Principal Storage Architect – Dell Hyper-Converged & Dell/NetApp Advisory- Bangalore

Overview

Role Summary

Key Responsibilities

• 1️⃣ Storage Strategy & Roadmap Definition (Primary Mandate)
• Lead enterprise storage assessments across Dell HC, Dell Storage, and NetApp platforms.
• Hel the customer in defining a 3 to 5 year storage roadmap including -
• Platform rationalization
• Technology standardization
• HCI adoption strategy
• Data lifecycle and tiering models
• Cyber-resilience posture
• Conduct maturity assessments and gap analysis.
• Align storage strategy with -
• Regulatory and compliance requirements
• Business continuity & DR strategy (RPO/RTO alignment)
• Cloud and hybrid integration roadmap
• Present recommendations to senior IT and infrastructure leadership.

2️⃣ Dell Hyper-Converged Architecture (Core Requirement)

• Architect and optimize Dell VxRail / Dell HC environments.
• Define -
• Cluster sizing strategy
• Workload placement models
• Performance and scalability planning
• Lifecycle and expansion approach
• Provide guidance on modernization from legacy SAN/NAS to HCI where appropriate.
• Advise on integration with VMware and enterprise data protection frameworks.

3️⃣ Dell & NetApp Enterprise Storage Architecture

• Lead design discussions around -
• Dell PowerStore, PowerMax, Unity, PowerScale (as applicable)
• NetApp ONTAP, AFF/FAS/ASA ecosystems
• Evaluate multi-vendor coexistence strategy (Dell + NetApp).
• Define replication, multi-site, and data mobility models.
• Drive storage consolidation and optimization initiatives.
• Provide advisory on NVMe, software-defined storage, and cloud-adjacent architectures.

4️⃣ Data Protection, Backup & Cyber-Resilience

• Define enterprise backup and recovery architecture integrating -
• Commvault (primary)

• Dell Data Domain And PowerProtect

• Snapshot & replication-based strategies
• Establish -
• Retention policies
• Deduplication strategies
• DR orchestration models
• Immutable and air-gapped recovery architectures
• Align backup modernization with cyber-recovery objectives.

5️⃣ Advisory & Consulting Leadership

• Lead discovery workshops and architecture forums.
• Develop -

• HLDs And Solution Blueprints

• Roadmap decks
• Executive-level architecture summaries
• Support presales shaping, RFP responses, and proposal development.
• Act as technical authority in multi-vendor environments.
• Influence architectural decisions at enterprise scale.

Required Experience

• 15 to 18 (or more) years in enterprise storage architecture.
• Proven architect-level experience in -
• Dell Hyper-Converged (VxRail mandatory)
• Dell primary storage platforms
• NetApp ONTAP environments
• Strong advisory experience defining storage strategies for large enterprises (BFSI preferred).
• Experience designing hybrid and cloud-integrated storage solutions.
• Deep understanding of -
• SAN / NAS / Object storage
• Replication and multi-site DR
• Cyber-resilience and ransomware protection
• Capacity modeling and cost optimization
• Experience producing executive-ready architecture documentation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Dell Technologies Proven Professional (Expert / Master preferred)

• NetApp NCIE And NCDA

• Commvault certification

• VMware VCP And VCAP

• Exposure to automation (PowerShell / Ansible)
• Experience in regulated environments (Banking / Financial Services strongly preferred)

Critical Soft Skills

• Executive presence and stakeholder management capability.
• Strong consultative mindset.
• Ability to translate technical complexity into business outcomes.
• Comfortable operating in politically complex, multi-vendor enterprise environments.
• Clear, structured communicator with strong documentation rigor.