Senior System Administrator

As an experienced System Administrator, you will be a hands-on expert responsible for maintaining the robustness and efficiency of our IT infrastructure. Your role will involve overseeing, deploying, managing, and troubleshooting complex systems while serving as the primary point of contact for critical issues. You will collaborate closely with vendors and solution architects for deployment activities, create and maintain Standard Operating Procedures for daily operations, and demonstrate strong expertise in O365, Intune, SCCM, and other enterprise technologies as integral aspects of this position.

This role requires deep technical proficiency across cloud and on-premises environments, including VMware, backup solutions, Windows and Linux operating systems (Red Hat, SUSE, Ubuntu), and infrastructure automation.

Key Responsibilities

1. Identity and Access Management (IAM):

• Deploy and operate secure identity and access management solutions on Azure Active Directory and hybrid on-premises Active Directory.
• Operate Azure AD Connect synchronization and Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) for enabling single sign-on across cloud and on-premises environments.

2. Office 365 Workloads:

• Deploy, operate, and troubleshoot Office 365 workloads, including Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and Microsoft Teams.
• Define and operate user identities, access controls, application permissions, and information protection policies through Azure IAM, Azure Information Protection (AIP), and Azure AD capabilities.

3. Cloud Solutions Deployment and Operation:

• Deploy and operate cloud solutions on Azure and GCP, adhering to best practices and security measures.
• Develop expertise in SaaS and PaaS services, ensuring efficient integration with existing systems.

4. On-Premises Infrastructure and Virtualization:

• Administer and maintain on-premises infrastructure, including VMware vSphere/ESXi environments, physical servers, and storage systems.
• Manage backup and disaster recovery solutions (e.g., Veeam, IDPA, or similar) ensuring data integrity and restore readiness.
• Monitor and optimize compute, storage, and network resources for on-prem workloads.
• Integrate and synchronize on-prem infrastructure with Azure hybrid services such as Azure Arc, Azure Site Recovery, and Azure Backup.
• Support hardware refresh, repatriation, and capacity planning activities.

5. Migration and Repatriation:

• Lead and operate migration and repatriation efforts from Azure West Europe to Azure Qatar Central.
• Execute and operate data migration plans between Azure, GCP, AWS etc and on-premises systems, ensuring performance, security, and compliance.

6. Cloud Security Operations:

• Operate and manage Azure Virtual Machines, Virtual Networks, ExpressRoute, and route tables.
• Implement security measures for data protection, including Azure Backup, Azure Site Recovery, and encryption.
• Apply and monitor security controls for both cloud-based and on-premises systems and applications.

7. Infrastructure Management:

• Deploy and operate Azure resources, including Azure App Services, Azure Storage, and Azure SQL Database.
• Operate Operations Management Suite for efficient infrastructure monitoring and performance management.
• Ensure the smooth functioning of Azure ExpressRoute and other networking components.
• Operate and maintain Windows and Linux operating systems, including Red Hat, SUSE, and Ubuntu.

8. Database Operations:

• Deploy Azure data and storage platforms using PaaS services like SQL Database, SQL DW, MySQL, and Cosmos DB.
• Operate database configurations, manage replication and scaling strategies, and optimize performance.
• Ensure deployments adhere to architecture blueprints and policies, and provide recommendations for improving reliability and cost efficiency.

9. Operating System Management:

• Operate and maintain Windows and Linux servers, ensuring system security, reliability, and optimal performance.
• Apply updates, patches, and hardening standards in compliance with organizational security baselines.

10. DevOps and Automation:

• Implement CI/CD pipelines using Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, or Jenkins.
• Review pipeline code, optimize workflows, and ensure adherence to coding and security standards.
• Maintain and improve automation scripts for deployments, monitoring, and system management.
• Automate infrastructure provisioning using Infrastructure-as-Code tools such as Terraform, Bicep, ARM templates, or Ansible.
• Manage Kubernetes clusters (AKS) and containerized workloads (Docker).
• Enhance system reliability through proactive monitoring, alerting, and automated remediation.

11. Project Coordination and Vendor Management:

• Lead and support preparation activities across IT projects, ensuring alignment with project timelines and objectives.
• Prepare and validate systems, infrastructure, and environments ahead of deployments, upgrades, and go-lives.
• Contribute to the procurement cycle, including drafting RFPs, evaluating bids, and supporting technical clarifications.
• Coordinate with vendors to ensure timely delivery, setup, and configuration of systems and services.
• Work with internal teams, vendors, and business units to align expectations and monitor progress.
• Stay updated on IT systems and emerging technologies to support effective planning and decision-making.
• Resolve readiness issues, perform pre-deployment checks, and ensure compliance with technical and functional standards.
• Maintain preparation plans, checklists, and records to ensure consistency and traceability.

12. Governance, Compliance, and Collaboration:

• Ensure all operational work adheres to organizational policies, standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with vendors for issue resolution and coordinate with architects for solution deployment.
• Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), checklists, and documentation to ensure consistency and traceability.
• Lead and mentor junior administrators, ensuring alignment with operational goals and best practices.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
• Certifications: Azure AZ-104, RHCSA, VCP-DCV, AZ-700, AZ-500, SC-900, GCP Professional.
• Proven experience in hybrid infrastructure administration (on-premise and cloud).
• Strong expertise in Azure and GCP cloud platforms.
• Extensive hands-on experience with VMware, backup solutions, and disaster recovery.
• Experience with migration and repatriation between Azure regions and hybrid setups.
• Knowledge of Kubernetes and containerization technologies.
• Proficiency in Azure subscription management, Azure Information Protection, and Azure Active Directory.
• Familiarity with Windows Server Active Directory, LDAP, OAuth, SAML, and firewalls.
• Strong hands-on experience with O365, Intune, and SCCM.
• Excellent troubleshooting, problem-solving, and incident management skills.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and team leadership abilities.
• Arabic proficiency is an advantage but not mandatory.