Senior Systems Engineer
Ghobash Group · Dubai, UAE
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.