Initial 30 day contract with likely extension About the Role We are seeking an experienced Principal Cloud Architect to lead the design phase of a complex enterprise cloud transformation for a key client. In this role, you will work directly with the client's engineering team to define and document a complete VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF 9.1) solution — spanning virtualization, networking, storage, containers, and monitoring — and serve as the primary technical authority throughout the engagement. What You'll Do • 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 Bring • 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 $80/hr on a 1099 basis