Senior Infrastructure SME / Solution Owner

Senior Infrastructure SME / Solution Owner Technology Sabenza IT & Recruitment Bryanston , South Africa Until 2026/08/07 Job description

Expérience

We are seeking a highly experienced and technically skilled Specialist Support Engineer – Systems Virtualization & Storage Infrastructure to join our MIS team. This is a senior SME-level role with end-to-end accountability for the organisation’s virtualization, storage, server, and backup infrastructure environments. The successful candidate will take full ownership of the infrastructure portfolio from conceptualisation, solution design, and architecture through to implementation, optimisation, and ongoing operational support . This is not a pure operational support role. The incumbent is expected to act as a technical authority and solution owner , providing architectural direction, design leadership, and engineering decisions across the infrastructure stack. The Specialist will Own the full infrastructure lifecycle (design → build → operate → optimise) Lead solution design and architecture decisions Provide technical direction and input into infrastructure projects Drive infrastructure optimisation and continuous improvement Act as the SME for virtualization, storage, backup, and Windows Server environments Be accountable for end-to-end solution outcomes, not just execution or support Key Responsibilities Infrastructure Ownership & Solution Design (NEW EMPHASIS) Lead the design and architecture of VMware, storage, backup, and server environments

Develop infrastructure solutions aligned to business and operational requirements Provide technical leadership and recommendations for infrastructure improvements Evaluate, select, and standardise infrastructure technologies Ensure scalability, resilience, and performance are designed into all solutions from the outset Virtualization Infrastructure Management Manage and maintain VMware environments (vSphere/ESXi) Design and optimise virtual infrastructure for performance and availability Ensure high availability, clustering, and workload balancing Lead upgrades, migrations, and architecture improvements Backup & Storage Architecture (Veeam + IBM) Architect and manage enterprise backup solutions using Veeam Backup & Replication Ensure backup architecture supports business continuity and DR objectives Design and administer IBM storage environments (SAN, fibre, tape systems) Lead storage optimisation, capacity planning, and performance tuning Validate backup integrity and disaster recovery readiness Server & Infrastructure Engineering (Windows + Hardware) Architect and manage Windows Server environments Design server infrastructure for performance, resilience, and security Oversee hardware lifecycle management and infrastructure refresh cycles Perform advanced troubleshooting and root-cause analysis Project & Vendor Leadership Lead infrastructure-related projects from design to implementation Provide technical input into project planning and execution Manage and coordinate third-party vendors and OEMs (IBM, VMware, etc.) Ensure solutions delivered align with architectural standards Governance, Documentation & Compliance Maintain complete and accurate infrastructure documentation Ensure compliance with internal standards, audit requirements, and safety practices Support risk management, governance, and audit processes Adhere to operational safety standards (including BSP requirements) Operational Support (Secondary to Design Responsibility) Participate in standby, after-hours, and weekend support rotations Provide escalation support for critical infrastructure incidents Travel to sites when required for infrastructure support or implementation Requirements Qualifications

Formation / Diplômes

Bachelor’s Degree in IT, Computer Science, Information Systems, or equivalent Certifications (Required) MCSA / MCSE Windows Server MCITP Enterprise Administrator (Windows Server) VMware Certified Professional (VCP 6/7/8/9) IBM certifications (System X, Storage, Tape, Fibre) Veeam Certified Backup Specialist Experience Requirements (CRITICAL)

• 10+ years Windows Server administration (enterprise environments)
• 10+ years VMware administration and architecture experience
• 10+ years IBM storage administration (SAN / fibre / tape systems)
• 10+ years enterprise backup experience using Veeam Proven experience in solution design and infrastructure architecture (mandatory) Experience in mission-critical, high availability environments Demonstrated history of end-to-end infrastructure ownership (design → implementatio

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