IT infrastructure management is a complex and critical strategic role that requires a deep understanding of different IT components and tools.

Infrastructure managers are responsible for designing, integrating, optimizing, governing, and future-proofing the core hardware, software, networks, data centers, cloud platforms, and other technology foundations across an organization.

While experts like software engineers and data analysts focus on building specific applications or analytics models, infrastructure managers must take a systemic view to architect cohesive and high-performance technology ecosystems.

This requires balancing priorities like functionality, scalability, reliability, security, flexibility, cost, and more to meet evolving business objectives. Next, we’ll explore the roles and the expected salary of infrastructure managers.

Roles of an IT Infrastructure Manager

The core responsibilities of an IT infrastructure manager span both technology architecture and strategic leadership:

Systems Design & Integration

Infrastructure managers lead the end-to-end design of computing environments like data centers, private and public cloud platforms, servers, routers, end-user devices, enterprise business applications, and the connecting networks that allow information to flow securely between them. Their architectural decisions seek to maximize performance, reliability, security, and efficiency.

Vendor Management

Given most organizations source technology systems and services from external providers, infrastructure managers play an important role in researching options, evaluating vendors, negotiating contracts, managing relationships, and governing spending to hardware, software, and networking.

Team Leadership

Since IT infrastructure groups can range from small teams to hundreds of engineers and technicians, infrastructure managers must provide effective delegation, mentoring, coaching, guidance, and oversight to motivate and develop their reports.

Budgeting & Operational Governance

Creating annual budgets and governing spending ensures infrastructure capabilities are cost-optimized. Managers also set policies, standards, and processes for the use, maintenance, and administration of infrastructure to ensure smooth, secure, and compliant operations across distributed teams.

Innovation & Improvement

Competent infrastructure managers stay informed of emerging technologies and industry best practices. They spearhead initiatives to optimize performance and refresh or expand infrastructure capabilities to enhance systems and give the organization a competitive edge.

The Salary of an IT Infrastructure Manager

The business-critical nature of infrastructure management lends itself to attractive compensation in the United States, especially at higher levels:

• IT Infrastructure Manager:  120,000 – 180,000 US dollars
• IT Infrastructure Director: 150,000 – 220,000 US dollars

Salaries scale higher in large enterprises and cities with elevated costs of living like New York and San Francisco. Performance bonuses, equity in some cases, and strong benefits plans provide substantial additional income potential.

Drawbacks of IT Infrastructure Management

Senior professionals who oversight infrastructure may face some potential downsides, such as:

• Can feel more removed from building solutions directly and less familiar with pure technology.
• Budgetary concerns, vendor negotiations, paperwork, and bureaucratic red tape can prove frustrating.
• On-call rotations for managing infrastructure incidents may disrupt personal time.
• Keeping skills current across many evolving infrastructure technologies requires constant learning.
• Developing strong people management skills poses a challenge for some who prefer technology alone.
• There is immense pressure as infrastructure failures can severely impact business operations.
• Infrastructure must adapt constantly to changing business needs rather than remain static.

IT Infrastructure Manager vs Other IT Roles

Weighing infrastructure management against other technology career paths helps illustrate the key trade-offs:

Software Engineer

• Pros: Constantly create new solutions and gain deep expertise in programming languages and system design.
• Cons: Less influence on broader technology strategy for the business.

IT Project Manager

• Pros: Drive planning and delivery of solutions through the entire lifecycle and oversee critical initiatives end-to-end.
• Cons: Removed from technical details with a little role in designing underlying systems and infrastructure.

Data Scientist

• Pros: Apply advanced analytical and machine learning techniques and build highly specialized modeling expertise.
• Cons: Less involvement with technology landscape beyond own analytics domain.

DevOps Engineer

• Pros: Implement automation and CI/CD pipelines and ensure application reliability and uptime.
• Cons: Tactical focus on app deployment rather than overall infrastructure strategy.

Security Architect

• Pros: Design information security architecture and ensure critical protection of systems and data.
• Cons: Narrower purview confined to infosec rather than overall infrastructure.

Final Thought

IT infrastructure management provides the architecture for critical systems and services that allow an organization to operate, innovate, and grow through the effective use of technology.

While infrastructure leadership comes with a financial upside, technologists should ensure the management responsibilities align with their passions and motivations.

Technology professionals considering pursuing infrastructure management must assess whether leadership, communication, budgetary, and people management align with their strengths and passions.

Denarjes is one of the leading IT infrastructure and IT recruitment providers. You can explore our services by contacting us directly.

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