Senior IT Systems Engineer – IT Infrastructure (Cloud & On-Premises) NEW

Job description

What are we looking for?

Key Responsibilities

Infrastructure Architecture & Engineering

• Design, implement and maintain robust on-premises and cloud infrastructure solutions, ensuring high availability, resilience and optimal performance across all environments.
• Architect and manage Windows Server and Linux server environments, including virtualisation platforms (VMware, Hyper-V) and related storage systems.
• Lead the deployment and lifecycle management of Azure cloud resources, including virtual machines, databases, landing zones and hybrid connectivity configurations.
• Maintain and evolve the organisation’s database infrastructure (SQL Server), ensuring backup integrity, performance and security compliance.

Network, Firewall & Security

• Manage and optimise complex network environments including Juniper and Aruba switches, MIST and Meraki access points and Palo Alto Next-Generation Firewalls.
• Lead firewall policy management, security rule sets, VPN configurations and network segmentation initiatives.
• Conduct and coordinate security audits, vulnerability assessments, and compliance activities in collaboration with the CISO and Cyber Security team.
• Embed security best practices into infrastructure design and day-to-day operations.

Cloud & Hybrid Infrastructure

• Oversee the integration and management of hybrid on-premises and Azure cloud environments, ensuring seamless connectivity and governance.
• Contribute to cloud cost management, monitoring and optimisation efforts, providing regular reporting and recommendations to IT management.
• Evaluate and implement Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tooling and automation to improve deployment consistency and efficiency.

Project Leadership & Delivery

• Lead critical IT infrastructure projects from inception through to delivery, including scoping, planning, resource coordination, stakeholder communication and post-implementation review.
• Structure and manage multiple concurrent projects, ensuring delivery on time, within scope and within budget.
• Act as the primary technical escalation point for complex infrastructure incidents and problems, driving root cause analysis and permanent remediation.

Technical Leadership & Collaboration

• Mentor and support IT Systems Engineers and junior staff, building technical capability across the infrastructure team.
• Collaborate closely with the IT Development, Office IT and Cyber Security teams to ensure infrastructure solutions support application and business needs.
• Engage with external vendors and managed service providers to evaluate solutions, manage contracts and ensure service quality.

Documentation & Governance

• Produce and maintain comprehensive documentation of infrastructure designs, configurations, procedures and runbooks.
• Ensure all infrastructure practices comply with applicable regulatory, cybersecurity and organisational policy requirements.
• Contribute to the definition and continuous improvement of IT standards, guidelines and best practices.

On-Call Support & Flexibility

• Participate in on-call rotation to ensure 24/7 availability for critical infrastructure incidents.
• Willingness to work flexibly, including outside regular hours when required, to support business continuity and urgent operational needs.
• Occasional travel to satellite offices (Lowestoft, IJmuiden, and others) to support infrastructure deployments, audits, or training.

What do you bring?

Required Skills

• Formal education: you hold a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field. A Master’s degree is a plus;
• You have at least 7 years of experience in IT infrastructure roles, with demonstrated expertise across a broad technology stack;
• Languages: English is a must have – Dutch preferable;
• Deep expert-level knowledge in at least one of the following domains: Windows/Linux server infrastructure, Azure cloud, network & firewall (Palo Alto / Juniper / Aruba), or virtualisation (VMware / Hyper-V);
• Solid hands-on proficiency across all other infrastructure domains listed above;
• Proven capability to lead and deliver large, complex infrastructure projects independently;
• Excellent communication, leadership and problem-solving skills;
• Experience with security and compliance best practices in hybrid environments.

Preferred Skills

• Advanced certifications such as: Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, VMware Certified Professional (VCP), Juniper Certified Network Professional (JNCIP), Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer (PCNSE) or equivalent;
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code tools (Terraform, Bicep, Ansible or similar);
• Familiarity with ITIL framework and IT service management best practices;
• Experience working in international, multi-site organisations;
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams;
• A proactive, solution-oriented mentality.