> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/2675888-principal-data-center-solutions-architect](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/2675888-principal-data-center-solutions-architect). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Principal Data Center Solutions Architect - **Company:** Iron Bow Technologies - **Location:** Herndon, VA, United States - **Salary:** $180,000.0 - $200,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Airflow, Spreadsheets, Cloud Computing, Information Technology Consulting, Data Centers, Data Infrastructure, Disaster Recovery, Multipath I/O, Internet Small Computer System Interface (ISCSI), Kernel-Based Virtual Machine, Network File Systems, OpenShift, Dell PowerEdge, Prism (Software), Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Ansible, VCloud, Virtual Local Area Networks, Virtualization Technology, VMware VSphere, Backup and Restore, Ceph (Software), Cloud Platform System, Performance Testing, HybridCloud, Data Center Networking, SC Clearance, Information Technology, Hardware Infrastructure, Nutanix, Veeam, Commvault, Cisco, Nvme, Vmware - **Published:** September 1, 2026 - **Apply:** https://jobs.localjobnetwork.com/apply/add/88201857/1 ## About the Role * 15+ years of focused engineering or consulting experience with enterprise server, virtualization, data center, and hybrid cloud technologies in both pre-sales and post-sales capacities * 15+ years of IT consulting experience supporting a diverse client base with an emphasis on Department of War, including complex multistakeholder and mission-critical environments * Ability to architect advanced multivendor compute and virtualization solutions for large government agencies and enterprise customers * Expert-level architecture and hands-on familiarity with VMware vSphere and VMware Cloud Foundation, including lifecycle management, availability, performance, networking, storage, operations, and migration * Strong expertise with Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization and the supporting Red Hat ecosystem, including RHEL, OpenShift Container Platform, KVM, Ansible Automation Platform, OpenShift Data Foundation/Ceph, Advanced Cluster Management, and Migration Toolkit for Virtualization * Strong expertise with Nutanix Cloud Platform, AOS, AHV, Prism, resiliency and failure-domain design, capacity planning, lifecycle operations, and Nutanix Move * Demonstrated experience assessing and migrating production workloads among VMware, OpenShift Virtualization, and Nutanix using disciplined discovery, dependency mapping, compatibility testing, pilot waves, data protection, maintenance-window planning, rollback, and operational handoff * Deep server hardware familiarity with Cisco UCS Manager and Intersight, Dell PowerEdge, iDRAC and OpenManage Enterprise, and HPE ProLiant, iLO and OneView * Working architecture knowledge of data center networking and storage, including LAN and SAN design, leaf-spine architectures, VLAN/VRF and EVPN/VXLAN concepts, Fibre Channel, iSCSI, NFS, NVMe, multipathing, replication, and data protection platforms such as Veeam, Rubrik, or Commvault * Experience translating rack elevation, space, power, PDU/UPS, cooling, airflow, cabling, redundancy, floor capacity, and site lifecycle constraints into implementable data center designs * Strong capacity-planning and resiliency skills, including N+1 design, CPU and memory sizing, workload-specific oversubscription, failure-safe storage capacity, rebuild headroom, performance validation, and growth planning * Experience in technical architecture design, implementation planning, project leadership, proof-of-concept execution, and the development of high-level and low-level design documentation * Excellent oral and written communication skills, including executive presentations, whiteboarding, technical diagramming, proposals, spreadsheets, and slide presentations * Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple pursuits and projects, prioritize competing deadlines, and follow through on commitments * Bachelor's degree in computer science, mathematics, electrical engineering, information technology, or an equivalent technical discipline required * Expert and vendor certifications are highly desired, such as VCDX/VCAP/VCP, RHCA/RHCE or Red Hat OpenShift credentials, Nutanix NPX/NCM, CCIE Data Center, and relevant Cisco, Dell, HPE, storage, data protection, or cloud certifications * Federal security clearance is highly desired, * Strong experience supporting a diverse client base with an emphasis on Department of War, and a desired Secret clearance or higher * A proven record of leading low-risk migrations for business- or mission-critical workloads across competing virtualization platforms without treating tier-one applications as simple lift-and-shift efforts * The ability to connect hands-on engineering detail with executive strategy, platform roadmaps, operational readiness, licensing and financial tradeoffs, and a credible phased adoption plan * Experience building reusable reference architectures, migration factories, lab or proof-of-concept environments, and enablement programs that improve delivery quality and scale ## Description Iron Bow is seeking a Principal Data Center Solutions Architect with deep enterprise data center, server, virtualization, and hybrid cloud expertise to join the CTO office's Data Center and Cloud practice. This role will provide technical leadership and sales support for infrastructure modernization initiatives, delivering subject matter expertise across compute, virtualization, workload migration, storage, networking, data protection, and physical data center design. The architect will design advanced multivendor solutions leveraging technologies including VMware vSphere and VMware Cloud Foundation, Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization and the broader Red Hat ecosystem, Nutanix, and Iron Bow's strategic partner technologies and services., * Actively research, evaluate, and drive next-generation enterprise data center and hybrid cloud technologies to solve customer mission and business needs * Build and develop relationships with strategic OEM and partner communities across virtualization, compute, storage, networking, data protection, and data center facilities * Lead discovery, assessment, architecture, and solution development for complex data center modernization, consolidation, platform transition, and migration initiatives * Architect multivendor server and virtualization solutions spanning VMware vSphere and VCF, Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization, Nutanix Cloud Platform and AHV, and their supporting management and automation ecosystems * Develop practical workload placement and migration strategies that include dependency discovery, compatibility analysis, pilot design, migration waves, backup and restore validation, cutover, rollback, training, and operational handoff * Design compute platforms using Cisco UCS and Intersight, Dell PowerEdge and OpenManage Enterprise, HPE ProLiant and OneView/iLO, and adjacent ecosystem technologies * Integrate data center networking, storage, data protection, disaster recovery, observability, and security requirements into end-to-end architectures * Incorporate rack space, power, cooling, cabling, resiliency, lifecycle, and site constraints into solution designs, bills of material, and implementation plans * Provide pre-sales support for infrastructure engagements and serve as a technical point of contact for critical customer escalations and post-sales consultations * Support RFQs, RFPs, technical proposal volumes, LOEs, bills of material, and both high-level and low-level design documentation * Develop and deliver technical proposals, whitepapers, presentations, demonstrations, workshops, and sales collateral for Iron Bow solutions and offerings * Enable sales teams, post-sales architects, engineers, and partners through proactive engagement, repeatable architectures, and technical mentoring * Lead and mentor other engineers while establishing architecture standards, design-review practices, and technical quality controls * Present and evangelize data center and cloud trends, platform roadmaps, support and licensing considerations, and their implications for each Business Unit ## Related Videos - [How Cisco embraced a DevOps culture within its network engineering team](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/99-how-cisco-embraced-a-devops-culture-within-its-network-engineering-team) - [5 Years in Cloud Native: The Good, the Bad, and the Bill](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100111-5-years-in-cloud-native-the-good-the-bad-and-the-bill) - [Building Well-Architected applications](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/691-building-well-architected-applications) - [Computer Vision from the Edge to the Cloud done easy](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/263-computer-vision-from-the-edge-to-the-cloud-done-easy) - [Your Infrastructure Is Not a Playground: AI Agents for Infra Done Right](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2084-your-infrastructure-is-not-a-playground-ai-agents-for-infra-done-right) - [Remote Driving on Plant Grounds with State-of-the-Art Cloud Technologies](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/251-remote-driving-on-plant-grounds-with-state-of-the-art-cloud-technologies) ## Related Articles - [How We Built a Worry-Free System That Runs for 10+ Years – And What We’d Do Again](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/751-how-we-built-a-worry-free-system-that-runs-for-10-years-and-what-we-d-do-again) - [What Are The Top Skills Required For Azure Developers?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/77-what-are-the-top-skills-required-for-azure-developers) - [Highest Paying Tech Companies for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/220-highest-paying-tech-companies-for-developers) - [Best US AI Conferences for CTOs in 2026: Build vs. Buy, Vendor Evaluation, and Peer Intelligence](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/736-best-us-ai-conferences-for-ctos-in-2026-build-vs-buy-vendor-evaluation-and-peer-intelligence) - [What Makes WeAreDevelopers World Congress Different From Every Other Tech Event?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/701-what-makes-wearedevelopers-world-congress-different-from-every-other-tech-event) - [7 Cloud Computing Trends Coming in 2025 for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/412-7-cloud-computing-trends-coming-in-2025-for-developers)