Principal Consulting Engineer - VMware Cloud Foundation Automation

Job Summary

The Principal Consulting Engineer ensures solutions are delivered as designed and meet customer approval. We are seeking an experienced VMware Cloud Foundation Automation Engineer to design, deploy, and optimize automations on VCF 9.0. This role serves as the technical authority for VCF Automation in our software‑defined data center strategy, driving standardization and automation across compute, storage, and networking management layers.

Collaborate with the technical architect on training plans and approaches to equip staff for successful implementations. Develop standards, best practices, and training for team members, together with the technical architect and technical lead. Define project strategies or technical options to balance customer project goals and financial constraints. Provide leadership and expert advice on technical subject matters and architecture design to Customers, the Infrastructure Solutions Team, and other extended teams.

Escalate and communicate alternatives with associated risks to executives and stakeholders. Ensure procedures are followed and assist in resolving complex problems that require professional level input. Regularly interface with customers’ technical and business executive level and project leadership through sales presentations and/or client project solutions, communicating complex ideas, anticipating potential objections, and leading discussions to align expectations.

• Deliver VCF Automation engagements end‑to‑end on VCF9 — design through deployment
• Design and build automation patterns using Terraform, Power Shell, and Python, including third‑party integrations with Service Now, Active Directory, and CI/CD pipelines (Git Hub/Git Lab)
• Lead customer‑facing discovery and road‑mapping conversations; frame up‑front discovery and co‑build the plan with the client
• Contribute to the team’s automation playbook by sharing reusable components, patterns, and lessons learned with VCF Ops, NSX, and architect resources to improve engagement speed

• Bachelor’s degree in business, computer science, or equivalent; 10+ years IT infrastructure experience, including 3+ years in large enterprise consulting
• 7+ years enterprise virtualization/private cloud architecture experience
• Hands‑on expertise with VCF 9.0 and automation in this environment
• Proficiency deploying VCF 9 automation components: authoring blueprints/cloud templates, building catalogs with approval policies, Terraform and Ansible integrations, authoring workflows, Orchestrator deployment models
• Strong client‑relationship skills, ability to mentor engineers, and excellent communication for technology recommendations
• Ability to remain calm and productive in situations of change, ambiguity, and risk; multitask and prioritize in a fast‑paced environment
• Willingness to work beyond regular shift, on weekends, and overtime as needed; travel to other CDW locations or client sites; valid U.S. driver’s license required

• VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX) or VCP‑VCF certification
• VCF Ops experience
• Service Now integration experience
• Background in regulated industries (financial services, healthcare, federal)

$ – $ depending on experience and skill set; annual bonus target of 10% subject to terms and conditions of plan.

Benefits information is available at

CDW is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by state and local law.