Senior Systems Engineer

CNS is a technology company that powers the future by providing digital solutions essential to support all enterprise and human development. While growing and managing a robust pool of supplier-partners for the benefit of our clients has always been a priority, we are constantly re-inventing ourselves.

Founded in 1987 with more than 35 years of experience, CNS employs over 320 employees including more than 250 certified engineers. We offer in-depth expertise and a range of best-in-class products that support the digital transformation of all major industries. With offices in three countries, we have an extensive reach into, and regional knowledge of the Middle East markets.

A shift into levering our many years of experience to develop pioneering software in-house will add yet another dimension to our highly innovative solutions-portfolio.

The Senior Systems Engineer is responsible for the design, deployment and migration of data-centre infrastructure for CNS customers - servers, storage, backup and cloud. The role covers delivery from assessment and design through cut-over and handover, plus L3 support for systems issues.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Deployment and implementation
• Design, install and configure server, storage, backup and virtualisation solutions for customer projects.
• Deploy blade servers (HPE, Dell), including firmware, iLO/iDRAC, OS builds and hardening.
• Build and configure virtualisation platforms (VMware vSphere/vSAN, Microsoft Hyper-V, Nutanix).
• Implement SAN/NAS storage (HPE, Dell EMC, NetApp, Pure) - zoning, LUN provisioning, replication and snapshots.
• Deploy backup and DR solutions (Veeam, Commvault, Veritas) with retention, immutability and offsite/cloud copy.

Migration

• Plan and execute data-centre, server, storage and workload migrations with minimal downtime.
• Run P2V/V2V migrations, storage data migrations, and Windows Server / Active Directory upgrades.
• Migrate on-prem workloads to Azure, AWS or local UAE cloud, and Exchange to Microsoft 365.
• Write the migration plan, Method of Deployment (MD), cut-over runbook and rollback plan for each project.
• Cloud and hybrid
• Design and deploy hybrid infrastructure - Azure/AWS compute, storage, networking and identity (Entra ID).
• Implement cloud backup, DR-as-a-service and site-to-site connectivity with the network team.
• Support and operations
• Provide L3 support for systems incidents and carry out root-cause analysis.
• Perform preventive maintenance (PM) and health checks for AMC customers and produce PM reports.
• Maintain as-built documents, configuration records and knowledge base articles.
• Pre-sales and customer delivery
• Support pre-sales with solution design, BoQ, SOW inputs and man-day estimates for RFPs.
• Work directly with customers, vendors and project managers on scope, timelines and acceptance.

Education

Minimum

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, IT or Engineering.

Desired

• Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate or MCSE Server / Core Infrastructure.
• VMware VCP-DCV (VCAP an advantage).
• Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) or AWS Solutions Architect - Associate.
• Veeam VMCE, Commvault, Veritas, Zerto; HPE or Dell EMC storage/server certification; ITIL Foundation.

Experience

Minimum

10+ years in systems infrastructure, with at least 5 years hands-on in deployment and migration projects.

Proven delivery of end-to-end data-centre, server, storage, backup and cloud migrations.

Desired

System integrator or managed-services experience in the UAE/GCC.

Skills & Abilities

Required

• Servers - HPE ProLiant/Synergy, Dell PowerEdge, Windows Server, Linux (RHEL/Ubuntu).
• Virtualisation - VMware vSphere, vCenter, vSAN; Hyper-V.
• Storage - SAN/NAS (HPE, Dell EMC, NetApp), FC/iSCSI, replication.
• Backup & DR - Veeam Backup & Replication, DR design and testing.
• Identity & M365 - Active Directory, DNS/DHCP, GPO, Entra ID, Exchange/M365 migration.
• Cloud - Microsoft Azure or AWS (IaaS, storage, backup, hybrid).
• Automation - PowerShell.
• Strong documentation skills: HLD/LLD, MD, migration plans and as-built reports.

Desired

• Nutanix AHV, VMware HCX.
• Pure Storage, HPE Alletra.
• Commvault, Veritas, Zerto.
• Intune.
• Local UAE cloud platforms.
• Ansible, Terraform.
• Valid UAE driving licence; willing to carry out cut-overs out of hours.
• Compliance with policies and procedures based on the ISO standards adopted by CNS.