Azure Cloud Engineer

The Azure Cloud Engineer will be responsible for the administration and support of the organization s storage systems and operating systems (Windows and Linux). You will work closely with the IT operations team to ensure the stability, security, and performance of the company s servers, storage environments, and related infrastructure. This role will provide opportunities to enhance your technical skills and contribute to ongoing system upgrades, troubleshooting, and user support. This work is located onsite in the DC area.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage, configure, and maintain Windows and Linux operating systems across a variety of environments (on-premises and cloud).
• Install, configure, and troubleshoot server hardware, operating systems, and software applications.
• Perform routine system maintenance, updates, and patch management for both Windows and Linux systems.
• Monitor system performance and ensure availability, reliability, and scalability of infrastructure.
• Administer and support enterprise-level storage systems (SAN, NAS, etc.) to ensure efficient data storage, access, and backup.
• Configure and manage storage volumes, RAID arrays, and LUNs for optimal performance and redundancy.
• Work closely with the backup and disaster recovery team to ensure proper backup processes and data recovery procedures are in place.
• Perform storage capacity planning and ensure that storage resources are appropriately allocated across environments.
• Implement and maintain security measures to safeguard systems and data (e.g., firewalls, anti-virus, access controls).
• Manage user access controls, permissions, and authentication mechanisms on both Windows and Linux systems.
• Assist in the implementation of security patches and system hardening to mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
• Monitor and analyze security alerts and logs for potential breaches or threats.
• Continuously monitor the performance of Windows and Linux systems, addressing any issues related to resource utilization, system health, or performance degradation.
• Use monitoring tools to track system uptime, availability, and performance.
• Optimize systems and storage solutions to ensure maximum efficiency, responsiveness, and uptime.
• Document issues and resolutions in the IT service management system (ticketing).
• Implement disaster recovery and business continuity plans to minimize downtime and data loss.
• Work with storage teams to ensure that backup and recovery processes are effective and efficient.
• Maintain and update documentation for system configurations, storage environments, and procedures.
• Generate regular system performance and availability reports for management and stakeholders.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, System Administration, or a related field and 4+ years of relevant experience. Additional years of experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.
• 3+ years of experience in system administration, particularly with Windows Server and Linux environments.
• Strong hands-on experience with Windows Server (2016, 2019, or newer) and Linux distributions (e.g., Ubuntu, CentOS, RedHat).
• Experience with storage management and technologies such as SAN, NAS, and RAID.
• Familiarity with Active Directory and Group Policy for Windows environments.
• Experience with Linux shell scripting and automation tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet, Chef) is a plus.
• Knowledge of system monitoring tools like Nagios, Zabbix, or SolarWinds.
• Familiarity with backup solutions such as Veeam, Commvault, or NetBackup.
• Understanding of virtualization technologies (e.g., VMware, Hyper-V).
• Understanding of system security best practices, firewalls, and data encryption.
• Ability to diagnose and resolve complex system-related issues in a timely manner.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to document technical processes and provide user support.
• Strong focus on system stability, security, and performance, with a meticulous approach to configuration and documentation.

Desirable Skills:

• Experience with cloud-based systems or hybrid cloud environments.
• Familiarity with containerization and orchestration tools (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes) is a plus.
• Certification in Linux Administration (e.g., Linux Foundation Certified SysAdmin, Red Hat Certified System Administrator).
• Certification in Windows Server administration (e.g., Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Fundamentals).