Cloud & Infrastructure Systems Administrator

SFA is seeking candidates for the following position for our DC based client: 

Title: Cloud & Infrastructure Systems Administrator
Period of Performance: Ongoing
Location:   Washington DC 
Work Arrangement: Hybrid - 3 days onsite and 2 days offsite

Summary 

Cloud & Infrastructure Systems Administrator to manage and optimize our hybrid cloud environment. This role is for a forward-thinking IT professional who is passionate about infrastructure, automation, and leveraging modern cloud and AI platforms to drive efficiency and reliability. The ideal candidate will be responsible for the full lifecycle of our server and virtual environments, from initial design and deployment to ongoing maintenance, monitoring, and continuous improvement. 

Responsibilities 

Cloud and Hybrid Infrastructure Management: Administer, configure, and maintain Microsoft Azure and AWS environments. This includes managing virtual machines, networking, storage, and identity services across both cloud and on-premises infrastructure. 

Automation and Scripting: Develop and maintain automation scripts using tools like PowerShell, Python, and Terraform to provision infrastructure, automate routine tasks, and enforce configuration consistency. Implement Infrastructure as Code (IaC) principles to manage infrastructure efficiently. 

AI for Operations (AIOps): Utilize AI-powered monitoring and log analysis platforms such as Splunk and Azure Monitor to proactively detect system anomalies, predict potential failures, and automate incident response. 

Containerization and Orchestration: Deploy and manage containerized applications using Docker and orchestrate them with Kubernetes to ensure scalability and high availability. 

Security and Compliance: Enforce security policies across all platforms. This includes managing identity and access controls with Azure Active Directory and modern IAM solutions, ensuring data encryption, and conducting regular security audits. 

Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity: Design, implement, and test modern disaster recovery and business continuity plans for both cloud-native and on-premise systems to ensure minimal downtime and data loss. 

Virtualization and Server Administration: Administer VMware vSphere and Windows Server environments, ensuring they are patched, secure, and configured for optimal performance. 

Collaboration and Improvement: Work closely with development and security teams in a DevOps and DevSecOps culture to streamline workflows and implement continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines. Provide technical expertise and mentorship to junior staff. 

System Intelligence and Machine Learning: Collaborate with data science teams to integrate intelligent agents and machine learning models for infrastructure optimization, capacity planning, and automated resource allocation. 

Qualifications 

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in a systems administration or similar role within an enterprise environment. 
• Proven expertise in managing and administering cloud platforms like Microsoft Azure and/or Amazon Web Services (AWS). 
• Strong experience with automation and scripting, particularly with PowerShell and/or Python. 
• Experience with Microsoft Azure Entra ID, API Management, Front Door, Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, Application Proxy Gateway, Data Gateway. 
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools such as Terraform. 
• Hands-on experience with virtualization technologies, specifically VMware vSphere. 
• Experience with containerization and orchestration platforms like Docker and Kubernetes. 
• Familiarity with AIOps tools and principles for predictive analysis and automated monitoring. 
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office 365, Power Platform, Intune, MECM/SCCM. 
• A foundational understanding of machine learning concepts, intelligent agents, and their practical application in an IT infrastructure context. 
• Solid understanding of modern networking concepts, including hybrid cloud connectivity, security groups, and load balancing. 
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Active Directory and modern identity management. 
• Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze complex issues and provide effective solutions. 
• Relevant certifications are a strong plus, especially Azure Administrator Associate, AWS Certified SysOps Administrator, or VMware Certified Professional (VCP). 
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field, or equivalent practical experience and certifications.