Principal Consulting Engineer - VMware Cloud Foundation Operations (, IL, United States)
Overview The Principal Consulting Engineer will design, deploy, and optimize private cloud infrastructure built on VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.0. This role serves as the technical authority for our software‑defined data center strategy and drives standardization and automation across compute, storage, and networking. Responsibilities Collaborate with the technical architect on training plans and approaches to equip staff for successful implementations. Develop standards, best practices, and training for team members in collaboration with the technical architect and technical lead. Define project strategies or technical options that balance customer goals and financial constraints. Provide leadership and expert advice on technical subject matters and architecture design to customers, the Infrastructure Solutions Team, and other teams. Escalate and communicate alternatives with associated risks to executives and stakeholders. Ensure procedures are followed and assist in resolving complex problems requiring professional level input. Interface regularly with customers’ technical and business executives and project leadership through sales presentations or client project solutions, communicating complex ideas, anticipating objections, and aligning expectations. Key Responsibilities Size, design, and deploy VCF Ops deployments. Define and enforce cloud operating model standards including RBAC, tagging taxonomy, and capacity management. Develop VCF Ops components such as dashboards, groups, alerts, costing models, and actions. Produce high-level and low-level design documentation, runbooks, and architectural decision records. Provide technical governance and mentorship to delivery teams. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in business, computer science, or an equivalent field. 10 years of IT infrastructure experience, including at least 3 years in large enterprise consulting, or 14 years total IT experience with 10 years in infrastructure including 3 in consulting. 7 years in enterprise virtualization/private cloud architecture. Hands‑on expertise with VCF 9.0 automation deployments. Deep proficiency deploying VCF 9 Operations components: standalone and HA deployments, dashboards, alerts, custom groupings, costing models, licensing & sizing, SDDC Manager BOM management, and async patch workflows. Maintain client relationships as a trusted advisor and mentor engineers for project design and coordination. Excellent communication skills, with experience recommending technology and presenting complex solutions. History of constructive relationships at all organizational levels; ability to research complex technology solutions and present them to clients. Calm, productive in situations of change, ambiguity, and risk. Ability to multitask and prioritize in a fast-paced environment. Ability to anticipate future trends and create value‑adding strategies. Willingness to work beyond the regular shift, on weekends, and overtime as needed. Willingness to travel to other CDW locations or client sites. Valid U.S. driver’s license required. Preferred Qualifications VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX) or VCP‑VCF certification. Automation experience (Python, Ansible, Terraform, etc.). Background in regulated industries (financial services, healthcare, federal). Compensation & Benefits Pay range: $158,000 - $240,800, depending on experience and skill set. Annual bonus target of 10% subject to terms and conditions. EEO Statement CDW is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by state and local law. J-18808-Ljbffr
