Senior Network Administrator at NRF National Research Foundation

About the position

Postion Summary:
The purpose is to implement and support organizational-wide network services, and directives from the Security team and maintain networking documentation. The candidate will monitor and support network equipment, do performance monitoring on existing networks, and provide second-line support to the helpdesk. The candidate will contribute to design, planning, ongoing improvements and assist with forecasting future requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintain and manage, in conjunction with networking team, networking switches and routers conforming to requirements from Networking Security Team Develop, manage and maintain documentation of the system architecture
• Develop and maintain database of existing networking equipment – location, serial number, model, configuration management
• Manage, in conjunction with networking team, maintenance of networking kit, spares provisioning, stores replacement, capacity planning, optics, line cards etc
• Maintain and manage, in conjunction with networking team, servers both physical and virtual (Proxmox based on KVM) running Linux and Microsoft Windows Server Edition
• Maintain and manage, in conjunction with networking team, server room level networking and availability
• Respond, in conjunction with the networking team, to break-fix issues on networking equipment

Minimum Qualification:

• Diploma / Advanced Certificate / NQF 6

Minimum Experience:

• 3-5 years

• National Diploma Engineering/Information Technology 5+ years; ORB
• Eng / B
• Sc Hons (Comp Sci/Engineering or related field) with 3+ years

Experience:

• Working as a technical resource on network infrastructureExperience in network operations and service supportExperience working with helpdesk as a support technicianExperience monitoring and responding proactively to network and IT issuesExperience monitoring, implementing and updating network security servicesExperience working with virtual networks, namespace managementExperience interpreting and updating network designs

Knowledge:

• Documenting network architecture at various OSI levels
• Operating systems experience: Windows, Linux (Debian / Ubuntu), OS XNetworking in virtual environments in particular KVM via Proxmox Enterprise Virtualisation as well as containerised environments such as DockerNetworking security best practice; Firewall configuration and management
• Maintenance and operation life cycle of Networking Equipment
• Identity and Access Management, Single Sign-on and Federated Identity (IdP and SP) ITIL frameworks and ICT operations

Additional Notes:
Skills/ Ability/ CompetenciesGood working knowledge of TCP/IP, Routing, DNS, DHCP, OSI Stack, [URL Removed] switch and router configuration – Cisco, HPE, Mellanox, AristaExperience in networking monitoring tools and support [URL Removed] understanding of Linux operating system, Opensource software and networking [URL Removed] knowledge of systems/services for software/hardware development, how this relates to IT networking, security, storage and [URL Removed] thinking and influenceInitiative and continually brings fresh ideas to the tableThe NRF website provides more details on the initiatives and activities Applicants should submit a comprehensive CV by registering and apply online through the NRF Recruitment and Selection Portal. Applications should be accompanied by a letter of motivation indicating the applicant·s suitability for the position. The names and contact details of at least three referees should be provided.

Desired Skills:

• Skilled in applied field of position
• Knowledge to be relevant
• Responsible in performing duties

About The Employer:

The National Research Foundation (NRF) supports and promotes research and human capital development through funding, the provision of National Research Facilities and science outreach platforms and programmes to the broader community in all fields of science and technology, including natural sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities. The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) spearheads South Africa??s activities in the Square Kilometre Array Radio Telescope, commonly known as the SKA, in engineering, science and construction. SARAO is a National Facility managed by the National Research Foundation and incorporates radio astronomy instruments and programmes such as the MeerKAT telescope in the Karoo, the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) in Gauteng, the African Very Long Baseline Interferometry (AVN) programme in nine African countries as well as the associated human capital development and commercialisation endeavours.