Senior Systems Administrator - Remote First

Placements24; Durban; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Fully remote

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off

Professional development budget

Company laptop and home office stipend

Cybersecurity firm exposure

Virtual team events

401k with match

Life and disability insurance

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Systems Administrator for a fully remote, Durban-based role. You will design, implement, and manage our IT infrastructure, supporting a global cybersecurity team.

The ideal candidate brings extensive server, network, and cloud experience in a distributed environment. Responsibilities include securing environments, automating tasks, and ensuring disaster recovery and business continuity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, IT, or equivalent.
• 5+ years in systems administration.
• Experience managing Windows and Linux servers.
• Cloud platforms: AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Networking: TCP/IP, DNS, VPNs.
• Virtualization: VMware, Hyper-V.
• Scripting for automation: PowerShell, Bash, Python.
• Security best practices and AD/Office 365.

Responsibilities

• Install, configure, and maintain Windows and Linux server environments.
• Manage and optimize cloud infrastructure on AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Implement and enforce security policies, including access controls, firewalls, and IDS/IPS.
• Monitor system performance and proactively resolve issues.
• Develop and maintain disaster recovery and business continuity plans.
• Manage backups and data recovery operations.
• Automate routine tasks using scripting languages.
• Provide technical support to end-users and resolve escalated IT issues.
• Manage network devices (routers, switches, VPNs).
• Document system configurations, procedures, and troubleshooting guides.
• Collaborate with development teams to support deployments.
• Participate in on-call rotations for after-hours support.

Skills

Systems administration

Cloud management

Networking concepts

Automation scripting

Remote work communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science / IT

Tools

Windows Server

Linux

AWS

Azure

GCP

VMware

Hyper-V

PowerShell

Bash

Python

Active Directory

Office 365

Networking

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a dynamic and rapidly growing cybersecurity firm, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Systems Administrator for a fully remote position based out of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. This is a remote-first opportunity where you will be responsible for the design, implementation, management, and maintenance of our robust IT infrastructure. You will play a critical role in ensuring the stability, security, and performance of our systems, supporting our global team of cybersecurity professionals. The ideal candidate is a self-motivated, proactive individual with extensive experience in server administration, network management, and cloud technologies. You will work with cutting-edge tools and technologies, contributing to our mission of delivering top-tier cybersecurity solutions. This role requires excellent problem-solving skills, strong communication abilities for effective remote collaboration, and a commitment to operational excellence. We are looking for someone who can take ownership of critical infrastructure tasks and contribute to strategic IT planning in a distributed environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Install, configure, and maintain Windows and Linux server environments.
• Manage and optimize cloud infrastructure on platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
• Implement and enforce security policies, including user access controls, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems.
• Monitor system performance and proactively identify and resolve potential issues.
• Develop and maintain disaster recovery and business continuity plans.
• Manage backups and data recovery operations.
• Automate routine administrative tasks using scripting languages (e.g., PowerShell, Bash, Python).
• Provide technical support to end-users and resolve escalated IT issues.
• Manage network devices, including routers, switches, and VPNs.
• Document system configurations, procedures, and troubleshooting guides.
• Collaborate with development teams to support application deployments and infrastructure needs.
• Participate in on-call rotations for after-hours support.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience in systems administration.
• Proficiency in managing both Windows Server and Linux (e.g., Ubuntu, CentOS) operating systems.
• Strong experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Solid understanding of networking concepts (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VPNs).
• Experience with virtualization technologies (e.g., VMware, Hyper‑V).
• Proficiency in scripting languages for automation (e.g., PowerShell, Bash, Python).
• Knowledge of security best practices and tools.
• Experience with Active Directory, Group Policy, and Office 365 administration.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills for remote collaboration.
• Ability to work independently and manage time effectively in a remote setting.
• Relevant certifications such as MCSA, MCSE, AWS Certified SysOps Administrator, or equivalent.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary package.
• Fully remote work opportunity with flexibility.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Generous paid time off and holidays.
• Annual professional development budget for training and certifications.
• Company-provided laptop and home office stipend.
• Opportunity to work with a leading cybersecurity firm.
• Virtual team events and collaborative online culture.
• 401k plan with company match.
• Life and disability insurance.