IT Data Center Engineer (Kabul & Mazar)

Role summary Responsible for the operation, administration, performance, security and availability of ATOMA enterprise Linux, VMware, storage, backup and Disaster Recovery infrastructure across Primary and DR Data Centers. The position provides hands-on administration of Linux server platforms, VMware vSphere/ESXi/vCenter, enterprise storage, Veritas NetBackup and tape-library environments, physical server hardware and recovery operations. The engineer also provides operational cross-coverage for Windows Server, Active Directory, Microsoft 365 and related Microsoft infrastructure services to support resilient and highly available Data Center operations, the position also provides administration and operational support for Pi-hole DNS, Veeam Backup and Recovery, and enterprise privileged access management (PAM) platforms used within ATOMA Data Center infrastructure. Duties and responsibilities · Administer and maintain enterprise Linux servers including RHEL, Oracle Linux, Ubuntu and related platforms across Primary and Disaster Recovery Data Centers. · Administer VMware vSphere, ESXi and vCenter environments, including clusters, hosts, virtual machines, templates, resource allocation, HA/DRS, virtual networking, datastores and capacity management. · Administer and support enterprise storage platforms including Dell EMC and Huawei storage, covering pools, volumes/LUNs, host mapping, datastore presentation, capacity and performance monitoring. · Administer and support Veritas NetBackup Flex and enterprise backup infrastructure, including clients, policies, schedules, retention, job monitoring, troubleshooting and restore operations. · Administer and support Pi-hole DNS infrastructure, including DNS forwarding, upstream DNS configuration, local DNS records, allow/block policies, service availability, logging, troubleshooting and configuration backup. · Monitor and maintain Pi-hole DNS availability and integration with Active Directory DNS and other enterprise DNS services. · Administer and support Veeam Backup and Recovery environments, including backup jobs, repositories, schedules, retention policies, replication, restore operations, monitoring and troubleshooting. · Perform regular backup and restore validation using Veeam and Veritas NetBackup to ensure recoverability of critical systems. · Administer and support enterprise Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions, including PAM360 or equivalent platforms, for secure privileged access to Linux, VMware, storage, backup and Data Center infrastructure. · Manage privileged accounts, access policies, password vaulting, session access, audit logs and approved administrative access through PAM.. · Operate and support enterprise tape-library environments, including media handling, inventory, retention tracking, duplication/offsite processes and restore readiness. · Perform Linux installation, configuration, patching, package management, service administration, user/permission management, filesystem/LVM administration, performance tuning and troubleshooting. · Perform VMware lifecycle activities including ESXi patching, host maintenance, VM administration, snapshot management, resource optimization, firmware compatibility and approved platform upgrades. · Support SAN and storage integration with VMware and Linux environments, including multipathing, HBA connectivity, LUN/datastore mapping and coordination of zoning or path-related activities with relevant teams. · Monitor storage utilization, performance, capacity trends and hardware health; investigate latency, path, capacity or availability issues and coordinate corrective actions with vendors and technical teams. · Monitor backup success, failed jobs, retention compliance and recovery-point coverage; perform and document regular restore tests to validate backup integrity and recovery procedures. · Administer and troubleshoot Dell, HPE and Huawei physical server platforms, including RAID, NIC/HBA, firmware, hardware health, diagnostics, replacement and vendor escalation. · Participate in Disaster Recovery planning, replication/recovery activities, DR testing, recovery sequencing, VM/server restoration and documentation of recovery procedures for critical infrastructure services. · Monitor Linux, VMware, storage, backup and server infrastructure using enterprise monitoring platforms and take preventive or corrective action to maintain availability and performance. · Implement approved operating system, virtualization, storage and backup security hardening, privileged access controls, patching and vulnerability remediation in coordination with Information Security. · Use shell scripting, PowerCLI, Ansible, PowerShell or other approved automation methods to standardize builds, health checks, backup reporting, capacity analysis and routine infrastructure administration. · Integrate infrastructure platforms with DNS, NTP, LDAP/Active Directory, monitoring, backup, logging and security services as required. · Provide Tier 2/Tier 3 support for critical Linux, VMware, storage, backup, hardware and recovery incidents; perform root-cause analysis and implement preventive actions. · Provide secondary operational support for Windows Server, Active Directory, Microsoft 365/Exchange, SCCM/WSUS and related Microsoft services when required for cross-platform coverage. · Maintain accurate server/VM inventories, storage maps, backup architecture, retention schedules, media records, configuration standards, DR runbooks, diagrams and technical documentation; follow ITIL-aligned incident, problem and change management processes. · Provide 24x7/on-call support when required for critical infrastructure incidents, backup/restore requests, maintenance windows, Disaster Recovery events or Data Center operations. Job requirements Education: · Bachelor's degree (BCS) in Computer Science, Information Technology, Computer Engineering or a related field from a reputable university of Afghanistan or abroad. Experience: · Minimum 8+ years in Enterprise Infrastructure and Data Center Operations, including experience within a telecommunications company or telecom service-provider environment. Strong hands-on experience in Linux administration, VMware virtualization, enterprise storage, backup, Disaster Recovery and physical server hardware is required. Working knowledge of Windows Server, Active Directory and Microsoft 365 is required for cross-platform support. Experience supporting 24x7 mission-critical environments is required. Training & Preferred Certifications: · Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA), Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE), Oracle Linux, LFCS/LFCE or equivalent Linux administration certification · VMware Certified Professional - Data Center Virtualization (VCP-DCV) or equivalent VMware certification · Enterprise storage administration certification from Dell Technologies, Huawei or equivalent · Veritas NetBackup administration/certification or equivalent enterprise backup certification · Microsoft Windows Server / Microsoft 365 fundamentals or administration certification is an advantage · ITIL Foundation, Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity and fundamental networking certifications are advantages