Azure Cloud Engineer - Washington, DC

Azure Cloud Engineer
Washington, DC
6 months, extension

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.

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.