Staff Consulting Architect- Virtualization, Network & Security (Software-Defined Infrastructure)

Hungry, Humble, Honest, with Heart. The Opportunity Are you a seasoned professional with strong hands-on expertise in virtualization, SDN, and network security, complemented by excellent consulting and communication skills? If so, you’ll thrive in our collaborative environment where you’ll lead the design and implementation of cutting-edge data center and hybrid cloud solutions, make a significant impact on our clients' success, and advance your career as part of a dynamic team at Nutanix. About the Team The Staff Consulting Architect will be a vital member of Nutanix's Professional Services team, which is dedicated to delivering innovative virtualization, software-defined networking (SDN), and network security solutions to our clients. This team operates from Bangalore or Pune and fosters a collaborative and inclusive culture that values creativity and knowledge sharing. The mission of the team is to empower organizations with next-generation data center and hybrid cloud environments that enhance performance, security, and scalability. You will report to the Director of Professional Services, who promotes a supportive and mentoring leadership style, focusing on empowering team members to achieve their full potential and encouraging a strong sense of collaboration. The role is hybrid, requiring the employee to come into the office three days a week, fostering teamwork and facilitating knowledge exchange while allowing flexibility for remote work. Nutanix is seeking a Staff Consulting Architect specializing in virtualization, software-defined networking (SDN), and network security to design, implement, and optimize next-generation data centre and hybrid cloud environments. The ideal candidate will possess strong hands-on expertise in hypervisors (VMware / AHV) and a deep understanding of network virtualization and microsegmentation concepts. While certain specialized or automation-related areas can be developed through internal enablement programs, strong fundamentals in virtualization and SDN are mandatory. Your Role 1. Architecture & Design Lead the design and deployment of SDN solutions including: Virtual networks, overlays (Geneve / VXLAN), logical switches and routers. Network Controllers / Managers for centralized control and automation. VPCs or logical segments for tenant isolation and scalability. Gateways, VPNs, and BGP configurations for hybrid connectivity. Architect multi-tier microsegmentation strategies and enforce Zero Trust principles. Collaborate with enterprise network and security teams for seamless integration between virtual and physical infrastructures. 2. Implementation & Delivery Configure SDN controllers, edge gateways, and security policies in production environments. Enable L2 extensions, VPN tunnels, and BGP sessions across sites or clouds. Implement application-centric security and isolation policies for East-West and North-South traffic control. Support workload and network migrations between virtualization platforms with minimal downtime. Integrate network visibility and flow analytics into compliance systems. 3. Security & Policy Management Define and enforce microsegmentation and application security frameworks. Manage security groups, categories, or tags for dynamic policy application. Configure allowlist / denylist rules and quarantine mechanisms. Ensure compliance with enterprise standards; integrate with SIEM / Syslog for auditability. 4. Platform & Virtualization Management Manage and optimize virtualization platforms (VMware vSphere / Nutanix AHV / equivalent). Administer orchestration and lifecycle management using Prism Central, vCenter, or similar tools. Support hybrid cloud network architectures spanning on-premises and public cloud environments. Collaborate with compute and storage teams to ensure end-to-end performance. 5. Troubleshooting & Optimization Diagnose and resolve issues related to network overlays, routing, and policy enforcement. Utilize CLI tools, REST APIs, or automation scripts for diagnostics and configuration management. Perform performance tuning and maintain high availability of network services. What you will Bring Mandatory Skills (Must-Have) 10+ years of experience in data centre virtualization and SDN solutions. Strong understanding of networking concepts — VLANs, routing, NAT, VPNs, BGP, firewalls, overlays (VXLAN/Geneve). Hands-on experience with at least one SDN platform: VMware NSX / Nutanix Flow / Cisco ACI (or equivalent). Proven expertise in microsegmentation and Zero Trust architecture design. Working knowledge of any one hypervisor (VMware ESXi, Nutanix AHV, or Hyper-V). Experience integrating virtual and physical network infrastructures. Strong troubleshooting skills using CLI / API / network analysis tools. Excellent consulting, customer engagement, and communication skills. Ability to translate business requirements into scalable technical architectures. Trainable / Developable Skills (These can be built on-the-job or via internal learning programs) Automation and scripting using REST APIs, PowerShell, or Python. Infrastructure as Code (IaC) with Terraform or Ansible. Exposure to hybrid or multi-cloud networking (AWS, Azure, GCP). Integration of flow analytics and visibility tools for monitoring and compliance. Performance tuning and advanced SDN optimization techniques. Mentoring, workshop facilitation, and leadership in technical communities. Soft Skills Strong consulting and stakeholder management abilities. Excellent documentation and presentation skills. Team mentorship and ability to guide junior consultants. Structured approach to problem-solving and decision-making. Education & Certifications Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent discipline. Preferred Certifications (VCP-NV, VCAP-NV, CCNP Data Centre, Nutanix NCP). Location Pune /Bangalore (Work from Office). Travel as required for customer assignments. --