System Administrator/ Infrastructure Engineer

Critical Manufacturing is dedicated to empowering high-performance operations to make Industry 4.0 a reality with the most innovative, comprehensive, and modular MES software. We have a global presence, but our headquarters, and the main technical center, are in Porto (Maia), Portugal, where we develop a state-of-the-art solution for Semiconductor, Electronics, Medical Devices, and Industrial Equipment.

Recognized as a Leader by Gartner, we are part of ASMPT, the world's largest supplier of best-in-class equipment, and technological process partner for the electronics and semiconductor industries.

The Role:

The System Administrator / Infrastructure Engineer will be responsible for the support, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the company's hybrid IT infrastructure. The role covers system and platform administration, user support (1st and 2nd line), and operational reliability across both on-premises and cloud-based environments.

This position will play a critical role in ensuring high availability, performance, and security of internal systems and services, supporting business continuity and ongoing digital transformation initiatives. The ideal candidate will bring a broad technical foundation, proactive problem-solving capabilities, and a service-oriented mindset.

What will you do:

• Administer and maintain physical and virtual infrastructure, including Windows/Linux servers, storage systems, and virtualization platforms (Proxmox, Hyper-V, oVirt).
• Operate, monitor, and support hybrid cloud environments, including OpenShift clusters (on-premises) and infrastructure in Azure and AWS.
• Provide 1st and 2nd line support, managing service requests and incidents through the IT Helpdesk and Service Desk.
• Perform user access management, rights enforcement, and directory services operations using Active Directory and Azure Active Directory.
• Apply system and security updates, conduct routine patching, and implement configuration changes in alignment with security and compliance requirements (e.g., ISO 27001, GDPR).
• Support system performance monitoring, capacity management, backup operations, and disaster recovery readiness.
• Contribute to automation initiatives using scripting languages (e.g., PowerShell, Bash) and infrastructure-as-code tools when applicable.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation of systems, processes, configurations, and operational procedures.
• Collaborate with internal teams to support deployments, infrastructure projects, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Requirements:
What you must have:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, or a related field; equivalent practical experience will also be considered.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in system administration, infrastructure operations, or a comparable role.
• Proven experience with Windows Server and Linux system administration.
• Proficiency in directory services and cloud platforms: Active Directory, Azure, and Microsoft 365.
• Familiarity with virtualization environments, basic networking (DNS, DHCP, VPNs, firewalls) and storage networking.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Fluent in English (spoken and written).

What we consider a plus (not mandatory):

• Hands-on experience with OpenShift, container platforms (Docker/Kubernetes), and hybrid cloud management.
• Knowledge of Infrastructure as Code tools (e.g., Terraform, Ansible).
• Exposure to monitoring and observability platforms (e.g., Zabbix, Prometheus, Grafana).
• Experience in environments aligned with ITIL, DevOps, or Agile methodologies.
• ITIL Foundation certification.