Stellenbosch, Technopark - A leader in mission-critical industrial data acquisition and communication systems to Utility Companies and the Renewable Energy industry is seeking a Systems Administrator to support and maintain their ICT network infrastructure, Linux servers, databases, and cloud environments, as well as provide technical support for software applications and general IT operations. This role requires a proactive problem solver with a strong technical foundation who can ensure system reliability and security. The successful candidate will report to the Senior ICT Systems Engineer and work alongside other technical team members to maintain and improve ICT systems.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Network & IT Support:
- Support and troubleshoot network infrastructure to ensure optimal performance and connectivity.
- Assist with configuring and maintaining firewalls, VPNs, and network security policies.
- Perform routine network monitoring, maintenance, and upgrades.
- Maintain network documentation and incident logs.

2. Linux Server Administration:
- Install, configure, and maintain Linux servers (e.g., Ubuntu).
- Monitor system performance, apply patches, and implement updates.
- Assist in automation of routine tasks using shell scripting or other tools.

3. Database Administration:
- Support database setup, maintenance, and troubleshooting (e.g., MySQL).
- Perform data integrity checks, backups, and recovery operations.
- Monitor database performance and assist in optimizing queries when necessary.

4. Cloud Infrastructure (AWS):
- Assist in managing cloud resources, ensuring cost efficiency and scalability.
- Support security best practices for cloud-based services.
- Perform routine maintenance, monitoring, and backup processes.

5. Software & Application Support:
- Provide technical support for software applications, troubleshooting issues and ensuring uptime.
- Work with development teams to deploy, configure, and manage applications.
- Maintain system documentation, configurations, and troubleshooting guides.

6. Security & Compliance:
- Assist in ensuring system security, access controls, and compliance standards.
- Support security audits and vulnerability assessments.
- Participate in disaster recovery planning and testing.

Requirements / Qualifications / Experience:

• Preferably BEng/BSc in Computer Science/engineering
• Alternatively, a BTech/Diploma with the following certifications (AWS Certified, MTCNA, CCNA, Linux System Administrator) are a plus
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in systems administration, networking or IT infrastructure roles.
• Familiarity with Linux environments, databases, and cloud services (AWS preferred)
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with a team
• Eagerness to learn and grow within a technical environment

Required Skills and Competence Level: 

• Networking routing, network devices, TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP (Wireshark and other tools) - Intermediate
• Security and Firewall config (Shorewall, Mikrotik etc) - Intermediate
• Ubuntu Linux Server installation, configuration and troubleshooting (Bash Scripting, Cron, PuTTY, SSH) - Intermediate
• Server Virtualization (XENServer, Proxmox, AWS, VMware) - Basic
• Virtual Private Networking: SSH/IPSEC and other VPN topologies - Basic
• Cloud Management: AWS (EC2, S3, RDS, etc) for cloud server and database setup, monitoring, and cost optimization - Intermediate
• Network and server Monitoring & Performance Tools: NMS systems setup and support (e.g., 10-Strike, Nagios, CloudWatch, SNMP) - Intermediate
• Software and server deployment: Docker, Docker Compose and Traefik - Intermediate
• Database management and maintenance (MySQL, Mongo) - Intermediate
• In-house developed web and server-based software application support and troubleshooting (Java, Python, PHP) - Basic
• Windows Server installation, configuration and troubleshooting - Basic
• Windows and Office applications user support - Basic
• Electronics and IOT hardware and software - Basic

Personal Attributes: 

• Good communication and collaboration abilities.
• Detail-oriented.
• Proactive approach.
• Ability to work independently.
• Manage time effectively.
• Ability to work with customers (internal and external) and suppliers.
• Versatile
• Responsible and reliable
• Team player
• Clerical ability
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to expand your expertise in IT infrastructure, security, and cloud technologies. If you have a strong technical background and enjoy working in a dynamic, hands-on role, we’d love to hear from you!