Information Technology Infrastructure Specialist

National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) is Hiring visionary incharge of IT Server & Storage!

Job Detail:

• Job Title

  : IT Server & Storage Lead – Datacenter & Cloud Infrastructure

• Division

  : Technology Strategy & Infrastructure

• Years of Experience

  : 13+ years to 17 Years (including leadership in datacenter, virtualization, and cloud integration)

• Education

  : Graduation in Engineering (preferably BE/B.Tech) or equivalent professional degrees (MBA, MCA, etc.)

• Employment Type

  : Full-time

• Location

  : Navi Mumbai

• Role Type

  : Permanent

• Certifications (Preferred)

  : VMware VCDX, Nutanix NCP, AWS/Azure/Google Cloud certifications, Veeam/Commvault/Zerto certifications

• (Mandatory)

  Highly Experienced in ansible, terraform & GPU.

Job Summary:

We are seeking a highly skilled and visionary incharge of IT Server & Storage to lead the design, implementation, and management of our server and storage infrastructure. The ideal candidate will be responsible for developing strategies to modernize and optimize server and storage systems, with a focus on virtualization, hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI), cloud integration, and automation. This leadership role requires expertise in cutting-edge technologies and a deep understanding of how these systems support critical business functions in the financial services industry.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Server & Storage Architecture and Design:

1. Server Infrastructure Design:

• Lead the design, architecture, and deployment of scalable, secure, and high-performance server infrastructures to meet the evolving needs of the business.
• Oversee the design and implementation of private and hybrid cloud solutions, ensuring seamless integration with on-premises infrastructure.

1. Storage Architecture and Strategy:

• Develop and implement storage strategies that ensure high availability, data integrity, and optimized performance for mission-critical workloads, including data deduplication, backup, and disaster recovery solutions.
• Design and manage storage infrastructures using both traditional SAN/NAS and modern solutions like hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI), ensuring alignment with industry best practices.

1. Virtualization Strategy:

• Lead the virtualization strategy for compute and storage environments, including VMware, Hyper-V, and KVM, to improve operational efficiency and flexibility.
• Design and implement virtualized environments to support applications and workloads in both on-premises and cloud environments, optimizing resource utilization.

1. HCI & Converged Infrastructure:

• Drive the adoption of Hyper-Converged Infrastructure (HCI) solutions (e.g., Nutanix, VMware vSAN, Cisco HyperFlex) to streamline data center operations, reduce complexity, and improve scalability.
• Evaluate, implement, and manage converged infrastructure solutions that combine compute, storage, and networking into a single, software-defined platform.

1. Cloud Integration:

• Oversee the design and implementation of multi-cloud and hybrid-cloud strategies to enhance flexibility, scalability, and disaster recovery capabilities.
• Ensure effective integration between on-premises and cloud-based server and storage environments (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) to support hybrid infrastructure models.

2. Operational Excellence & Automation:

1. Automation & Orchestration:

• Implement automation tools (e.g., Ansible, Terraform, PowerShell) for server provisioning, configuration management, and storage management to reduce manual tasks and improve operational efficiency.
• Drive the adoption of orchestration platforms for seamless integration and management of virtualized environments, improving time-to-market and scalability.

1. Proactive Monitoring & Performance Optimization:

• Implement AI-driven analytics and performance monitoring tools to ensure optimal performance, uptime, and reliability of server and storage systems.
• Optimize infrastructure for performance, capacity planning, and cost efficiency using both on-premises and cloud resources.

1. Data Protection & Disaster Recovery:

• Design and implement comprehensive data protection strategies, including backup, disaster recovery (DR), and business continuity planning (BCP) using modern tools and technologies like Veeam, Commvault, and Zerto.
• Ensure the creation and testing of disaster recovery plans, including multi-site and cloud-based DR solutions.

3. Vendor Collaboration and RFP Management:

1. RFP Process & Vendor Management:

• Lead the development of RFPs and manage the vendor selection process for server and storage solutions, ensuring that all technical and business requirements are met.
• Negotiate and manage relationships with vendors (e.g., Nutanix, VMware, Dell EMC, HPE, NetApp) to ensure cost-effective and innovative solutions.

1. Strategic Vendor Partnerships:

• Maintain strong relationships with OEMs and strategic partners to ensure access to the latest innovations and priority support for critical infrastructure projects.
• Work closely with OEMs and technology partners to influence roadmaps, align with emerging technologies, and ensure the organization is leveraging best-in-class solutions.

1. Proof-of-Concept (PoC) & Technology Evaluations:

• Lead the evaluation and testing of new server, storage, and virtualization technologies through PoCs, ensuring alignment with business objectives and technical requirements.
• Assess new trends such as containerized storage solutions, software-defined storage (SDS), and edge computing, and incorporate them into the infrastructure roadmap.

4. Essential Knowledge and Skills:

1. Server & Storage Expertise:

• Proven expertise in managing and designing enterprise server infrastructures, including physical and virtualized environments using VMware, Hyper-V, and KVM.
• In-depth experience with storage technologies, including SAN, NAS, and object storage, as well as next-gen storage solutions like software-defined storage (SDS).

1. Hyper-Converged & Virtualization Technologies:

• Strong hands-on experience with Hyper-Converged Infrastructure (HCI) platforms (e.g., Nutanix, VMware vSAN, Cisco HyperFlex) and experience with virtualization management tools such as vCenter, vRealize, and Nutanix Prism.

1. Cloud Computing & Multi-Cloud Environments:

• Expertise in designing and managing cloud infrastructures and services across AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and hybrid cloud models.
• Experience in managing cloud-native applications, containers, and Kubernetes-based workloads alongside traditional server and storage systems.

1. Automation & Orchestration Tools:

• Proficiency in automation tools and scripts (Ansible, Terraform, PowerShell) for server provisioning, configuration, and storage management.
• Experience in utilizing orchestration platforms such as VMware vRealize Automation and Nutanix Calm to streamline operations.

1. Disaster Recovery & Data Protection:

• Deep knowledge of disaster recovery, backup solutions, and data protection methodologies, including solutions like Veeam, Commvault, and Zerto.
• Experience in implementing business continuity and disaster recovery plans for both on-premises and cloud-based environments.

5. Certifications:

Preferred:

• VMware VCDX, Nutanix NCP, CCIE, or equivalent certifications to validate expertise in server, storage, and virtualization technologies.
• Certifications in cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud and data protection solutions like Veeam or Commvault are highly desirable.

6. Competencies:

1. Leadership & Strategic Vision:

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage large, distributed teams and collaborate with senior leadership to align server and storage strategies with business objectives.

1. Vendor & Partner Relationship Management:

• Ability to manage and maintain strategic relationships with vendors and technology partners to ensure best-in-class solutions, high-quality service, and innovation.

1. Operational Excellence & Problem-Solving:

• Expertise in operational governance, troubleshooting complex server and storage issues, and implementing continuous improvements to enhance performance and reliability.

1. Financial Domain Expertise:

• Strong understanding of IT infrastructure requirements in the financial services or banking domain, including compliance, security, and performance considerations in highly regulated environments.