Principal Cloud Architect – VMware VCF

Stafford Gray LLC

Principal Cloud Architect driving VMware Cloud Foundation design and implementation for an enterprise client. Leading design workshops and creating integration solutions for cloud services.

Posted 5/20/2026contractLake Angelus • Missouri • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $80 per hourWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

AnsibleCloudTerraformVMware

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead multiple design workshops with the client's engineering team over several weeks to define the full VCF solution architecture
Design an end-to-end VMware Cloud Foundation 9.1 environment covering vSphere (virtualization), NSX (networking), vSAN (storage), VKS (containers), and the full Aria/vRealize monitoring stack (vROPS, vRNI, vRLI)
Define the integration architecture between VCF and the client's existing cloud services — including compliance, authentication, and security systems
Adapt and design provisioning systems to enable automation aligned with VCF standards, covering VM and container creation workflows
Produce detailed engineering and architecture documents to serve as deployment references for the implementation team
Interface with client stakeholders to ensure the solution meets both technical and business requirements

Requirements

What you’ll need

7+ years of enterprise cloud infrastructure architecture experience
Hands-on VMware Cloud Foundation experience (VCF 4.x/5.x required; VCF 9.x strongly preferred)
Deep expertise across two or more VCF pillars: vSphere, NSX-T, vSAN, VKS/Tanzu
Experience with vROPS, vRNI, and/or vRLI monitoring platforms
Proven ability to lead technical workshops and produce architecture/engineering documentation
Strong communication and client-facing skills
Must be local to Michigan (hybrid engagement)
**Nice to Have**
VMware certifications: VCDX, VCAP-DCV, VCP-VCF, or NSX specialist
Experience with infrastructure automation (Terraform, Ansible, or similar)
Broadcom partner network background

Benefits

Comp & perks

$80/hr on a 1099 basis

ATS Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

VMware Cloud FoundationvSphereNSX-TvSANVKSvROPSvRNIvRLIinfrastructure automationTerraform

Soft Skills

leadershipcommunicationclient-facing skillstechnical workshop facilitationdocumentation production

Certifications

VCDXVCAP-DCVVCP-VCFNSX specialist