Infrastructure Specialist/ Senior Officer

PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The Infrastructure Specialist is Graded's senior technical expert responsible for core systems: network, Wi-Fi, firewall, security, servers, storage, backup, and device management. Drawing on experience from a high-performing IT environment, you will evaluate our infrastructure, identify opportunities for improvement, and implement enhancements step by step.

As an established school, Graded's systems evolve alongside the academic calendar. This position requires patience, adaptability, and a constructive approach to modernizing existing infrastructure.

This is an individual contributor role. You will collaborate hands-on with the Infrastructure Associate, guide IT Support Technicians on complex technical issues, and serve as the technical lead with vendors. The Infrastructure and Operations Manager establishes priorities and budgets while you ensure technical execution is sound.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties of the position include but are not limited to:

ASSESS AND ADVISE

• Conduct a comprehensive review of campus infrastructure (network, Wi-Fi, security, servers, storage, backup, access controls, device management, printing, telephony, and monitoring) and deliver a clear assessment of system health, risks, and priorities.
• Develop a prioritized roadmap outlining immediate improvements, upcoming budget requirements, and long-term upgrades, including cost estimation with the Manager.
• Establish and roll out operational standards for configurations, naming conventions, patching, and access control.
• Provide technical advisory support to leadership on vendor solutions, system changes, and procurement.

DESIGN, RUN, AND TROUBLESHOOT

• Maintain the health and reliability of network infrastructure, firewalls, servers, virtualization, storage, backup, disaster recovery, and monitoring systems.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for complex incidents, leading technical resolutions and post-incident root cause analyses.
• Proactively monitor system metrics and ticket data to address potential issues before they impact users.
• Execute changes through formal testing, scheduled maintenance windows, and rollback planning to minimize impact on instructional time.
• Manage firmware updates, OS patching, and system lifecycles.
• Manage scheduled backups, perform restoration testing, and maintain disaster recovery procedures.
• Remediate security vulnerabilities and harden infrastructure environments continuously.
• Oversee infrastructure access control, firewall policies, remote access, and directory services accounts.
• Configure and refine endpoint device management platforms alongside support teams.
• Provide network and technical infrastructure support for AV installations and streaming systems.

VENDORS (TECHNICAL SIDE)

• Serve as technical liaison for third-party providers across network, cabling, security, printing, telephony, and AV domains.
• Review technical proposals, quotes, and statements of work to ensure requirements, scope, and sizing are accurate prior to commitment.
• Audit vendor deliverables against quality standards and escalate service-level breaches.
• Direct the technical implementation of network and Wi-Fi upgrade initiatives with partners.
• Monitor system capacity, licensing limits, and hardware lifecycles to mitigate risks early.

WORKING WITH THE TEAM

• Partner with the Infrastructure Associate to share technical tasks and mentor skill development.
• Assist IT Support Technicians on escalations and create clear operational runbooks.
• Collaborate with Systems and EdTech teams on servers, integrations, and classroom technology.

DOCUMENTATION AND COMMUNICATION

• In close collaboration with the IT Governance Officer, maintain current, accessible operational documentation, procedures, and vendor records. Including network diagrams, IP schemes, system configurations, runbooks, and vendor contacts, storing credentials strictly in approved repositories.
• Ensure documentation is validated, accurate, and personally owned.
• Translate technical concepts into clear recommendations for non-technical stakeholders.

CERTIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Networks, or a related field. Equivalent professional experience will be considered.

Desired

• Networking certifications (e.g., CCNA/CCNP, Extreme, Aruba)
• Security certifications (e.g., Palo Alto, Fortinet, Security+)
• Virtualization, Microsoft/Azure, or Veeam certifications
• ITIL Foundation

EXPERIENCE

Required

• Hands-on experience managing core IT infrastructure within structured environments utilizing change control, monitoring, and backup routines.
• Designing, deploying, and troubleshooting enterprise networks, Wi-Fi, firewalls, and security perimeters across multi-building campuses.
• Administering Windows and Linux servers, virtualization platforms, enterprise storage, and backup systems.
• Technical vendor management, including scope review, proposal evaluation, and quality assurance.
• Writing technical documentation that others can follow

Desired

• Campus environments (school, university, hospital, or multi-site organization)
• Leading a network or Wi-Fi improvement project
• Mixed device environments (Windows, Mac, Chromebook, iPad)
• Education sector experience is a plus, not a requirement

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Required

• In-depth technical knowledge of campus networking (VLANs, switching, routing, Wi-Fi), firewalls, virtualization, storage, and backup systems.
• Monitoring and alerting tools
• Access and security for infrastructure: network access control, remote access, Microsoft and server accounts
• Methodical troubleshooting: forms a hypothesis, tests it, and proves the fix
• Ability to read a contract or statement of work and see what is and isn't covered technically
• Ability to explain technical topics simply to non-technical colleagues
• Fluent Portuguese. Enough English to read technical documentation and vendor material.

Desired

• Familiarity with Extreme Networks, Palo Alto, Veeam, Zabbix, Mosyle, or similar tools
• Scripting or automation (PowerShell, Python, Bash)
• AV-over-IP and streaming basics
• Familiarity with LGPD
• Conversational or fluent English

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