The Judge Group
Lead AP, Infrastructure Innovation & Automation (1106908)
The Judge Group, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60290
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Lead AP, Infrastructure Innovation & Automation (1106908)
role at
The Judge Group
Location: Chicago, IL Salary: $130,000.00 - $170,000.00 USD annually
This is a rewritten job description for the
Lead Associate Principal, Infrastructure Innovation & Automation , using the same core requirements but with refreshed verbiage.
Lead Infrastructure Innovation & Automation Architect (Hybrid Focus)
The Opportunity: Driving Infrastructure Transformation The Lead Associate Principal is a
key technical driver
responsible for architecting, deploying, and maintaining
cutting‑edge hybrid infrastructure solutions . You will bridge our
on‑premises data centers
and
AWS cloud environment
with a relentless focus on
automation, continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD), and operational excellence . This high‑impact role demands
deep, hands‑on expertise
in Windows Server platforms, Infrastructure‑as‑Code (IaC) tools like
Terraform and Ansible , sophisticated image creation using
Packer/AMI , and
VMware virtualization . While the core focus is hybrid infrastructure, familiarity with
Kubernetes and containerized workloads
will be a distinct advantage. The ideal candidate will synthesize strong technical acumen with a proactive approach to automation and cross‑team partnership to deliver
resilient, scalable, and secure
foundational systems.
Core Responsibilities & Impact
Platform Ownership: Provide advanced administration, optimization, and essential support for modern Windows Server environments (2016, 2019, 2022) spanning both on‑prem infrastructure and AWS.
Automation & CI/CD Development: Engineer and manage robust, automated CI/CD pipelines utilizing Jenkins, Terraform, Ansible, and Packer to streamline server builds and custom Amazon Machine Images (AMIs).
Hybrid Cloud Management: Oversee and maintain the integrity of our hybrid platform, including VMware‑based virtualization (vSphere, ESXi, vCenter) and a diverse portfolio of AWS cloud resources.
Advanced Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve complex operating system, infrastructure, and application issues, often collaborating closely with external vendors and internal cross‑functional engineering teams.
Operational Efficiency: Dramatically manual tasks by scripting and automating infrastructure provisioning, routine maintenance, patching cycles, and other recurring operational workflows.
Security & Compliance: Actively participate in vulnerability remediation, system hardening efforts, and applying security patches to ensure the infrastructure meets all audit, compliance, and change management standards.
Future‑Proof: Contribute technical expertise to infrastructure modernization roadmaps, including evaluating and integrating next‑generation platforms (e.g., Kubernetes/container technologies is a plus).
On‑Call Support: Provide necessary support for scheduled after‑hours maintenance windows to ensure system stability.
Leadership & Mentorship
Influence Without Authority: This role does not include direct people management but requires providing peer‑to‑peer mentoring, delivering clear technical guidance, and actively participating in knowledge‑sharing with junior and mid‑level engineers.
Essential Qualifications
Professional Experience: Minimum of 7+ years in enterprise‑level Windows Server engineering and critical infrastructure support, with a mandatory 2‑3 years focused on hybrid cloud environments (on‑prem + AWS).
Technical Command: Proven mastery of Windows Server administration, extensive practical experience with VMware and AWS, and architecting solutions in a true hybrid setting. Exposure to containerization platforms (Kubernetes) is beneficial.
Architectural Excellence: Demonstrated capability to design, implement, and secure highly reliable infrastructure solutions, leveraging expertise in Infrastructure‑as‑Code (IaC) and robust CI/CD practices.
Team Synergy: Exceptional communication, collaboration, and partnership skills, enabling successful cooperation with Application Development, DevOps, and Security teams.
Key Technical Proficiencies
Operating Systems: Expert‑level administration and configuration of Windows Server 2016, 2019, and 2022.
Automation Tooling: Extensive hands‑on experience building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines using Terraform, Ansible, Jenkins, and Packer.
Image Lifecycle: Proven track record of developing and maintaining standard/custom AMIs and golden server images.
Virtualization: Deep knowledge of VMware administration including vSphere, ESXi, and vCenter management.
Cloud Platforms: Operational experience with core AWS services (EC2, networking) and managing hybrid connectivity.
Scripting: Strong command of PowerShell scripting; additional experience with Python or Bash is a plus.
Directory Services: Expertise in Active Directory and Group Policy administration.
Networking: Solid grasp of core networking protocols and services (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, firewalls, load balancing).
Security Focus: Experience with vulnerability management, security hardening, and regular patch deployment.
Bonus Skills: Practical experience with Kubernetes or other container orchestration platforms.
Academic Background & Certification
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, IT, or a closely related discipline is preferred, though equivalent, demonstrable professional work experience will be strongly considered.
Certifications (Preferred): Relevant industry certifications such as Microsoft (Windows Server/Azure), VMware (VCP‑DCV), AWS (Solutions Architect), or automation credentials (Terraform/Ansible) are highly desirable.
Contact: ncrosswait@judge.com
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Lead AP, Infrastructure Innovation & Automation (1106908)
role at
The Judge Group
Location: Chicago, IL Salary: $130,000.00 - $170,000.00 USD annually
This is a rewritten job description for the
Lead Associate Principal, Infrastructure Innovation & Automation , using the same core requirements but with refreshed verbiage.
Lead Infrastructure Innovation & Automation Architect (Hybrid Focus)
The Opportunity: Driving Infrastructure Transformation The Lead Associate Principal is a
key technical driver
responsible for architecting, deploying, and maintaining
cutting‑edge hybrid infrastructure solutions . You will bridge our
on‑premises data centers
and
AWS cloud environment
with a relentless focus on
automation, continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD), and operational excellence . This high‑impact role demands
deep, hands‑on expertise
in Windows Server platforms, Infrastructure‑as‑Code (IaC) tools like
Terraform and Ansible , sophisticated image creation using
Packer/AMI , and
VMware virtualization . While the core focus is hybrid infrastructure, familiarity with
Kubernetes and containerized workloads
will be a distinct advantage. The ideal candidate will synthesize strong technical acumen with a proactive approach to automation and cross‑team partnership to deliver
resilient, scalable, and secure
foundational systems.
Core Responsibilities & Impact
Platform Ownership: Provide advanced administration, optimization, and essential support for modern Windows Server environments (2016, 2019, 2022) spanning both on‑prem infrastructure and AWS.
Automation & CI/CD Development: Engineer and manage robust, automated CI/CD pipelines utilizing Jenkins, Terraform, Ansible, and Packer to streamline server builds and custom Amazon Machine Images (AMIs).
Hybrid Cloud Management: Oversee and maintain the integrity of our hybrid platform, including VMware‑based virtualization (vSphere, ESXi, vCenter) and a diverse portfolio of AWS cloud resources.
Advanced Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve complex operating system, infrastructure, and application issues, often collaborating closely with external vendors and internal cross‑functional engineering teams.
Operational Efficiency: Dramatically manual tasks by scripting and automating infrastructure provisioning, routine maintenance, patching cycles, and other recurring operational workflows.
Security & Compliance: Actively participate in vulnerability remediation, system hardening efforts, and applying security patches to ensure the infrastructure meets all audit, compliance, and change management standards.
Future‑Proof: Contribute technical expertise to infrastructure modernization roadmaps, including evaluating and integrating next‑generation platforms (e.g., Kubernetes/container technologies is a plus).
On‑Call Support: Provide necessary support for scheduled after‑hours maintenance windows to ensure system stability.
Leadership & Mentorship
Influence Without Authority: This role does not include direct people management but requires providing peer‑to‑peer mentoring, delivering clear technical guidance, and actively participating in knowledge‑sharing with junior and mid‑level engineers.
Essential Qualifications
Professional Experience: Minimum of 7+ years in enterprise‑level Windows Server engineering and critical infrastructure support, with a mandatory 2‑3 years focused on hybrid cloud environments (on‑prem + AWS).
Technical Command: Proven mastery of Windows Server administration, extensive practical experience with VMware and AWS, and architecting solutions in a true hybrid setting. Exposure to containerization platforms (Kubernetes) is beneficial.
Architectural Excellence: Demonstrated capability to design, implement, and secure highly reliable infrastructure solutions, leveraging expertise in Infrastructure‑as‑Code (IaC) and robust CI/CD practices.
Team Synergy: Exceptional communication, collaboration, and partnership skills, enabling successful cooperation with Application Development, DevOps, and Security teams.
Key Technical Proficiencies
Operating Systems: Expert‑level administration and configuration of Windows Server 2016, 2019, and 2022.
Automation Tooling: Extensive hands‑on experience building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines using Terraform, Ansible, Jenkins, and Packer.
Image Lifecycle: Proven track record of developing and maintaining standard/custom AMIs and golden server images.
Virtualization: Deep knowledge of VMware administration including vSphere, ESXi, and vCenter management.
Cloud Platforms: Operational experience with core AWS services (EC2, networking) and managing hybrid connectivity.
Scripting: Strong command of PowerShell scripting; additional experience with Python or Bash is a plus.
Directory Services: Expertise in Active Directory and Group Policy administration.
Networking: Solid grasp of core networking protocols and services (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, firewalls, load balancing).
Security Focus: Experience with vulnerability management, security hardening, and regular patch deployment.
Bonus Skills: Practical experience with Kubernetes or other container orchestration platforms.
Academic Background & Certification
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, IT, or a closely related discipline is preferred, though equivalent, demonstrable professional work experience will be strongly considered.
Certifications (Preferred): Relevant industry certifications such as Microsoft (Windows Server/Azure), VMware (VCP‑DCV), AWS (Solutions Architect), or automation credentials (Terraform/Ansible) are highly desirable.
Contact: ncrosswait@judge.com
#J-18808-Ljbffr