System Administrator

About the Role

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced System Administrator to join our dynamic IT team in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In this critical role, you will be responsible for the administration, maintenance, and support of our Microsoft server environments and enterprise applications. Your expertise will ensure the high availability, security, and optimal performance of our IT infrastructure, aligning with organizational goals and service level agreements (SLAs). As a key member of our team, you will play a pivotal role in maintaining the reliability and efficiency of our systems while supporting infrastructure projects and disaster recovery initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Microsoft Server Administration: Manage, configure, and maintain Microsoft Windows Server environments (2008/2012/2016/2019), including installation, patching, upgrades, and server hardening to ensure robust security and performance.
• Enterprise Application Support: Administer and support enterprise applications running on Microsoft server platforms, ensuring seamless availability and performance in accordance with agreed SLAs.
• Active Directory Management: Oversee Active Directory, including user and group management, Group Policy Object (GPO) administration, DNS, DHCP, and domain trust relationships to maintain a secure and efficient directory service.
• Microsoft Exchange Administration: Manage Microsoft Exchange environments, including mailbox administration, mail flow optimization, database management, and troubleshooting to ensure uninterrupted email communication.
• VMware Virtualization Administration: Administer VMware virtualization infrastructure (vSphere, ESXi, vCenter), including virtual machine provisioning, resource allocation, snapshot management, and performance monitoring to maximize efficiency and scalability.
• Backup and Recovery Management: Oversee enterprise backup and recovery operations using EMC Networker, including backup scheduling, monitoring, restore testing, and media management to ensure data integrity and availability.
• SCCM Administration: Manage System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) for software deployment, patch management, operating system imaging, and endpoint compliance to maintain a secure and up-to-date IT environment.
• Anti-Virus Infrastructure Management: Administer and maintain Anti-Virus server infrastructure, including policy configuration, definition updates, threat monitoring, and incident response to safeguard against cyber threats.
• Proactive Monitoring and Troubleshooting: Perform proactive monitoring, troubleshooting, and root-cause analysis of server, application, and infrastructure issues to minimize downtime and enhance system reliability.
• Incident and Service Request Management: Respond to and resolve incidents and service requests within defined SLAs, escalating complex issues to senior team members as necessary to ensure timely resolution.
• Documentation and Compliance: Maintain accurate system documentation, including configurations, procedures, and change records, while ensuring compliance with organizational IT security policies and standards.
• Disaster Recovery Participation: Contribute to disaster recovery planning, testing, and execution to ensure business continuity and resilience in the face of unforeseen events.
• Infrastructure Project Support: Support infrastructure projects such as migrations, upgrades, and new deployments to enhance the organization’s IT capabilities and infrastructure.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Nationality: Saudi national (mandatory requirement).
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
• Experience: 4–8 years of hands-on experience in system administration within enterprise environments.
• Technical Expertise:
  • Proficiency in Windows Server administration (2008/2012/2016/2019).
  • Strong knowledge of VMware virtualization (vSphere, ESXi, vCenter).
  • Experience in Microsoft Exchange administration.
  • Expertise in EMC Networker backup administration.
  • Proficiency in SCCM (System Center Configuration Manager).
  • In-depth understanding of Active Directory, Group Policy, DNS, and DHCP.
  • Experience in Anti-Virus server administration.
• Soft Skills: Excellent troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to diagnose and resolve complex infrastructure issues under pressure. Strong communication skills in both English and Arabic.
• Security Awareness: Solid understanding of IT security best practices and server hardening techniques to mitigate risks and ensure a secure IT environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Relevant certifications such as MCSA, MCSE, VMware VCP, or ITIL Foundation.
• Experience with PowerShell scripting for automating administrative tasks and improving operational efficiency.
• Familiarity with monitoring tools (e.g., SCOM, Nagios, or similar) to proactively identify and address potential issues.
• Experience working in ITIL-based service management environments to align IT operations with best practices.