Server Engineer

Server Engineer II (Contract)The Server Engineer II (Contract) will support the engineering, deployment, and ongoing administration of cloud infrastructure across Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS) environment. This role is responsible for server provisioning, identity integration, networking, security hardening, monitoring, and backup/recovery operations within cloud and hybrid environments. The ideal candidate brings hands-on experience with at least one major cloud platform (Azure or AWS) and is comfortable with Windows Server administration, infrastructure-as-code practices, and cross-functional collaboration with security and operations teams.Key ResponsibilitiesServer & Cloud InfrastructureProvision, configure, and maintain virtual machines and cloud compute resources (Azure VMs / EC2 instances).Administer Windows Server 2016/2019/2022 in cloud and hybrid on-premises environments.Manage storage resources including Azure Blob/File Storage, AWS S3/EBS/EFS, and backup vaults.Configure and maintain load balancers, auto-scaling groups, and availability sets/zones.Identity & Access ManagementSupport Azure Active Directory (Entra ID) or AWS IAM for user, group, role, and policy management.Assist with SSO integrations, conditional access policies, and MFA configuration.Maintain hybrid identity synchronization (Azure AD Connect or equivalent AWS Directory integrations).Networking & SecurityConfigure and manage virtual networks, subnets, NSGs/security groups, VPNs, and peering connections.Apply security hardening baselines aligned with CIS Benchmarks or cloud provider best practices.Support firewall rules, WAF configurations, and network access controls.Monitoring, Alerting & ReportingBuild and maintain dashboards using Azure Monitor / AWS CloudWatch for resource and performance visibility.Configure alerting thresholds and escalation workflows for infrastructure events.Produce operational reports on uptime, resource utilization, and cost efficiency.Backup, Recovery & PatchingAdminister backup policies using Azure Backup / AWS Backup or third-party tooling.Coordinate and execute monthly patching cycles for cloud-hosted servers using WSUS, AWS SSM Patch Manager, or Azure Update Manager.Participate in DR testing and validation exercises.Incident Response & TroubleshootingRespond to and resolve infrastructure incidents for cloud-hosted server environments.Perform root cause analysis and document corrective/preventive actions.Escalate critical issues to Senior Engineers or Cloud Architects as needed.Documentation & Knowledge SharingCreate and maintain operational SOPs, runbooks, and architecture documentation.Update configuration management records and asset inventories.Contribute to team knowledge base and onboarding materials.Required Qualifications3–5 years of professional experience in server administration or cloud infrastructure roles.Hands-on experience with at least one major cloud platform:Microsoft Azure: VMs, Azure AD/Entra ID, Azure Networking, Azure Monitor, Azure BackupAmazon AWS: EC2, IAM, VPC, S3, CloudWatch, AWS Backup / SSMStrong working knowledge of Windows Server (2016/2019/2022) administration.Experience with cloud networking concepts: VNet/VPC, subnets, security groups, DNS, VPN.Familiarity with identity and access management (IAM, RBAC, MFA, SSO).Understanding of backup and disaster recovery concepts in cloud environments.Experience with monitoring and alerting tools (Azure Monitor, CloudWatch, or equivalent).Preferred SkillsActive cloud certifications: AZ-104 (Azure Administrator), AWS SysOps Associate, or equivalent.Knowledge of Power Platform.Experience with infrastructure-as-code tools (Terraform, Bicep, CloudFormation, or Ansible).PowerShell or Bash scripting for automation and operational tasks.Multi-cloud or hybrid environment experience (Azure + AWS simultaneously).Familiarity with Microsoft 365 / Exchange Online integration with Azure AD.Experience in regulated industries (government, healthcare, finance, or education).Working knowledge of SIEM tools (Microsoft Sentinel, AWS Security Hub, or Splunk).Soft SkillsClear written and verbal communication; able to document work for technical and non-technical audiences.Self-directed with the ability to manage tasks independently under minimal supervision.Strong analytical and troubleshooting mindset with attention to detail.Collaborative team contributor who works effectively across IT, security, and operations.Adaptable to evolving cloud technologies and able to quickly ramp up on new platforms.