMware Technologies

• VMware vSphere

• ESXi

• VMware vCenter

• VMware Cluster Management

• DRS (Distributed Resource Scheduler)

• High Availability (HA)

• VMware Networking & Storage

• VMware PowerCLI

AWS Technologies

• Amazon EC2

• Amazon VPC

• AWS IAM

• Security Groups

• Amazon Route 53

• AWS Application Migration Service (MGN)

• Amazon S3

• Amazon CloudWatch

• AWS Systems Manager

Automation & Infrastructure as Code

• Terraform

• AWS CloudFormation

• Python

• PowerShell

• Automation Frameworks and Scripting

Preferred Qualifications

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate or Professional certification.

• AWS Certified SysOps Administrator or AWS Advanced Networking certification.

• Experience with large-scale enterprise cloud transformation initiatives.

• Experience with hybrid cloud environments and landing zone implementations.

• Familiarity with ITIL processes, change management, and CAB governance.

• Experience supporting Disaster Recovery (DR) and Business Continuity initiatives.