Senior IT Infrastructure Engineer

Job Title: Senior IT Infrastructure Lead (Hands-on) Location: [Chennai] — On-Site / Hybrid Experience: 9+ Years Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent Reporting To: IT Manager / Head of Technology Team Size: Leads a small team of [2–3] engineers Role Summary We are seeking a highly skilled and hands-on Senior IT Infrastructure Lead to manage, maintain, and enhance our IT infrastructure across cloud and on-premise environments.

This role is the backbone of our technology operations — equally comfortable resolving a complex Azure networking issue and mentoring a junior engineer through a helpdesk escalation.

You will take full ownership of infrastructure reliability, security compliance, and end-user computing, while providing day-to-day leadership to a small team.

This is a deeply technical role with a leadership dimension — not the other way around.

Key Responsibilities The following are grouped by priority.

Core responsibilities take up the majority of your time; supporting responsibilities are ongoing but secondary.

1.

Infrastructure & Server Management (Core) - Maintain and support internal servers — Active Directory, File Servers, Gateways, and related services - Perform regular health checks, patching, updates, and performance monitoring - Manage both on-premise and Azure-based infrastructure components - Proactively identify risks and drive remediation before issues impact operations 2.

Cloud & Azure Management (Core) - Deploy and manage Azure IaaS resources — virtual machines, storage, networking, and security - Optimize cloud performance, cost, and security configurations on an ongoing basis - Manage Azure AD / Entra ID and integrate with on-premise Active Directory 3.

Security & Compliance (Core) - Manage and monitor endpoint security solutions (e.g., Sophos, Cylance, or equivalent) - Ensure compliance with ISO/ISMS standards and internal security policies - Manage server access rights, domain renewals, and SSL certificate lifecycles - Conduct periodic security reviews and contribute to audit readiness 4.

Backup, DR & Business Continuity (Core) - Manage and monitor backups for servers, databases, and Microsoft 365 - Perform periodic restore testing to validate backup integrity and recoverability - Maintain and update Disaster Recovery (DR) and Business Continuity (BCP) plans - Ensure RTO and RPO objectives are met; conduct regular DR drills - Maintain documentation in line with ISO/ISMS requirements 5.

IT Operations & Team Leadership (Core) - Lead day-to-day IT infrastructure operations for a small team of [2–3] engineers - Provide technical guidance, task allocation, and mentorship to junior staff - Drive SLA adherence, process improvements, and documentation standards - Manage ticketing system (Freshworks or equivalent); prioritize and resolve escalations 6.

User & Access Management (Supporting) - Manage user lifecycle in Active Directory, Microsoft 365, and Azure AD - Handle email access, shared drives, and network permissions - Implement and monitor email security policies and rules 7.

End-User Computing (Supporting) - Provision and configure laptops and desktops for new and existing employees - Install, configure, and troubleshoot software — licensed applications and utilities - Provide ongoing desktop/laptop support and coordinate hardware replacements 8.

Network & Systems Monitoring (Supporting) - Monitor infrastructure using tools such as PRTG, Uptime Robot, Cloudflare, and M365 Admin Center - Proactively identify and resolve issues before they impact end users - Provide recommendations for system improvements and capacity planning 9.

Communication & Collaboration Systems (Supporting) - Manage phone systems (e.g., 3CX) — extensions, troubleshooting, and relocations - Provide IT support for meeting rooms including Zoom Rooms and video conferencing 10.

Licensing & Vendor Management (Supporting) - Manage Microsoft and third-party software licenses — tracking renewals and compliance - Coordinate with external vendors and service providers as required - - Soft Skills & Working Style - Strong problem-solving and systematic troubleshooting approach - Excellent communication skills — able to translate technical issues for non-technical stakeholders - Proactive and ownership-driven — you fix things without being asked twice - Hands-on mindset combined with the ability to lead and delegate when needed - Comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities Certifications & Qualifications Preferred (not mandatory — strong candidates will be considered without) - Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) or equivalent Azure certification - ITIL Foundation or higher - Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert - ISO/ISMS audit experience Advantageous - CompTIA Security+ or equivalent security certification - Any relevant vendor certifications (Sophos, Fortinet, etc.) The Ideal Candidate Beyond the technical checklist, we are looking for someone who: - Is hands-on first — you are not here to manage tickets from a distance - Takes pride in stable, well-documented, secure infrastructure - Communicates proactively — internally with the team and upward to leadership - Sees automation as a multiplier — scripting repetitive tasks using PowerShell or similar - Is comfortable being the go-to person when things go wrong