Storage Backup Architect

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the "You're In Good Hands With Allstate?" slogan, Allstate helps individuals in approximately 17 million households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow through approximately 14,100 exclusive agencies and financial professionals in the U.S. and Canada. Customers can access Allstate products and services such as auto insurance and homeowners insurance through Allstate agencies, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate?.

 

The position is located in Northbrook, IL

 

The purpose of the department is leveraging the strengths of our diverse organization, we deliver and maintain highly reliable hardware and software computing solutions. The scope of this job is the storage architect will provide a stable, predictable, and scalable environment for the delivery of computing solutions for the Allstate Insurance Company. This role includes providing leadership and program & project level management in the planning, evaluation, design, development, implementation, operation, and control of large, complex storage & backup solutions. This person will initiate direct communication with a wide range of client, supplier, regulatory, application, architectural, and systems

personnel. The architect will ensure conformance to established system architecture, methods, regulations, standards and practices and participate in their creation. Also, participate in long range planning and ensure those plans are consistent with business objectives for resiliency, disaster tolerance, and regulatory compliance. Help set the storage vision for the organization, define projects and execute them to achieve that vision. The architect will also be responsible for creating effective SAN, NAS, and Backup architecture designs from functional requirements in a large enterprise data center environment which includes virtual storage/LUNs, zoning, volume management and file systems. Design and lead a holistic strategic solution for remote consolidation and centralization while standardizing on single hardware and software solutions. Develop and maintain a storage capacity and simplification processes that includes tiered storage

offerings, centralization, quarterly capacity predictions, and consolidation/reclamation opportunities. Improve documentation, templates and processes. The architect must be able to analyze and problem solve complex technical issues with minimal supervision, and work within a team environment while communicating well to a diverse set of colleagues. This architect will also manage the Next Gen application from a technology standpoint as it relates to Infrastructure Services.

 

The individual will be responsible for

 

1. This architect will also manage the Next Gen application from a technology standpoint as it relates to Infrastructure Services.

2. Provide leadership and program & project level management in the planning, evaluation, design, development, implementation, operation, and control of large, complex storage & backup solutions.

3. Help set the storage & backup vision for the organization, define projects and execute them to achieve that vision.

4. Create an effective SAN, NAS, and Backup architecture designs from functional requirements in a large enterprise data center environment which includes virtual storage/LUNs, zoning, volume management and file systems.

5. Design and lead a holistic strategic solution for remote consolidation and centralization while standardizing on single hardware and software solutions. Develop and maintain a storage capacity and simplification processes that includes tiered storage offerings, centralization, quarterly capacity predictions, and consolidation/reclamation opportunities. Improve documentation, templates and processes.

 

The skills required are:

 

1. Advanced - HDS (9980, TagmaStore) & Network Appliance Storage Array Expertise/experience

2. Advanced - Experience with Veritas (Symantec) NetBackup

3. Advanced - SAN Administration Tools (ex. HDS HiCommand, Storage Navigator), Brocade Switch Expertise. Administration experience with Network Appliance and tools including data fabric manager and FilerView

4. Advanced - Strong desire for creativity and innovation; strong technical leadership abilities. Proven ability to maintain leading edge skills in a rapidly changing environment.

5. Advanced - Excellent communication skills (oral, written and presentation), organizational and collaboration skills. Expert knowledge and development of diagrams and methodologies using Microsoft Visio, Project, and PowerPoint applications. Extensive program & project management skills and experience. Demonstrated ability to apply new technology concepts to a real working environment.

 

Experience Required:

A minimum of 5 years working in enterprise environments of Fortune 500 company in a technical hands-on Storage Architect role

 

Computer Proficiency:

MS Suite of Products

 

Education:

College Degree - Preferred

Major preference: Computer Science

Allstate offers extensive benefits, including medical, vision, dental, profit sharing, pension, group life, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, short and long-term disability, flexible spending account, adoption reimbursement, and group legal care. If you are interested in this position, please click on the following link: