Systems Integration Senior Specialist

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Experience :

Position Summary :

Key Responsibilities:

Automation Strategy & Architecture:

• Lead the design and architecture of complex, end-to-end automation solutions for VMware vSphere, vSAN, NSX-T, and other virtualization components using Ansible.
• Define and enforce Ansible best practices, coding standards, and architectural patterns for playbooks, roles, collections, and execution environments.
• Collaborate with enterprise architects and other domain experts to integrate Ansible automation into the broader IT ecosystem (e.g., ITSM, CMDB, monitoring, cloud platforms).
• Drive the strategic roadmap for VMware automation, identifying opportunities for optimization, efficiency gains, and new capabilities.
  

Advanced Automation Development:

• Develop sophisticated and idempotent Ansible playbooks and roles for advanced VMware operations, including Automated provisioning and de-provisioning of entire VMware clusters, ESXi hosts, and distributed switches.
• Complex VM lifecycle management, including automated scaling, disaster recovery (DR) orchestrations, and advanced network/storage configurations.
• Implementation of security hardening and compliance baselines across the VMware estate.
• Automated patching and upgrade orchestration for vCenter, ESXi, and other VMware products with minimal downtime.
• Create custom Ansible modules or plugins as needed to extend functionality and address unique environmental requirements.
• Utilize advanced Ansible features like lookup plugins, filters, workflows, and dynamic inventory scripts for highly flexible and adaptable automation.
  

Technical Leadership & Mentoring:

• Act as a technical lead and subject matter expert for Ansible and VMware automation, providing guidance and support to other engineers.
• Mentor and cross-train junior automation engineers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Conduct code reviews, provide constructive feedback, and ensure the quality and maintainability of automation solutions.
  

Troubleshooting & Optimization:

• Perform advanced troubleshooting and performance tuning of Ansible playbooks and the underlying VMware infrastructure to resolve complex issues.
• Implement monitoring and logging solutions to gain insights into automation execution and identify bottlenecks.
  

Essential Qualifications:

• 8+ years of progressive experience in IT automation, with at least 5 years focused on Ansible and a significant portion dedicated to VMware environments.
• Expert-level knowledge of VMware vSphere (ESXi, vCenter Server) administration, architecture, and advanced features (vSAN, NSX-T, SRM, vROps).
• Deep mastery of Ansible Automation Platform (formerly Ansible Tower/AWX), including advanced features like custom execution environments, collections, and integration with external systems.
• Extensive experience with Ansible VMware modules and a strong understanding of the vSphere API.
• Strong proficiency in Python for scripting, developing custom modules/plugins, and integrating with APIs.
• Expertise with Git for version control and collaborative development.
• Solid understanding of networking concepts (TCP/IP, routing, firewalls, load balancing, SDN) and storage technologies within virtualized environments.
• Familiarity with other IaC tools (e.g., Terraform) and their integration with Ansible.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and debugging skills for complex, distributed systems.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
  

Desirable Qualifications:

• Relevant industry certifications (e.g., Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Automation, VCP-DCV, VCAP-DCV Deploy/Design).
• Experience with other cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) or container orchestration technologies (Kubernetes).
• Knowledge of configuration management databases (CMDB) and ITSM integration strategies.
• Background in security automation and compliance within virtualized environments.