VP, Architect, Systems Engineering

Customers Bank•Malvern, PA

About The Position

We’re seeking an Architect, Systems Engineering to set the technical direction for our infrastructure platforms. This is a senior architect role focused on design, technology evaluation, standards, and mentorship rather than direct people management or day-to-day administration. You’ll partner with the systems engineering team, cybersecurity, and Enterprise Architecture to shape how our datacenter, identity, and hybrid-cloud environments evolve. Our hybrid environment runs 300+ servers on-premise and in the cloud across Active Directory, Microsoft Exchange, VMware, Cisco UCS, and enterprise storage and backup platforms, alongside a substantial Microsoft 365, Entra ID, and Azure footprint. You’ll define target-state architecture, reference patterns, and configuration standards that keep these platforms stable, secure, audit-ready, and aligned to enterprise direction.

Requirements

10+ years in infrastructure systems engineering, including time in a senior, principal, or architect-level role within a hybrid or on-premise enterprise environment.
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, MIS, or equivalent experience.
Demonstrated experience designing and governing environments of 200+ Windows and Linux servers, including patch and security configuration strategy at enterprise scale.
Strong PowerShell scripting and automation skills across Windows, AD, Exchange, and virtualization platforms, with the design judgment to know where automation belongs and where it doesn’t.
Working familiarity with AI assistants (Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude) and the ability to define how a team should use them responsibly to accelerate scripting, research, and documentation.
Subject-matter expertise in four or more of the following: Identity & directory: Active Directory at scale (schema, GPO, FSMO, replication, DNS/DHCP), Entra ID, SSO/SAML, Azure AD Connect. Messaging & productivity: Microsoft Exchange (on-prem and hybrid) and Microsoft 365 administration. Virtualization & compute: VMware vSphere/vCenter, Horizon View; Cisco UCS, Intersight, HyperFlex; Nutanix or other HCI. Cloud: Azure compute, storage, and networking; on-prem-to-cloud migration patterns. Storage, backup & DR: SAN/NAS, replication and storage protocols; Pure, NetApp, Nutanix; Rubrik, Veritas, Commvault, or Zerto. Security & access: Privileged access management with CyberArk or equivalent; vulnerability remediation; familiarity with packet/traffic analysis tools (Wireshark).
Experience working directly with vendor technical representatives (Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, Nutanix) to design joint solutions, evaluate roadmaps, and resolve complex issues.
Strong communication and documentation skills.
Able to translate complex technical decisions into clear options for both engineers and non-technical stakeholders, and to manage multiple workstreams of varying length, priority, and complexity.
Must be legally eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship, now or in the future, to be considered.

Nice To Haves

TOGAF, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, or comparable enterprise architecture credential.
VMware Certified Professional (VCP-DCV) or equivalent virtualization certification.
Microsoft certifications: MCSE preferred (MCSA or MTA acceptable); Azure Administrator Associate or Identity and Access Administrator a plus.
Prior experience designing infrastructure in financial services or another regulated industry.
Experience leading the design of AD forest upgrades, Exchange migrations, or multi-cloud migration projects.
Familiarity with Microsoft SQL Server administration or file transfer automation platforms (e.g., MOVEit).
Hands-on experience with Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365, Copilot for Security, or comparable AI-assisted operations or admin tooling.

Responsibilities

Design target-state architecture and reference patterns for the server estate (300+ Linux and Windows hosts on-premise and in the cloud) that engineers can build and operate against.
Set architectural standards and lifecycle strategy for Active Directory, Entra ID, Exchange, and Microsoft 365, and review proposed changes against those standards.
Define configuration baselines and governance models, then evaluate ongoing compliance through audit, reporting, and design reviews.
Evaluate new technologies and vendor solutions. Lead proofs of concept, score offerings against bank requirements, and produce written recommendations for Enterprise Architecture, security leadership, and the CIO.
Mentor systems engineers on design thinking, troubleshooting methodology, and platform-specific best practices. Build cross-training plans that raise overall team capability.
Author reference architectures, design documents, and runbooks that serve as the source of truth for Tier 1 and Tier 2 support staff and for change implementers.
Partner with cybersecurity to design hardening standards, vulnerability remediation patterns, and audit response approaches across the server estate.
Architect complex initiatives such as platform upgrades, AD and Exchange migrations, and cloud onboardings.
Present design options, tradeoffs, and recommendations to senior leadership.
Define how the team applies AI assistants (Microsoft Copilot, GitHub Copilot, Claude) to scripting, troubleshooting, and documentation, including guardrails and review patterns for safe, responsible use.
Serve as a senior technical reviewer on the Change Advisory Board for infrastructure changes affecting production.
Provide architectural escalation support for major incidents and planned maintenance, including occasional after-hours coverage.