(Senior) Consultant IT Infrastructure

Context AETHER is a key partner for intrapreneurial projects in Belgium, and we want to reinforce our support of key actors in the manufacturing sector, who are facing interesting challenges regarding the modernization of reliable and secure digital infrastructure across multiple projects and sites. New projects are therefore ongoing to ensure that modernized systems can be connected securely, remain available and be supported effectively by operations teams. Hence why we are looking for a senior Consultant in IT Infrastructure & Network Architecture to strengthen our team of Project Partners. Task Description As an AETHER Project Partner embedded within the project team, your objective will be to define coherent, secure, resilient and operable infrastructure and network architectures and support their delivery from design through implementation and transition to operations. You will provide technical architecture leadership across infrastructure, network, cloud and hybrid environments, supporting transformation, modernization and operational initiatives across multiple projects and sites, including industrial/OT environments. You will consider the wider architecture beyond individual infrastructure components, including applications, data flows, trust zones, integration mechanisms, cloud connectivity, security and operational constraints. You will work closely with Enterprise, Solution, Application, Data, Cloud and Security Architects, alongside infrastructure, network, DevOps and project teams. You will be accountable for the technical infrastructure architecture needed to host, connect, secure, operate and recover solutions, covering network, compute, storage, backup, cloud/hybrid infrastructure, container foundations and observability. End-to-end architecture will be developed jointly. You will actively contribute to cross-domain architecture decisions and challenge proposed solutions when required. Network and infrastructure architecture will form part of the overall solution architecture rather than operate as isolated technical domains.

Key Responsibilities
Might Include
• Translate business, application and solution needs into technical architecture requirements covering hosting, connectivity, performance, availability, security, resilience, backup/recovery, monitoring and supportability.
• Define target and reference architectures, reusable standards and technical patterns across sites.
• Produce HLDs and architecture documentation, and review LLDs and detailed technical designs.
• Analyse impacts, dependencies, risks, architecture gaps, single points of failure and operational constraints.
• Challenge solutions proposed by projects, suppliers and engineering teams and assess alternatives.
• Document key architecture decisions through Architecture Decision Records (ADRs).
• Assess departures from architecture and technical standards and support the relevant governance and approval processes.
• Define Build-to-Run requirements and support production readiness, operational handover and knowledge transfer. Profile
• Required experience and capabilities
• 10+ years of experience in infrastructure/network architecture or senior infrastructure engineering, with demonstrated architecture responsibility in complex environments.
• Strong expertise across infrastructure and network architecture.
• Proven ability to define target architectures, produce HLDs and challenge detailed technical designs.
• Good understanding of ArchiMate, TOGAF or equivalent architecture methodologies.
• Working knowledge of AWS/hybrid cloud architecture and cloud networking.
• Working understanding of APIs and modern integration patterns.
• Ability to identify cross-domain impacts and dependencies across infrastructure, network, cloud, applications and security.
• Strong collaboration skills with architects, engineering teams, projects and suppliers.
• Pragmatic technical judgement balancing security, resilience, operability, cost and delivery constraints.
• Architecture practices You Must Be Comfortable With Structured Architecture Practices, Including
• ArchiMate.
• TOGAF or an equivalent architecture methodology.
• Architecture principles and standards.
• Architecture Decision Records.
• Target-state architecture.
• Impact and dependency analysis.
• Architecture governance. You must be able to produce clear, concise and actionable HLDs, architecture diagrams, technical requirements and decision records.
• Infrastructure & Network Strong Expertise In
• LAN/WAN, routing, switching, VLANs and subnets.
• Network segmentation, firewalls, DMZs and security zoning.
• Wi-Fi and site/datacenter connectivity.
• Compute and virtualization.
• Windows/Linux infrastructure foundations.
• Storage, backup and recovery.
• High availability and disaster recovery.
• Hybrid infrastructure and resilience.
• Cloud & Hybrid Good Working Knowledge Of AWS Architecture And Networking, Including
• VPC, subnets and route tables.
• Internet / NAT Gateway.
• Transit Gateway and VPC Peering.
• PrivateLink.
• Security Groups and Network ACLs.
• Route 53.
• AWS Direct Connect. You must understand AWS Landing Zone constraints and analyse the connectivity, routing, segmentation and security implications between on-premise and cloud environments.
• API & Integration Sufficient understanding of modern integration patterns to assess their infrastructure, network and security implications, including:
• REST APIs and OpenAPI.
• OAuth2, OIDC and JWT.
• mTLS.
• API Gateway and reverse proxy.
• API security and rate limiting.
• Webhooks.
• Event-driven architecture.
• Kafka and messaging.
• AMQP, SFTP and HTTPS. You are not expected to replace an Application or Integration Architect, but you must understand how systems communicate and challenge connectivity requests within their wider architecture context. Rather than only asking which network flow must be opened, you will consider why the interaction exists, which systems and data are involved, which trust zones it crosses, which integration mechanism it uses and how it fits the target architecture.
• Industrial / OT Experience with industrial or critical environments is a strong advantage, including:
• IT/OT segregation.
• Industrial DMZs.
• Factory and edge connectivity.
• Industrial Wi-Fi.
• Secure remote access.
• Production availability and resilience constraints.
• Working conditions
• Availability for hybrid work in Belgium, with regular on-site presence.
• Fluent/professional French and professional working proficiency in English.
• An entrepreneurial experience or ambition is a plus, including extra-professional or extra-academic activities.
• Fast availability is preferred, with a start as soon as possible.
• Valid single permit for non-EU citizens. Key Deliverables
• Target and reference architectures.
• HLDs and architecture diagrams.
• Architecture Decision Records.
• Technical requirements and design reviews.
• Architecture risk and dependency assessments.
• Standards exception records.
• Architecture inputs to production readiness and operational handover. Our Vision Success in industry often relies on key individuals who demonstrate intrapreneurial leadership — those who continuously initiate, transform, and pursue excellence. The best way to develop this strength is through ad interim projects, i.e. working as a consultant with established intrapreneurs in international companies, to support their major expansion or improvement initiatives regarding governance, studies, or operations. Since 2014, AETHER is managing these opportunities for outstanding consultants in key international groups, as these offer greater learning opportunities with multi-million impacts. Please share your cv and we will check if this demand is the current best opportunity for your career as a consultant. INSPIRE | LEAD GROWTH | CREATE IMPACT