Sr. Infrastructure & Cloud Architect

The Kessler Collection is made up of 11 artful hotel and resort properties, 25 restaurants, and over 1,700 Grand Performers across seven states, we continue to grow and so will you! The opportunities are endless. Our mission of inspiring places, intuitive service, and exuberant guests means we are committed to our Grand Performers learning, development, and well-being.

We believe people want to be inspired! 

Our Grand Performers Receive Many Benefits Including:

• Marriott Employee Discounts Worldwide
• Competitive Wage & Discretionary Bonus Program
• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Company-Sponsored Life Insurance
• Short & Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• 401(K) with Discretionary Company Matching Contributions
• Employee Assistance Program

This is a multi-dimensional role with a blend of Server Engineering, SAN-storage engineering, AWS and Azure Cloud Architecture and M365 Architecture expertise in designing and supporting AWS and AZURE cloud-hosted environments blended with VMWare expertise in design, engineering, and support. This role also blends expertise at the level of a Client/Server / Systems Architect with solution engineering across the Kessler Infrastructure.

This Sr level technology position oversees maintaining the cloud-hosted environments, ensuring that all Windows and cloud servers are secure, developing backup procedures, maintaining system integrity, and optimizing server performance and ensuring bet practices strategies are in place, documented and supported. This position is responsible for configuring and managing the servers of different operating systems and must be ready to install systems, fix issues, or perform upgrades. Implement enhancements to servers to improve performance and reliability and will be responsible for designing, implementing, and managing enterprise system technologies.

The Architect role is additionally responsible for oversight of all initiatives & projects which involve components of Office365 including Azure Active Directory, Conditional Access, Office365 Exchange, SharePoint, Teams, PowerPlatform, & Modern Workplace.

Primary areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to the following:

Azure Cloud Solution Architect

Cloud Architect responsibilities include building and maintaining the cloud systems at our organization, along with managing servers and data within the cloud environment. Ultimately, you will work with various IT teams to ensure our online, cloud capabilities meet the needs of our organization. 

SAN / VMWare Engineer: Function as the technical expert in storage system implementation, systems upgrade and systems integration. Monitor Storage System operations and verify systems availability, stability and continual solutioning for extensibility. Design and implement VMware solutions, troubleshoot VM environment problems, and provide technical support.

M365 Solution Architect

As a M365 Architect you will have a proven track record of successfully defining and articulating solutions based on the entire Microsoft Office 365 platform, cloud and hybrid solutions. This is an opportunity to provide leadership and M365 solutions at an enterprise level.

• Act as a technical expert for Server Engineering, SAN Architecture and VMWare; provide timely response to customer requests.
• Document all service calls thoroughly in the ticketing program when completed.
• Engineer and implement system solutions for customers using technologies that meet their needs.
• Identify and articulate technical challenges and risks along with proposed solutions.
• Act as SME for AWS, OS, SAN and Virtualization and Systems Architecture
• Analyze, implement, maintain and support clients networked IT environments including IT equipment, servers, printers, firewalls and software for a variety of diverse small, medium-sized and enterprise organizations.
• Create network shares, group policies, domain administration, and security permissions.
• Monitor, diagnose, troubleshooting and resolve clients' technical environments and end-user IT support requests remotely and on-site in an apt manner using our ticketing systems plus other remote tools, and concluding the support request within an equitable amount of time while providing extraordinary service.
• Handle tier 3 support escalations from IT Support Technicians.

Server Design, Engineering & Support

• Design and implement scalable backend services from the ground up.
• Participate in the technical design and planning process.
• Optimize code to improve CPU utilization and reduce memory footprint.
• Consistently communicate with client groups to determine needs.
• Systems Administration, Engineering and Management; Microsoft products, Windows Administration, Active Directory, DNS/DHCP, Group Policy, Powershell scripting and Login Script administration 
• Systems and Servers security; Email filtering, Antivirus, Certificate/SSL management and internet browsing services 
• Manage and maintain operations and engineering of Systems, SAN, Microsoft, and Linux 
• Lead / Manage projects from identification of need to implementation and ongoing monitoring of system / solution performance.
• Troubleshoot and respond to internal and live server issues as needed.
• Design and architect new backend game systems.
• Analyze system / software performance and make adjustments based on any identified problems while insuring it is utilized at its highest capacity.
• Perform disaster recovery planning and testing.
• Other duties / projects as assigned by the supervisor / manager.

VMWare Design, Engineering & Support

• Optimizing network hardware and software to enable VMware integration.
• Developing and deploying customized VMware solutions.
• Defining multiple virtual servers on a single host machine.
• Virtualizing Windows servers and connecting them to networks and clouds.
• Designing and implementing virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) and enabling template management.
• Installing operating systems and service packs, as well as security patches and bug fixes.
• Troubleshooting and resolving VMware environment issues.
• Providing technical support and documenting VMware processes.
• Keeping informed of developments in VMware technologies and products.

SAN Engineering & Design

• Designing, installing, provisioning, configuring, optimizing, performance tuning, integrating, testing, administering, and troubleshooting SAN solution technologies in a lab environment
• Supporting the installation of new SAN technology components, if required
• Enhancement of existing company NLP technologies and extension of those systems to new applications
• Direct support of team members in the maintenance of company NLP systems for production environments and resolution of internal and external customer issues
• Effective team member who will support and contribute to a common goal encourage group cooperation and participation to meet team objectives
• Remediating SAN side performance related issues proactively
• Responsible for developing and updating various types of project documentation (i.e., project charters, communication plans, project schedules, issue logs)
• As storage engineer, responsible for designing, implementing, and deploying shared system resources, like disks and networking. 
• Work on performance analysis and troubleshooting, data recovery strategies for critical systems, and data backup measures

M365 Solution Architect

As a M365 Architect you will have a proven track record of successfully defining and articulating solutions based on the entire Microsoft Office 365 platform, cloud and hybrid solutions. This is an opportunity to provide leadership and M365 solutions at an enterprise level.

• Managing identity and access on-premise with Active Directory
• Managing identity and access in the Microsoft Cloud – Azure Active Directory
• Secure Hybrid environments (AD Connect and authentication)
• Azure AD Self-service password reset, Azure AD access reviews
• Azure AD App Registration
• Azure AD Directory roles
• Authentication Methods (sign-on security, multi-factor authentication (MFA), device sign-on methods, Azure Seamless SSO, ADFS, ADFS Proxy, PHS and PTA)
• Azure AD Conditional Access (Compliance and conditional access policies, device compliance policy, conditional access policy)
• Role-based access control (RBAC)
• Azure AD Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
• Azure AD Identity Protection (User risk policy and sign-in risk policy)
• Azure ATP (Plan and implementation threat protection)
• Advanced knowledge designing, supporting, and upgrading Active Directory environments (Authentication, Authorization, Group Policy Objects, LDAP, PKI, DNS, ADFS, MIM/PAM, LAPS, etc.)
• Knowledge of Red Forest (Enhanced Security Administrative Environment)
• Identity Lifecycle Management
• Knowledge of SAML, OpenID Connect, OAuth, JSON, SPML, SCIM, XACML integration standards.

Corporate Domain Management

Domain management, or domain name management, refers to the ongoing tasks of keeping corporate domain (or domains) stable, secure, and able to support related websites. 

Documentation

• Maintaining proper records of the cloud and M365 designs are key to the success and communication across the IT Team. It will provide assistance to the IT Team to resolve any issues that may occur in the future.
• Meeting with the management team to assess and define the system requirements.
• Managing project timelines, budgets, and documentation.
• Monitoring computer systems and networks for viruses, malfunctions, and errors.
• Troubleshooting technical issues and developing effective solutions.
• Keeping abreast of the latest advancements in technology, protocols, and best practices.
• Prioritize and manage several open issues at one time
• Document technical knowledge in the form of notes and manuals to share with IT Team
• Ensure all issues are properly logged
• Follow up with clients to ensure their IT systems are fully functional after troubleshooting
• Maintain jovial relationships with Team Members, Leadership and Grand Performers
• Troubleshooting technical issues and developing effective solutions.

To perform this role successfully, an individual must have experience achieving desired result(s) in their areas of responsibility. The requirements listed below are representative of observable behaviors and essential knowledge, skill, and abilities required of a successful incumbent.

• List any licenses or certifications required by the position: EIT, ITIL, SAN, CFC, IAT, II, PE, HVAC, V3, CMDB
• Experience with database management software, such as MySQL, Oracle RDBMS, and Microsoft SQL Server.
• Excellent scripting skills with knowledge of programming languages, such as Perl, Ruby, and Python.
• Good knowledge of networking protocols, such as TCP, IP, and OSI models.
• Proficiency in VMware associated programs and coding languages, such as Windows Server, MS IIS, SAN architecture, WebSphere, Citrix, Python, and C++.
• Extensive knowledge of the fundamentals of VMware ESX and related technologies.
• Availability to resolve urgent VMware environment problems outside of business hours.
• Fun, positive attitude. Great communication skills and a healthy desire for collaboration.
• Ability to collaborate and communicate in cross-functional team environments.
• Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE);
• Server Backup Software.
• Remote Deployment Concepts and Tools.
• Experience with network game client/server architecture.
• NETIQ or equivalent server monitoring systems.
• 5+ years of software development experience.
• Required experience in the following hardware / software;
• VMware Virtualization Technologies.
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills.
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Managing and translating business requirements into technical solutions
• Demonstrable strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to be flexible with work schedule

Education, License, Certifications, Experience

• This role must be fluent in cloud solutions and virtualization software including VMware along with a thorough understanding of patching tools and security vulnerability scanning.
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in LAN/WAN networks, server support, application support
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in systems engineering, systems architecture, pre-sales technical marketing, pre-sales technical sales or other customer-centric system’s level experience
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in cloud platforms ie AWS and AZURE
• Minimum of 6 years VmWare vSphere
• VMware Certified Associate (VCA);
• Minimum of 5 years SAN Storage Engineering and design

The work environment/conditions described herein are representative of those that an incumbent may experience.

• Must be comfortable working in a shared space, with constant noise, without the use of a private office.
• Work is primarily outside, so comfort with working outside with temperature extremes and varying weather conditions is a requirement.
• Conditions that exist with the operation of an automobile garage, including vehicular traffic.
• Must be able to cope with frequently changing priorities and deadlines with a high degree of optimism, professionalism & collaboration.
• Schedules may vary from week to week based on business demands in excess of 40 hours with or without notice.

The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an incumbent to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. 

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