Server Engineer II

About Kirkland & Ellis

At Kirkland & Ellis, we don't just meet the standard for legal excellence - we set it. Our culture is built on teamwork, ingenuity and an unwavering commitment to continuous growth. We tackle the most sophisticated legal challenges with bold ideas and innovative solutions, powered by the exceptional experience and ambition of our 7,000+ people, including 4,000+ attorneys, across 22 offices worldwide. Our dedicated professionals share our lawyers' commitment to excellence and show up each day to do meaningful work that helps drive global business, investment and innovation forward.

What You'll Do

Are you ready to take on a high-impact role at the intersection of server operations, cloud management, and enterprise security? As a Server Engineer II, you'll be a key member of our global Server Operations team, supporting and advancing a hybrid infrastructure that spans on-premises datacenters and Microsoft Azure.
This role focuses on day-to-day server operations, proactive security remediation, cloud infrastructure optimization, and driving successful delivery of enterprise-scale projects. With your expertise in virtualization, system administration, and cloud services, you'll help ensure system availability, strengthen security posture, and scale infrastructure to meet evolving business needs.

The schedule for this position includes:
Participation in an on-call rotation and response to after-hours emergencies as required
Weekend maintenance windows, planned in advance, to support patching, upgrades, and infrastructure changes with minimal business impact

Server Operations & Support - Provide advanced administration and Level 2 support for global Windows and Linux environments; manage hypervisors including VMware vSphere, Nutanix Acropolis, and Hyper-V.
Identity & Directory Services - Administer and maintain Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, GPOs, and Certificate Services to ensure secure, reliable access and identity management.
Monitoring & Automation - Use tools such as SCOM, Zabbix, SCCM, and Ansible Tower to monitor performance, resolve alerts, and automate configuration and deployment.
Cloud Infrastructure - Engineer, operate, and optimize Microsoft Azure environments including Virtual Machines, Entra AD Connect, RBAC roles, DNS, Azure Backup, and Site Recovery; support Landing Zone design and scalability.
Security & Compliance - Remediate vulnerabilities, apply patches, and implement configuration updates; work closely with security teams to ensure compliance with corporate and regulatory standards.
Project Delivery - Contribute to provisioning, migrations, upgrades, and disaster recovery planning; collaborate with internal teams and vendors to deliver solutions that balance efficiency and stability.
Documentation & Knowledge Sharing - Maintain accurate operational procedures, system documentation, and reports to support continuity and stakeholder transparency.

What You'll Bring

Education - Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or equivalent work experience.
Experience - 5-7 years of progressive IT infrastructure experience, with at least 3+ years supporting large-scale Windows and virtualization environments.
Virtualization Expertise - Hands-on experience with VMware vSphere/ESXi, Nutanix Acropolis, and Hyper-V.
System Administration Skills - Proficiency with Windows Server (2016-2025) and Linux distributions such as RHEL and Ubuntu.
Cloud Knowledge - Strong background in Microsoft Azure (IaaS, Entra AD Connect, RBAC, ASR, Backup); Oracle Cloud Infrastructure familiarity a plus.
Directory & Identity Management - Skilled in Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, GPOs, and Certificate Services.
Monitoring & Configuration Tools - Experience with SCOM, Zabbix, SCCM, and Ansible Tower.
Security & Scripting - Strong understanding of vulnerability remediation, patch management, and compliance best practices; advanced proficiency in PowerShell scripting.
Professional Competencies - Clear communicator across technical and non-technical audiences; strong problem-solving abilities; ability to prioritize, stay resilient under pressure, and work collaboratively in a global team.

Compensation

The base salary range below represents the low and high end of the salary range for this position in Chicago. This range may differ based on your geographic location and cost of living considerations. At Kirkland & Ellis, we consider compensation more than just a base salary. We offer an exceptional range of flexible benefits including comprehensive healthcare, paid time off, and retirement. We also offer personal support and tailored learning and development opportunities all designed to help you realize your full potential both in life and at work.

Compensation Range:

Chicago: $128,000 - $138,000

How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in Kirkland & Ellis LLP. To complete an application and submit your resume, please click "Apply Now."

Don't meet every job requirement? That's okay! If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't perfectly fit every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right person for this role or others at Kirkland.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All employment decisions, including the recruiting, hiring, placement, training availability, promotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment (if necessary) are made without regard to the employee's race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy or childbirth, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law. #LI-Hybrid #LI-AR1