Senior System Administrator at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

About the job:

The CSIR has two vacancies for Senior System Administrators in the ICT Services Portfolio. The incumbents will be responsible to provide specialist, high-level technical advice and support for the installing, testing, tuning, optimising, problem resolution, repairing, upgrading, and maintaining both externally and internally supplied hardware and system software such as Linux and Windows operating systems, data management products, office automation products, embedded systems, mobile systems, cloud systems, web systems, and other utility enabling software and related equipment. Responsible for high-level problem resolution of complex systems and security policy implementation and monitoring.  These positions are based in Pretoria.   

Key responsibilities:

Infrastructure and systems operations

• Maintain and perform administration on infrastructure, including but not limited to, Linux-based operating systems, Windows, storage devices, backup devices, web servers, and application servers.
• Maintain a large number of instances using automation tools, scripting, and process optimisation.
• Enable operational changes to the ICT infrastructure and applications to ensure proper compliance with release authorisation.
• Ensure and advuse on the deployment of releases.
• Ensure IT systems are available and according to business needs, SLA and ICT best practice standards.
• Enable the monitoring and reporting on services/systems availability and capacity.
• Advise stakeholders on how best to align business and systems requirements with new technology implementations.
• Ensure the development of maintenance schedules for systems equipment.
• Ensure support services to internal ICT clients to ensure speedy resolution of incidents
• Analyse existing operations and make recommendations for the improvement and growth of the IT systems
• Provide support to Analytics CoI for data centre maintenance and server outage response, as needed, to ensure availability and accessibility of infrastructure in accordance with SLAs
• Ensure that all changes in configurations are tracked and associated documentation amended to reflect those changes
• Conduct installations and maintenance of voice, data and other infrastructure
• Respond to data and voice outages and other infrastucture issues to ensure speedy resolution in accordance with SLA
• Ensure adherance to ICT standards and procedures and best practices required to ensure the availability, accessibility and utilization of infrastructure in line with CSIR business needs
• Advise on new ICT technology developments

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A Bachelor Degree (NQF Level 7) or NQF 6 Diploma in computer science/engineering, information technology or CSIR industry application

Eight to ten years of experience and a proven track record in the following;

• Administering and solving problems on VMWare, e-directory, Active Directory, LDAP, Linux, SLES OES, Apache, Tomcat, Collaboration services (Alfresco or SharePoint), DNS, Microsoft  Exchange, Windows Server, Microsoft SQL, Postgress, WINS, Proxies (UTM), MS 365 Cloud
• Planning, designing, implementing and solving problems on Backup solutions
• Expert knowledge of Server Operating systems, Collaboration Systems, Integration of systems, endpoint clients, and other relevant ICT systems and discipline(s).
• Service Management processes (Problem Management, Capacity Management, Service Design, Incident Management, Availability Management, Service continuity management, Release management, Configuration management, Information security management, Continuous improvement, Access Management, Change Management, Transition planning, and support.)
• Specialist knowledge and experience of Linux Operating Systems (SLES, OEL, Ubuntu)
• Specialist knowledge and experience with Access control and DVR monitoring and troubleshooting.
• Specialist technical knowledge of the relevant architectures and technologies, related to networks, databases, servers, operating systems, applications, mobility, back-up, proxy, DNS, e-mail, cloud, and desktop discipline(s).
• Implementation and support knowledge and experience with the following disciplines and technologies:
• MS Exchange Cloud, Storage management, email archive product/s, Spam, backup products, DNS services, Proxy services, VMWare, Microsoft Operating Systems, Inventory, and software distribution Systems, WEB Services (Apache/IIS), Webserver, PHP, Physical Security systems, FTP, Enterprise, Enterprise Hardware solutions, Service Management technologies, Directory services (LDAP, and AD), Collaboration technologies, document management systems, Vibe, POP3, MailScanner/Gateway, Information Security (Anti-Virus, Vulnerability management, patch management, threat evaluation, certificate authorities), network printing technologies, Networking.
• Working experience in Architecture and Design
• Working experience in Data Centre and Facilities
• Specialist knowledge and experience with Governance and legislative practices

Knowledge of and competence in the provision of ICT infrastructure operations, support and administration services including:

• Understanding of asset lifecycle management for hardware, software, and equipment
• Ability to create scripts in relevant programming languages
• Deep knowledge of specific systems platforms
• Strong technical knowledge of PC operating systems
• Knowledge of best practice ICT standards and procedures
• Technical knowledge of the latest ICT Infrastructure and Operation disciplines and industry trends
• Ability to apply logical thinking to gathering and analysing information, designing and testing solutions to problems, and formulating plans
• Knowledge on networking, data centre design and infrastructure, database management and information security
• Knowledge of the programming, implementation, configuration, support and maintenance of enterprise-level infrastructure