Data Center and Private Cloud Subject Matter Expert (VMware)
Location: Utrecht / Amsterdam, Netherlands (hybrid) | Type: Contract-to-perm | Languages: Dutch (primary), English (secondary) | Experience: 10+ years | Reports to: Service Delivery Manager
The opportunity
Mission-critical services depend on a private cloud platform that is stable, automated and ready to evolve. As our Data Center and Private Cloud Subject Matter Expert, you will design, implement and optimise enterprise virtualisation and private cloud environments built on VMware vSphere, and act as the technical authority customers turn to when it matters.
This is a senior, hands-on role with real leadership scope. You will lead data center modernisation, drive infrastructure automation, safeguard platform reliability and mentor the engineers around you.
What you will do
VMware infrastructure management
- Design, deploy, administer and support large-scale VMware vSphere environments
- Manage ESXi hosts, vCenter Server, clusters, distributed switches and resource pools
- Implement and maintain HA, DRS, vMotion, Storage vMotion and FT
- Manage software-defined networking with VMware NSX-T
- Apply working knowledge of VMware Cloud Director
Private cloud operations
- Design and support private cloud solutions built on VMware technologies
- Integrate infrastructure services with cloud orchestration and automation platforms
- Develop self-service provisioning and Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) capabilities
- Implement cloud governance, resource allocation and chargeback/showback models
- Drive cloud adoption and modernisation across business units
Data center management
- Manage compute, storage, networking and virtualisation layers within enterprise data centers
- Develop high availability and disaster recovery strategies
- Work with cross-functional teams to ensure 24×7 service availability
- Lead infrastructure consolidation and modernisation projects
- Ensure adherence to enterprise architecture standards and best practices
Technical leadership
- Act as the VMware and private cloud technical authority
- Provide L3/L4 support for critical infrastructure incidents
- Mentor infrastructure engineers and operations teams
- Contribute to architecture reviews and strategic technology roadmaps
- Engage with vendors and stakeholders to drive technology innovation
Wintel infrastructure
- Manage the enterprise Windows server infrastructure supporting private cloud workloads
- Maintain Active Directory, DNS, DHCP and Group Policies
- Implement operating system lifecycle management, patching and security compliance
- Provide L3/L4 support for Windows-based infrastructure services
What you bring
- 10+ years of experience in data center and private cloud environments
- Deep expertise in VMware vSphere (ESXi, vCenter), vSAN and NSX-T, plus knowledge of VMware Cloud Director
- Enterprise storage experience (Dell Unity)
- Backup and recovery experience (Dell Avamar, Cyber Recovery solutions)
- Automation skills with PowerShell / PowerCLI, plus Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Ansible)
- Working knowledge of Git and CI/CD pipelines
- Strong Windows Server and Linux (RHEL) skills
- Fluent Dutch and English, written and spoken
Preferred certifications: VMware Certified Professional – Data Center Virtualization (VCP-DCV), VMware Cloud Foundation Specialist, Microsoft Azure Administrator / Architect
How you work
- You communicate clearly with technical teams and business stakeholders alike
- You collaborate well and enjoy mentoring others
- You are analytical, structured and a natural problem solver
- You document and report with care
What’s on offer
- A contract-to-perm route with a clear path to a permanent position
- Hybrid working in the Utrecht / Amsterdam area
- A senior role with genuine technical authority and room to shape the roadmap
- Varied, business-critical work across VMware, automation and modern data center platforms
Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.
Sheikh Salem