Job Description: Storage Migration Architect (SMA) – M&A Integration Lead

Position Type: Contract likely around 6 months rolling (Incorporated / Corp-to-Corp)

Target Rate: $100.00 / hour CAD

Start Date: July 1, 2026 (Immediate Requirement)

Location: remote option as last resort

Position Overview

We are seeking a senior Storage Migration Architect (SMA) to serve as the technical lead for a high-visibility, fast-paced post-acquisition integration project. Following a recent corporate merger, we are onboarding a newly acquired enterprise client and migrating their legacy data estate into Microsoft Azure.

The ideal candidate is not a standard infrastructure administrator, but a tactical architect who has successfully overseen complex Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) data integrations. You will own the end-to-end data lifecycle, from initial discovery through to the final business cutover, with a primary focus on untangling deeply rooted security and file-permission complexities across hybrid-cloud storage environments.

Key Responsibilities

1. Migration & Transition Architecture

• Design the Blueprint: Architect and execute the technical strategy to migrate multi-terabyte legacy storage environments into Azure NetApp Files (ANF) and Cloud Volumes ONTAP (CVO).
• Balance the Cutover: Own both the physical data replication pipeline (Migration) and the operational, identity, and application go-live strategy (Transition).
• Risk & Governance: Build comprehensive "Go/No-Go" checklists and airtight rollback plans to guarantee zero data loss and absolute business continuity during the high-stakes cutover window.

2. Security & Permission Remediation (Primary Bottleneck)

• Untangle Legacy ACLs: Resolve severe file-permission complexities inherited from the acquired client, including multi-protocol (SMB/NFS) sharing issues and broken or non-standard NTFS access control lists.
• Identity Mapping: Partner with Identity and Access Management (IAM) teams to resolve orphaned Security Identifiers (SIDs) from legacy Active Directories, mapping them seamlessly to the parent organization's Microsoft Entra ID / Azure AD environments.

3. Execution & Data Velocity

• Deploy Migration Tooling: Establish continuous data replication fabrics utilizing NetApp SnapMirror to Cloud, NetApp XCP, or BlueXP Cloud Sync to handle large baseline data seeds prior to the final delta syncs.
• Cross-Regional Infrastructure: Coordinate storage and replication pathways balancing local downtown Toronto computing hubs with Calgary regional sites, mitigating network latency and bandwidth constraints.

Required Technical Skills & Qualifications

• NetApp Master: Deep architectural mastery of NetApp ONTAP storage operating systems and data management protocols.
• Azure Storage Expertise: Extensive hands-on experience designing and deploying Azure NetApp Files (ANF) natively within Microsoft Azure.
• Proven M&A Track Record: Direct experience leading data integration or client onboarding initiatives resulting from corporate restructuring, mergers, or acquisitions.
• Permission & Protocol Specialist: Advanced knowledge of storage security styles, Active Directory domain trusts, SID History, and multi-protocol directory access (SMB for Windows / NFS for Linux).
• Migration Tools: High proficiency with NetApp XCP, SnapMirror, Cloud Sync, and enterprise copy utilities (e.g., Robocopy with security descriptor retention).

Soft Skills & Logistics

• No Runway Execution: Ability to step into an active fire drill with zero ramp-up time and deliver results from Day 1.
• Immediate Availability: Must be fully available to clear onboarding and begin active execution on July 1, 2026.
• Communication: Exceptional stakeholder management skills; capable of detailing technical risks and mitigation paths to both engineering teams and corporate executive leadership.