System Administrator
About
Our backend infrastructure runs entirely on-premises, using privately managed servers to ensure full data localization, privacy, and performance.
We’re now assembling a core engineering team to build, scale, and secure this critical infrastructure.
Role Overview
The System Administrator will be responsible for the installation, configuration, maintenance, and optimization of on-premise servers, storage systems, network devices, and operating environments.
You’ll ensure that our infrastructure is secure, redundant, and performant — serving public institutions and enterprises with maximum uptime and integrity.
This role requires strong expertise in Linux systems, virtualization, network management, and security hardening in air-gapped or restricted environments.
Key Responsibilities
1. Server & Infrastructure Management
Install, configure, and maintain physical and virtual servers (bare metal and VMs).
Manage Linux-based systems (Ubuntu Server, Debian, or RHEL).
Oversee storage systems (RAID, NAS/SAN, NFS, iSCSI).
Perform regular system updates, patching, and backups.
Monitor server health, performance, and capacity using tools like Prometheus, Grafana, or Zabbix.
2. Network Administration
Configure and maintain LAN/WAN, firewalls, VPNs, VLANs, and routing.
Manage network segmentation and access control policies.
Collaborate with telecom and ISP partners for secure connectivity and redundancy.
Ensure high availability and low latency across institutional deployments.
3. Security & Access Control
Implement and maintain system hardening (CIS or NIST standards).
Manage user accounts, authentication, and permissions (LDAP, SSO).
Set up and monitor firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention (IDS/IPS).
Regularly perform vulnerability scans, log reviews, and incident response.
Ensure compliance with national cybersecurity policies and internal security standards.
4. Backup & Disaster Recovery
Develop and maintain automated backup strategies (daily/weekly snapshots).
Test disaster recovery (DR) and business continuity (BC) procedures.
Maintain redundant systems and off-site backup copies (when permitted).
Ensure rapid restoration of services in case of hardware or software failures.
5. Virtualization & Resource Optimization
Manage VM environments (Proxmox, VMware, KVM).
Allocate compute, storage, and memory resources efficiently across workloads.
Monitor and optimize virtualization performance.
Support containerized environments in coordination with the DevOps team (Docker/Kubernetes nodes).
6. Documentation & Procedures
Maintain up-to-date infrastructure documentation (topology, access policies, change logs).
Create SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for system operations.
Contribute to IT asset inventory and lifecycle management.
Support audit and compliance reviews.
7. Support & Collaboration
Work closely with DevOps engineers, backend developers, and security specialists to deploy and maintain production systems.
Provide technical support for infrastructure-related issues.
Participate in on-call rotations for incident response and critical maintenance.
Required Skills & Experience
Technical Skills
3–5+ years experience in System Administration or Infrastructure Management.
Proficiency in Linux server administration (Ubuntu, Debian, RHEL).
Strong knowledge of network configuration and troubleshooting.
Familiarity with virtualization platforms (KVM, VMware).
Experience with firewalls (pfSense, Fortinet, or similar).
Familiar with monitoring tools (Zabbix, Grafana, Prometheus).
Scripting ability in Bash or Python for automation tasks.
Security & Compliance
Understanding of system hardening, firewalls, IDS/IPS, encryption, PKI.
Knowledge of security auditing and log management.
Familiarity with data sovereignty and regulatory compliance (GDPR, ISO 27001, national data laws).
Soft Skills
Strong analytical and troubleshooting abilities.
Proactive and disciplined in managing high-security environments.
Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
Integrity, confidentiality, and attention to detail are essential.
Preferred Qualifications
Certifications such as LPIC, RHCSA, CompTIA Linux+, or CCNA are a plus.
Experience in critical infrastructure IT environments.
Understanding of high availability (HA) clusters and failover setups.
What We Offer
Compensation & Benefits
Competitive salary based on experience and skills (market-leading for Algeria)
Performance bonuses tied to company and individual goals
Annual salary reviews with merit-based increases
Professional Growth
Learning & development budget
Opportunity to attend tech conferences
Mentorship from experienced founders and engineers
Clear career progression path (Senior → Lead → Principal → Engineering Manager)
Work Environment
Modern equipment: MacBook, external monitors, ergonomic setup
Flexible working hours (core hours with flexibility)
Regular team events: lunches, outings, hackathons
Impact & Ownership
Ground-floor opportunity: Join as one of the first 10 employees
Significant ownership of critical systems and architecture decisions
Direct impact on product direction and company success
Voice at the table: Your opinions and ideas will shape our technical strategy
Work on challenging technical problems with real-world impact
Our Interview Process
We respect your time and aim for a fair, transparent process:
Application Review (2-3 days)
Initial Screening (30 minutes - Phone/Video)
Technical Assessment (1 week)
Technical Deep-Dive (1.5-2 hours - On-site/Video)
Review your technical assessment with our CTO
System design discussion
Database design and optimization scenarios
Discussion of past projects and technical decisions
Team & Culture Fit (1 hour - On-site)
Meet the founding team
Discuss working style, collaboration, and values
Q&A about the company, vision, and roadmap
Final Conversation (45 minutes)
Discussion with founder(s)
Career goals and growth opportunities
Compensation negotiation
Answer any remaining questions
Offer & References (2-3 days)
Formal offer letter
Contract negotiation
Total timeline: 1-2 weeks from application to offer