Senior IT Infrastructure Engineer - Saudi Nationals, OTS

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior IT Infrastructure Engineer to join our dynamic team at Afaq – Warehouse Branch in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This role is exclusively open to Saudi nationals and is part of our ongoing talent strategy (OTS). The ideal candidate will be responsible for designing, implementing, maintaining, and optimizing our IT infrastructure to ensure seamless operations, high availability, and robust security across the organization. The Senior IT Infrastructure Engineer will play a pivotal role in supporting our business objectives by leveraging cutting-edge technologies and best practices in infrastructure management.

Key Responsibilities

• Infrastructure Design and Deployment: Lead the planning, design, and deployment of scalable, secure, and high-performance IT infrastructure solutions, including servers, storage, networking, and virtualization platforms. Ensure alignment with business requirements and industry standards.
• System Administration and Maintenance: Oversee the day-to-day administration, monitoring, and maintenance of IT infrastructure components, including servers, storage systems, network devices, and cloud services. Proactively identify and resolve issues to minimize downtime and enhance system reliability.
• Network Management: Design, configure, and manage enterprise-grade network infrastructure, including LAN, WAN, VPN, firewalls, and load balancers. Ensure optimal performance, security, and compliance with organizational policies and regulatory requirements.
• Virtualization and Cloud Solutions: Implement and manage virtualization platforms (e.g., VMware, Hyper-V) and cloud services (e.g., AWS, Azure, or Oracle Cloud) to optimize resource utilization, scalability, and cost-efficiency. Collaborate with stakeholders to migrate workloads to cloud environments where applicable.
• Security and Compliance: Develop and enforce security policies, procedures, and controls to safeguard IT infrastructure against cyber threats, unauthorized access, and data breaches. Conduct regular security audits, vulnerability assessments, and penetration testing to identify and mitigate risks.
• Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity: Design and implement robust disaster recovery (DR) and business continuity (BC) plans to ensure minimal disruption during unforeseen events. Test and validate DR/BC strategies to guarantee rapid recovery and resilience.
• Vendor and Stakeholder Management: Liaise with vendors, service providers, and internal stakeholders to procure, deploy, and support IT infrastructure solutions. Negotiate contracts, manage service level agreements (SLAs), and ensure timely resolution of technical issues.
• Team Leadership and Mentorship: Provide technical guidance, mentorship, and leadership to junior IT staff and cross-functional teams. Foster a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and collaboration to drive operational excellence.
• Performance Optimization: Monitor system performance, analyze trends, and implement optimizations to enhance efficiency, scalability, and user experience. Utilize monitoring tools and analytics to proactively identify and address bottlenecks or inefficiencies.

Qualifications and Skills

To excel in this role, candidates must possess the following qualifications and competencies:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field. Relevant certifications (e.g., CCNA, CCNP, MCSE, VMware VCP, AWS/Azure Solutions Architect) are highly desirable.
• Experience: Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive experience in IT infrastructure engineering, with a focus on enterprise-level systems, networking, and cloud technologies. Prior experience in a warehouse or logistics environment is a plus.
• Technical Proficiency: In-depth knowledge of server administration, storage solutions, virtualization, networking protocols, and cloud platforms. Familiarity with scripting languages (e.g., PowerShell, Python) and automation tools (e.g., Ansible, Terraform) is advantageous.
• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills with the ability to diagnose complex technical issues and implement effective solutions in a timely manner.
• Communication and Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders. Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills to foster a collaborative work environment.
• Certifications: Industry-recognized certifications in infrastructure, networking, or cloud technologies are preferred. Examples include Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), VMware Certified Professional (VCP), or Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert.

Work Environment and Benefits

Afaq – Warehouse Branch offers a competitive compensation package, including a comprehensive benefits program tailored to support the well-being and professional growth of our employees. As a Senior IT Infrastructure Engineer, you will work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where innovation and excellence are encouraged. The role is based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and is exclusively open to Saudi nationals as part of our commitment to local talent development.