About the role
Title: Infrastructure & Cloud Systems Engineer
Duration: 6 month
Type: Contract to Hire
Work Auth: USC
Rate to Insight: *** - *** per hour
Target Conversion Salary: ***K plus benefits
Travel: None
Location: 3 days onsite in Chicago, IL (downtown)
Address: 77 Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601
Client is mainly on Azure but is also looking for assistance with their Client on-prem environment when needed.
Skills:
Contract-to-Hire | On-Site / Hybrid
We are looking for a sharp, hands-on Infrastructure & Cloud Systems Engineer who thrives in both the data center and the cloud. You ll own the reliability, performance, and security of our hybrid infrastructure from bare-metal HPE servers and VMware clusters to Azure cloud environments and drive the automation and engineering discipline that keeps everything running at peak efficiency. This is a high-impact role for someone who moves fast, thinks in systems, and takes ownership.
What You ll Do
On-Premises Data Center & Server Administration
Administer and optimize physical and virtual server environments across on-premises data centers, including resource allocation (CPU, memory, storage), capacity planning, and lifecycle management.
Manage VMware vSphere/vCenter environments including ESXi host configuration, VM provisioning, cluster management, DRS/HA policies, and license allocation and optimization to control spend and maximize utilization.
Perform regular hardware health monitoring, firmware patching, and hardware lifecycle tracking in coordination with vendor support.
Own storage administration across SAN/NAS environments LUN provisioning, volume management, performance tuning, and capacity forecasting.
Maintain network fabric within the data center, including VLAN configuration, switching, and integration with enterprise routing and firewall infrastructure.
Drive disaster recovery and business continuity for on-premises systems design, execute, and document DR/failover tests on a defined schedule; validate RTO/RPO targets and remediate gaps.
Cloud Infrastructure (Azure & Hybrid)
Design, deploy, and maintain Azure infrastructure compute, networking, storage, identity, and platform services in alignment with architecture standards and security baselines.
Manage Azure AD/Entra ID, RBAC, Conditional Access, and identity governance for both cloud and hybrid environments.
Implement and maintain cloud cost governance right-sizing, reserved instance strategy, tagging hygiene, and license optimization across cloud resource pools.
Build and maintain Infrastructure as Code using Terraform, ARM templates, or Bicep to ensure consistent, auditable, and repeatable provisioning.
Develop and manage CI/CD pipelines for infrastructure deployment using Azure DevOps or GitHub Actions.
Client Data Center Stack Administration
Administer HPE ProLiant and HPE Synergy compute platforms server provisioning, firmware and BIOS management, iLO configuration, and hardware health monitoring.
Manage HPE OneView for composable infrastructure server profile templates, firmware baseline management, and data center resource orchestration.
Administer HPE BladeSystem and Synergy chassis environments including Virtual Connect fabric modules, interconnect configuration, and enclosure management.
Manage HPE 3PAR and/or HPE Nimble Storage arrays volume provisioning, thin cloning, snapshot scheduling, replication, performance tiering, and capacity optimization.
Operate and maintain networking infrastructure within the data center, including segmentation, VLAN management, and integration with core routing.
Leverage HPE InfoSight and CloudPhysics (or equivalent HPE AI Ops tools) for predictive analytics, anomaly detection, and workload optimization across the Client stack.
Coordinate with HPE support and field engineers for hardware break/fix, parts replacement, and proactive maintenance under active support contracts.
Operations, Security & Automation
Monitor and respond to infrastructure alerts across on-prem and cloud using centralized observability platforms; drive incident resolution and root cause analysis.
Automate operational workflows patching, provisioning, remediation, compliance reporting using PowerShell, Ansible, Python, or Azure CLI.
Implement and enforce security controls: encryption at rest and in transit, vulnerability remediation, firewall policy management, logging, audit trails, and compliance with organizational and regulatory requirements.
Administer core services: DNS, DHCP, certificate management, file and print, backup and replication, and endpoint configuration management.
Maintain and test backup and recovery solutions for both on-premises and cloud workloads; document recovery procedures and ensure recoverability is validated regularly.
Collaboration & Continuous Improvement
Partner with security, development, and IT operations teams to deliver resilient, scalable hybrid solutions and serve as an escalation point for complex infrastructure issues.
Develop and maintain runbooks, standard operating procedures, architecture documentation, and operational playbooks.
Contribute to infrastructure roadmaps and standards; proactively identify opportunities to reduce technical debt, improve efficiency, and increase platform maturity.
Participate in on-call rotation and after-hours maintenance windows as required.
What You Bring
8 years of hands-on experience in infrastructure engineering, systems administration, or cloud engineering in enterprise production environments.
Deep expertise in VMware vSphere/vCenter cluster administration, resource pool management, DRS/HA, vSAN, and license optimization.
5 years with Microsoft Azure Compute, Networking, Storage, Entra ID, Monitor, Key Vault, and hybrid connectivity (ExpressRoute, VPN).
Proven experience designing and executing disaster recovery plans and failover tests; familiarity with replication technologies (Zerto, Azure Site Recovery, Veeam, or equivalent).
Hands-on experience with HPE compute platforms (ProLiant, Synergy, BladeSystem), HPE OneView, and iLO administration.
Experience with HPE storage platforms HPE 3PAR, Nimble Storage, or MSA including LUN management, replication, and performance tuning.
Familiarity with HPE Aruba data center networking and HPE InfoSight or similar AI Ops tooling.
Strong command of Microsoft server platforms Active Directory, Windows Server, DNS/DHCP, IIS, file services.
Hands-on experience with Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, ARM/Bicep) and configuration management (Ansible, DSC, or equivalent).
Proficiency in scripting and automation: PowerShell, Python, Azure CLI, or Bash.
Experience with SAN/NAS administration and enterprise storage management.
Solid networking fundamentals: TCP/IP, DNS, VPN, firewalls, load balancing, and data center switching/routing.
Familiarity with change management, incident management, and ITSM processes (ServiceNow or equivalent).
Strong communicator with the ability to document clearly and collaborate across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Preferred Qualifications
Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104)
Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305)
VMware Certified Professional (VCP-DCV)
HPE Master ASE Hybrid IT Solutions Architect or HPE ATP Server Solutions
Experience with enterprise backup/DR platforms (Veeam, Zerto, Commvault, Azure Site Recovery).
Experience with monitoring and observability platforms (Azure Monitor, Datadog, SCOM, or equivalent).
Experience operating in regulated or compliance-driven environments (SOC 2, NIST, ISO 27001, FedRAMP).
Education
Bachelor s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field or an equivalent combination of education and demonstrated hands-on experience.
Duration: 6 month
Type: Contract to Hire
Work Auth: USC
Rate to Insight: *** - *** per hour
Target Conversion Salary: ***K plus benefits
Travel: None
Location: 3 days onsite in Chicago, IL (downtown)
Address: 77 Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601
Client is mainly on Azure but is also looking for assistance with their Client on-prem environment when needed.
Skills:
Contract-to-Hire | On-Site / Hybrid
We are looking for a sharp, hands-on Infrastructure & Cloud Systems Engineer who thrives in both the data center and the cloud. You ll own the reliability, performance, and security of our hybrid infrastructure from bare-metal HPE servers and VMware clusters to Azure cloud environments and drive the automation and engineering discipline that keeps everything running at peak efficiency. This is a high-impact role for someone who moves fast, thinks in systems, and takes ownership.
What You ll Do
On-Premises Data Center & Server Administration
Administer and optimize physical and virtual server environments across on-premises data centers, including resource allocation (CPU, memory, storage), capacity planning, and lifecycle management.
Manage VMware vSphere/vCenter environments including ESXi host configuration, VM provisioning, cluster management, DRS/HA policies, and license allocation and optimization to control spend and maximize utilization.
Perform regular hardware health monitoring, firmware patching, and hardware lifecycle tracking in coordination with vendor support.
Own storage administration across SAN/NAS environments LUN provisioning, volume management, performance tuning, and capacity forecasting.
Maintain network fabric within the data center, including VLAN configuration, switching, and integration with enterprise routing and firewall infrastructure.
Drive disaster recovery and business continuity for on-premises systems design, execute, and document DR/failover tests on a defined schedule; validate RTO/RPO targets and remediate gaps.
Cloud Infrastructure (Azure & Hybrid)
Design, deploy, and maintain Azure infrastructure compute, networking, storage, identity, and platform services in alignment with architecture standards and security baselines.
Manage Azure AD/Entra ID, RBAC, Conditional Access, and identity governance for both cloud and hybrid environments.
Implement and maintain cloud cost governance right-sizing, reserved instance strategy, tagging hygiene, and license optimization across cloud resource pools.
Build and maintain Infrastructure as Code using Terraform, ARM templates, or Bicep to ensure consistent, auditable, and repeatable provisioning.
Develop and manage CI/CD pipelines for infrastructure deployment using Azure DevOps or GitHub Actions.
Client Data Center Stack Administration
Administer HPE ProLiant and HPE Synergy compute platforms server provisioning, firmware and BIOS management, iLO configuration, and hardware health monitoring.
Manage HPE OneView for composable infrastructure server profile templates, firmware baseline management, and data center resource orchestration.
Administer HPE BladeSystem and Synergy chassis environments including Virtual Connect fabric modules, interconnect configuration, and enclosure management.
Manage HPE 3PAR and/or HPE Nimble Storage arrays volume provisioning, thin cloning, snapshot scheduling, replication, performance tiering, and capacity optimization.
Operate and maintain networking infrastructure within the data center, including segmentation, VLAN management, and integration with core routing.
Leverage HPE InfoSight and CloudPhysics (or equivalent HPE AI Ops tools) for predictive analytics, anomaly detection, and workload optimization across the Client stack.
Coordinate with HPE support and field engineers for hardware break/fix, parts replacement, and proactive maintenance under active support contracts.
Operations, Security & Automation
Monitor and respond to infrastructure alerts across on-prem and cloud using centralized observability platforms; drive incident resolution and root cause analysis.
Automate operational workflows patching, provisioning, remediation, compliance reporting using PowerShell, Ansible, Python, or Azure CLI.
Implement and enforce security controls: encryption at rest and in transit, vulnerability remediation, firewall policy management, logging, audit trails, and compliance with organizational and regulatory requirements.
Administer core services: DNS, DHCP, certificate management, file and print, backup and replication, and endpoint configuration management.
Maintain and test backup and recovery solutions for both on-premises and cloud workloads; document recovery procedures and ensure recoverability is validated regularly.
Collaboration & Continuous Improvement
Partner with security, development, and IT operations teams to deliver resilient, scalable hybrid solutions and serve as an escalation point for complex infrastructure issues.
Develop and maintain runbooks, standard operating procedures, architecture documentation, and operational playbooks.
Contribute to infrastructure roadmaps and standards; proactively identify opportunities to reduce technical debt, improve efficiency, and increase platform maturity.
Participate in on-call rotation and after-hours maintenance windows as required.
What You Bring
8 years of hands-on experience in infrastructure engineering, systems administration, or cloud engineering in enterprise production environments.
Deep expertise in VMware vSphere/vCenter cluster administration, resource pool management, DRS/HA, vSAN, and license optimization.
5 years with Microsoft Azure Compute, Networking, Storage, Entra ID, Monitor, Key Vault, and hybrid connectivity (ExpressRoute, VPN).
Proven experience designing and executing disaster recovery plans and failover tests; familiarity with replication technologies (Zerto, Azure Site Recovery, Veeam, or equivalent).
Hands-on experience with HPE compute platforms (ProLiant, Synergy, BladeSystem), HPE OneView, and iLO administration.
Experience with HPE storage platforms HPE 3PAR, Nimble Storage, or MSA including LUN management, replication, and performance tuning.
Familiarity with HPE Aruba data center networking and HPE InfoSight or similar AI Ops tooling.
Strong command of Microsoft server platforms Active Directory, Windows Server, DNS/DHCP, IIS, file services.
Hands-on experience with Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, ARM/Bicep) and configuration management (Ansible, DSC, or equivalent).
Proficiency in scripting and automation: PowerShell, Python, Azure CLI, or Bash.
Experience with SAN/NAS administration and enterprise storage management.
Solid networking fundamentals: TCP/IP, DNS, VPN, firewalls, load balancing, and data center switching/routing.
Familiarity with change management, incident management, and ITSM processes (ServiceNow or equivalent).
Strong communicator with the ability to document clearly and collaborate across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Preferred Qualifications
Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104)
Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305)
VMware Certified Professional (VCP-DCV)
HPE Master ASE Hybrid IT Solutions Architect or HPE ATP Server Solutions
Experience with enterprise backup/DR platforms (Veeam, Zerto, Commvault, Azure Site Recovery).
Experience with monitoring and observability platforms (Azure Monitor, Datadog, SCOM, or equivalent).
Experience operating in regulated or compliance-driven environments (SOC 2, NIST, ISO 27001, FedRAMP).
Education
Bachelor s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field or an equivalent combination of education and demonstrated hands-on experience.