Senior Systems Administrator

Placements24; East London; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Private medical insurance

Retirement annuity

Paid annual leave

Job summary

Placements24 in East London, South Africa, is seeking a Senior Systems Administrator to manage IT infrastructure, servers, networks, and end-user support, ensuring stability, security, and performance. This hands‑on role requires deep Windows and Linux administration, strong virtualization experience (VMware/Hyper‑V), AD/GP, backups, and cybersecurity best practices. The successful candidate will work on-site in East London and contribute to critical operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in IT/CS or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in systems administration.
• Strong Windows Server administration (Server 2012 R2, 2016, 2019) and Linux.
• Solid networking knowledge (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VPNs) and hardware.
• Experience with virtualization (VMware, Hyper‑V).
• Proficiency with Active Directory and Group Policy.
• Experience with backup and disaster recovery solutions.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity best practices and tools.
• Excellent troubleshooting and communication skills.
• Relevant certifications (e.g., MCSA/MCSE, CompTIA Network+, CCNA) are a plus.
• Ability to work independently and handle multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Administer and maintain Windows and Linux server environments for uptime.
• Manage and monitor network infrastructure including routers, switches, firewalls, and VPNs.
• Enforce security policies and procedures to protect IT assets.
• Perform regular system backups and disaster recovery testing.
• Install and maintain virtualization platforms (VMware vSphere, Hyper-V).
• Administer Active Directory, Group Policy, and user accounts.
• Provide advanced technical support for hardware, software, and network issues.
• Plan system upgrades, migrations, and patch management.
• Monitor performance and troubleshoot proactively.
• Document configurations, procedures, and troubleshooting guides.
• Liaise with vendors for hardware/software support.

Skills

Windows Server administration

Linux server administration

Networking concepts

Virtualization: VMware/Hyper‑V

Active Directory & Group Policy

Backup & disaster recovery

Cybersecurity practices

Troubleshooting & support

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT/CS or equivalent

Tools

VMware

Hyper-V

Active Directory

Group Policy

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a growing logistics company, is seeking an experienced Senior Systems Administrator to manage and maintain their IT infrastructure in East London . This role is crucial for ensuring the operational stability, security, and performance of our client's server environments, networks, and end-user support systems. You will be responsible for system upgrades, patch management, security implementation, and troubleshooting complex technical issues. The ideal candidate possesses a strong background in Windows and Linux server administration, network infrastructure, and virtualization technologies. This is a hands‑on role with significant responsibility, offering an excellent opportunity to contribute to a vital business function. Join our dedicated team in East London .

Key Responsibilities

• Administer and maintain Windows and Linux server environments, ensuring optimal performance and uptime.
• Manage and monitor network infrastructure, including routers, switches, firewalls, and VPNs.
• Implement and enforce security policies, protocols, and measures to protect IT assets.
• Perform regular system backups and disaster recovery planning and testing.
• Install, configure, and maintain virtualization platforms (e.g., VMware vSphere, Hyper‑V).
• Manage Active Directory, Group Policy, and user account administration.
• Provide advanced technical support for hardware, software, and network issues.
• Plan and execute system upgrades, migrations, and patch management.
• Monitor system performance and troubleshoot issues proactively.
• Document system configurations, procedures, and troubleshooting guides.
• Liaise with vendors for hardware and software support and procurement.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in systems administration.
• Strong expertise in Windows Server administration (e.g., Server 2012 R2, 2016, 2019) and Linux distributions.
• In-depth knowledge of networking concepts (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VPNs) and hardware.
• Experience with virtualization technologies (VMware, Hyper‑V).
• Proficiency in Active Directory management and Group Policy.
• Experience with backup and disaster recovery solutions.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity best practices and tools.
• Excellent troubleshooting, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Relevant certifications such as MCSA/MCSE, CompTIA Network+, or CCNA are a plus.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities effectively.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary, annual bonus, and comprehensive private medical insurance.
• Employees receive a retirement annuity and generous paid annual leave.
• We provide opportunities for professional development, including training courses and certifications.
• The role is based in our offices in East London , offering a stable and supportive work environment.