Systems Engineer

Our client is searching for a Systems Engineer (Linux) to join their team in Pretoria (Hybrid)

Contract: Permanent (a probation period will apply)
Remote working: Half the week remote, the remainder of the week based at the office
Working hours: 08h00 – 17h00

Job Purpose:

This role is to ensure the stability, integrity, and efficient operation of the in-house information systems that support core organisational functions as well as all the business operations. This is achieved by monitoring, maintaining, supporting, and optimising all networked hardware and associated operating systems. The Systems Engineer will apply proven communication, analytical,
and critical thinking skills to help identify, communicate, and resolve issues to maximise the benefit of IT systems investments.

Role Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with network staff to ensure smooth and reliable operation of software and systems for fulfilling business objectives and processes.
• Work with executive team members, decision makers, and stakeholders to define business requirements and systems goals, and to identify and resolve business systems issues.
• Conduct research on software and systems products to justify recommendations and to support purchasing efforts.
• Document procedures
• Communicate with stakeholders to identify what they want a system to accomplish.
• Develop system designs and then use modelling techniques to evaluate how they might perform in the real world.
• Deploy new applications and enhancements to existing applications, software, and operating systems.
• Install, configure and test hardware, operating systems, application software and system management tools.
• Create, test and maintain backup and recovery policy and procedures.
• Test the system to ensure that it accomplishes what it is supposed to.
• Identify any problem areas.
• Existing systems must be tested regularly.
• Create reports and other documentation outlining findings and solutions.
• Provide support to users of a system.
• Maintaining, and optimizing all infrastructure components such as server hardware, storage systems, virtualization platforms, software automation.
• Implementing changes/upgrades where appropriate in line with the change management procedures in place.
• Be up to date on the latest patches and apply the correct distribution when applicable.
• Ensure security through access controls.
• Continuously ensure that security measures are in place on all servers and services.
• Test all measures to ensure a stable and secure environment.
• Ensure systems are hardened according to appropriate standards
• Monitor the system's operations and performance, then troubleshoot problems that arise and ensure that the systems run smoothly.
• Monitor system logs for preventative maintenance.
• Ensure that the BCP strategy is monitored and tested on a continuous basis.
• Any other tasks related to the business's project allocated by the management of the business, as and when required.
• Scheduled monthly maintenance, along with occasional after-hours work, may be required

Preferred Requirements:

Desired skills are as follows

• Min 5 – 10 yrs Experience as a System Engineer
• Red Hat RHCE certification is highly desirable
• Linux/Unix Kernel experience
• Knowledge of web components such as Apache and Tomcat is essential.
• High Availability / Clustering technologies are highly desirable
• Storage technologies (like SAN, multipathing, iSCSI, LVM)
• Networking concepts and protocols
• LDAP, Kerberos, Samba, Active Directory
• Container technologies such as Docker/Kubernetes are highly desirable
• Working knowledge of load-balancing devices is highly desirable.
• Cloud certification (Azure / AWS) will be an advantage
• VMware vRealize Operations certification will be an advantage.
• Advanced Perl scripting knowledge
• Advanced VMware knowledge
• Advanced Veeam backup software knowledge

Personality Attributes:

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills,
• Sound communication skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Negotiation skills
• High-level written and verbal communication skills.
• Able to keep information confidential
• Able to work independently and in a team
• Able to cope under pressure to perform multiple tasks
• Should exhibit excellent time management and organisational skills to complete the assigned work effectively
• Should have good logical problem-solving ability and should be able to comprehend the given information
• Understands business ethics and values