Sr VMware Engineer

Position Summary

Effectual Senior VMware Migration Engineers are specialized technical experts responsible for executing enterprise-scale VMware to AWS migration projects. They partner with Cloud Architects and Engagement Managers to deliver exceptional migration execution during critical datacenter transformation initiatives. Effectual Senior VMware Migration Engineers are hands-on migration specialists who combine deep VMware infrastructure expertise with AWS migration tooling mastery, executing high-quality, repeatable migrations that enable seamless transitions from on-premises VMware environments to AWS.

With the ongoing market shift driven by VMware licensing changes, these engineers play a crucial role in executing migration factories and wave-based datacenter exits for organizations seeking strategic cost optimization through AWS migration.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Execute VMware Enterprise Migrations

Execute end-to-end VMware datacenter migrations using AWS Migration Services (MGN), CloudEndure, and HCX

Perform comprehensive VMware workload assessments, dependency mapping, and application discovery

Implement migration strategies aligned with the 7Rs framework (Rehost, Replatform, Refactor, Repurchase, Retire, Retain, Relocate)

Deploy and operate migration factory patterns for VMware datacenter exits with 200-500 VMs per wave

Execute wave-based migration planning with minimal business disruption and tested rollback procedures

Migrate complex VMware environments including vMotion transitions, NSX networking conversions, and vSAN/VMFS storage migrations

Build Migration Infrastructure

Build AWS landing zones and migration target environments following Well-Architected Framework principles

Implement hybrid connectivity solutions (Direct Connect, VPN, Transit Gateway) for migration networks

Configure AWS migration tools: MGN replication servers, DMS endpoints, Migration Hub tracking

Convert VMware NSX micro-segmentation policies to AWS Security Groups and Network ACLs

Migrate VMware vSAN/VMFS/NFS storage to appropriate AWS storage services (S3, EBS, EFS, FSx)

Implement disaster recovery and business continuity architectures post-migration

Conduct post-migration validation, performance testing, and optimization

Automate Migration Workflows

Develop Infrastructure-as-Code using Terraform and CloudFormation to replicate VMware infrastructure patterns in AWS

Create Python and PowerShell automation scripts for mass VM migration, validation, and cutover procedures

Build CI/CD pipelines for automated testing and deployment of migrated workloads

 

Automate post-migration tasks: tagging, monitoring setup, backup configuration, security hardening

Implement migration runbooks and standard operating procedures for repeatable execution

Enable Client Success

Provide hands-on technical guidance to client VMware and cloud engineering teams during migration execution

Lead migration workshops, cutover planning sessions, and incident response during maintenance windows

Troubleshoot complex VMware-to-AWS migration challenges (replication failures, networking issues, application dependencies)

Create comprehensive migration documentation: runbooks, architecture diagrams, lessons learned

Support post-migration hypercare and stabilization activities

Qualifications

8-10+ years of IT implementation or cloud engineering experience

5+ years of VMware infrastructure experience with vSphere, vCenter, ESXi, and NSX

5-6+ years developing AWS cloud infrastructure

3+ years hands-on VMware to AWS migration experience using MGN, CloudEndure, or HCX

2+ years of infrastructure as code experience (Terraform preferred)

2+ years of DevOps toolchain experience (e.g., GitHub, GitLab, AWS Code* Suite)

AWS experience within past year

Hands-on proficiency with primary AWS services (Compute, Storage, Networking, RDS)

Strong track record implementing AWS migration services as VMware workload targets

Experience executing VMware to AWS migrations at scale (200-500 VMs per project)

Proven ability to execute migration factory patterns with wave planning and rollback procedures

Experience with VMware datacenter operations transitioning to AWS cloud operations

Deep hands-on experience with AWS migration tools (MGN, CloudEndure, DMS, Migration Hub)

Working knowledge of VMware HCX for hybrid migrations and live vMotion to AWS

Proficient in developing Infrastructure-as-Code (e.g., Terraform / AWS CloudFormation)

Proficient in coding configuration management tooling (e.g., Ansible, Chef, Puppet, etc.)

Proficient in Python, PowerShell, and Bash scripting for migration automation

Demonstrable knowledge of Agile project methodologies

Ability to work with multiple clients, in parallel

Strong attention to detail in complex migration execution

Excellent troubleshooting and problem-solving skills

Experience with VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM) and disaster recovery migrations

VMware Tanzu to AWS ECS/EKS containerization migrations

AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) for SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL migrations

Compliance framework experience (PCI-DSS, HIPAA, SOC 2) in migration contexts

FinOps practices and AWS cost optimization with demonstrated VMware TCO improvements

Multi-cloud experience (AWS, Azure, GCP) and comparative migration approaches

SAP on VMware to SAP on AWS migration experience

Kubernetes migration experience from VMware to AWS EKS

 

Required Certifications

AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate or Professional

VMware Certified Professional (VCP-DCV) or equivalent demonstrable 5+ years VMware experience

 

Nice to have Certifications (will have path of certifications once hired)

AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty

AWS Certified Database - Specialty

AWS Certified Security - Specialty

AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate

AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional

HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate

VMware Certified Advanced Professional (VCAP-DCV Deploy or Design)

VMware NSX certifications (NSX-T Data Center)

Kubernetes certifications (CKA, CKAD)

Required Skills and Experience

Technical Skills

VMware Platform: Deep hands-on experience with vSphere, vCenter, ESXi, NSX (NSX-V/NSX-T), vSAN, VMFS, NFS storage, and HCX

AWS Migration Tools: Expert hands-on experience with MGN (Application Migration Service), CloudEndure Migration, DMS (Database Migration Service), Migration Hub, and Application Discovery Service

VMware Migration Patterns: Proven experience with large-scale (200-500 VM) migration factories, wave planning, cutover execution, and rollback procedures

Infrastructure as Code: Advanced Terraform and CloudFormation proficiency for migration landing zones

Automation: Strong Python and PowerShell scripting for migration automation and validation

Systems: Enterprise Linux (RHEL, Ubuntu, CentOS) and Windows Server/Active Directory administration

Networking: VPC design, hybrid connectivity (Direct Connect, VPN, Transit Gateway), VMware NSX to AWS Security Group/NACL conversions

Storage: VMware vSAN/VMFS/NFS to AWS storage (S3, EBS, EFS, FSx for NetApp/Windows) migration patterns

Configuration Management: Ansible, Chef, or Puppet for post-migration configuration

 

Professional Skills

Communicate migration technical concepts and status to project managers and client stakeholders

Collaborate effectively across VMware, network, storage, and application teams

Strong problem-solving and analytical capabilities for migration troubleshooting

Excellent documentation skills for runbooks, procedures, and lessons learned

Ability to work under pressure during migration cutover windows and incident response

Flexibility to work EST with availability for after-hours migration windows and maintenance

Company Offered Benefits

Full-time employees are eligible to participate in our employee benefit programs:

Medical, dental, and vision health insurances,

Short term disability, long term disability and life insurances,

401k with Company match

Paid time off (PTO) (120 hours PTO that accrue over one year)

Paid time off for major holidays (14 days per year)

These and any other employee benefit offerings are subject to management’s discretion and may change at any time. 

Salary Range for this position: $155,000-$165,000

"Salary ranges provided are for informational purposes only and may vary depending on factors such as experience, qualifications, and geographic location. The final salary offer will be determined based on the candidate's skills and alignment with the role requirements.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The work is generally performed in an office environment.  Physical demands include sitting, keyboarding, verbal communication, written communication.  Employees are occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

This job description may not be inclusive of all assigned duties, responsibilities, or aspects of the job described, and may be amended anytime at the sole discretion of the Employer. Duties and responsibilities are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship. Effectual Inc. is an EEO employer and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected classification in its hiring, promoting, or any other job-related opportunity.