Head of compute (Private cloud - Nutanix) - Banking

We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled Head of Compute (Private Cloud - Nutanix) for a leading banking institution in Saudi Arabia. The role involves overseeing the bank’s private cloud infrastructure, specifically built on Nutanix technology, to ensure high availability, scalability, and optimal performance. This position requires expertise in managing complex compute environments and cloud architectures, as well as ensuring compliance with Saudi banking regulations and industry standards. The ideal candidate will lead a team focused on the operation and growth of the bank’s private cloud infrastructure and drive innovation to support the digital transformation goals of the bank.

1. Leadership & Strategy:

• Lead, manage, and mentor a team of cloud engineers and compute specialists responsible for maintaining and optimizing the bank’s private cloud infrastructure using Nutanix technology.
• Define and execute the cloud strategy for the bank’s compute environment, ensuring alignment with business objectives, security standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and implement a roadmap for private cloud growth, technology upgrades, and cost optimization.

• Oversee the design, deployment, and operational management of the private cloud infrastructure built on Nutanix hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) solutions.
• Ensure the availability, scalability, and performance of critical banking systems by managing the compute, storage, and virtualization layers of the private cloud.
• Continuously evaluate and optimize the Nutanix environment to meet the growing needs of the bank’s digital banking platforms, core banking systems, and other mission-critical applications.
• Implement compute resource management practices, such as capacity planning, load balancing, and performance monitoring to ensure efficient utilization of cloud resources.

• Ensure that all private cloud operations are in full compliance with Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) guidelines, National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) regulations, and other relevant financial sector regulations (e.g., ISO 27001, PCI-DSS).
• Implement and maintain security controls for cloud environments, including network security, identity and access management (IAM), and data encryption, in line with the banking sector’s stringent security requirements.
• Conduct regular security audits, vulnerability assessments, and compliance checks to ensure the private cloud infrastructure meets regulatory and security standards.

• Lead the architectural design and deployment of highly available and resilient cloud infrastructure to support the bank's core banking systems, payment systems, digital banking applications, and big data platforms.
• Drive continuous innovation within the bank’s cloud strategy, exploring and implementing new technologies, such as cloud automation, containers (Kubernetes), and cloud-native applications, to improve operational efficiency.
• Provide recommendations for new cloud technologies, architectures, and tools to support the bank's growth and evolving technological landscape.

• Work closely with the IT infrastructure, security, and application teams to ensure seamless integration of compute resources across the bank’s private cloud and other IT systems.
• Provide expertise in cloud migration for legacy systems, ensuring a smooth transition to cloud-native and cloud-based architectures.
• Act as a key stakeholder in DevOps and CI/CD initiatives to improve automation and deployment efficiency for banking applications and services.

• Manage the capacity planning and resource allocation for the Nutanix private cloud infrastructure, ensuring resources are provisioned and optimized to meet the bank’s needs without over-provisioning.
• Implement cost management strategies to optimize cloud resource usage and reduce operational expenses while ensuring performance is not compromised.
• Develop cost and resource forecasting to support budgeting and strategic decision-making processes for the bank’s cloud infrastructure.

• Oversee the incident response and troubleshooting of cloud-related issues, ensuring that any downtime or disruptions to banking services are minimized and resolved swiftly.
• Implement and maintain disaster recovery processes, including backup solutions and failover mechanisms, ensuring business continuity and data integrity in case of cloud infrastructure failure.

• Manage relationships with Nutanix and other third-party vendors, ensuring service level agreements (SLAs) are met and that support agreements align with the bank’s needs.
• Lead the evaluation, selection, and procurement of cloud management tools and technologies that complement the Nutanix environment, ensuring they align with the bank’s broader cloud strategy.

• Provide regular updates to senior management and stakeholders on the status of the private cloud infrastructure, including performance metrics, incidents, and upcoming upgrades.
• Generate reports for internal audit and compliance teams, detailing the status of security, performance, and capacity of the cloud infrastructure.
• Engage with key stakeholders across the organization to understand their cloud requirements and ensure the infrastructure supports the bank’s business and digital transformation goals.

• Technical Skills:
  • Deep expertise in Nutanix Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI) and related technologies (e.g., Nutanix AHV, Prism, Acropolis).
  • Strong experience in private cloud management, virtualization (VMware, Hyper-V), compute resource optimization, and cloud automation.
  • Familiarity with cloud security tools and techniques, such as network segmentation, identity management, and data encryption in private cloud environments.
  • Proficiency in cloud management platforms, such as Nutanix Cloud Manager, VRealize, or similar.
  • Knowledge of banking applications, core banking systems, and payment platforms in a cloud environment.
• Leadership & Management:
  • Proven experience leading and managing cloud infrastructure teams, with a focus on Nutanix-based private cloud solutions.
  • Ability to drive cross-functional collaboration, particularly between IT, infrastructure, security, and application development teams.
  • Excellent communication skills to interact with both technical teams and senior business leaders.
• Compliance & Regulatory Knowledge:
  • Strong understanding of Saudi Arabian banking regulations (e.g., SAMA, NCA), and how they apply to cloud infrastructure in the financial sector.
  • Expertise in ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, and other cybersecurity compliance standards relevant to banking and finance.
• Project Management & Strategic Vision:
  • Experience in project management for cloud infrastructure projects, with the ability to define clear timelines, objectives, and KPIs.
  • Strategic thinking to balance the need for innovation and modernization with the bank’s long-term goals and regulatory requirements.
• Certifications:
  • Nutanix Certified Professional (NCP) or Nutanix Certified Expert (NCE) is highly preferred.
  • Industry-recognized certifications in cloud computing or cloud security, such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Google Professional Cloud Architect, or Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP).
  • ISO 27001 or PCI-DSS certification would be a plus.

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Cloud Computing, Computer Science, Network Engineering, or a related field.
• A Master's degree or certifications in cloud infrastructure management is a plus.

• 10+ years of experience in IT infrastructure, cloud computing, or network management, with at least 5 years focused on Nutanix private cloud infrastructure in a banking or financial services environment.
• Proven experience managing large-scale cloud infrastructure projects, particularly in highly regulated environments like banking and finance.