Senior Virtualization & Systems Engineer - Temp to Hire - Marcus Hook, PA
IT Infrastructure
**This is an on-site, full-time opportunity for one of Arctiq's clients in Marcus Hook, PA**
Position Overview:
We are seeking a well-rounded Senior Virtualization & Systems Engineer who is equally comfortable building new infrastructure from scratch and keeping existing systems running at peak performance. This role blends hands-on engineering standing up VMware clusters, deploying Active Directory environments, and commissioning physical servers with ongoing administration, troubleshooting, and operational ownership of our core systems. The ideal candidate brings deep technical expertise across virtualization and Microsoft platforms, takes pride in both the build and the day-to-day, and has the experience to work independently across the full infrastructure lifecycle.
Responsibilities:
- Build and configure VMware vSphere clusters from scratch - including ESXi host deployment, vCenter installation, vSAN setup, distributed virtual switches, and HA/DRS policies.
- Plan, rack, cable, and commission physical Windows Server hardware including BIOS/firmware configuration, RAID setup, NIC teaming, and bare-metal OS installation.
- Administer and maintain the VMware environment on an ongoing basis, including VM lifecycle management, host patching, snapshot management, and capacity monitoring.
- Engineer and deploy Active Directory environments including forest and domain design, site and replication topology, FSMO role placement, DNS integration, and OU structure.
- Perform day-to-day Active Directory administration including user and group management, delegation of control, trust relationships, and replication health monitoring.
- Design and implement Group Policy frameworks for security baselines, software deployment, user environment management, and compliance enforcement - and manage ongoing GPO changes and troubleshooting.
- Administer DNS, DHCP, and PKI/certificate services in support of Active Directory and the broader enterprise environment.
- Manage and support Microsoft 365 services including Exchange Online, Teams, and SharePoint, with a focus on hybrid identity and integration with on-premises Active Directory.
- Implement and maintain VMware disaster recovery solutions including vSphere Replication, Site Recovery Manager, and Veeam-based backup strategies; test and validate recovery procedures regularly.
- Monitor infrastructure health across physical servers, virtual hosts, and storage - proactively identifying and resolving performance issues before they impact operations.
- Develop PowerShell scripts and automation to streamline builds, administrative workflows, and recurring operational tasks.
- Produce and maintain engineering documentation including infrastructure diagrams, build runbooks, GPO specs, and DR playbooks.
- Provide Tier 3 escalation support and serve as the subject matter expert across VMware, Windows Server, Active Directory, and Microsoft 365.
Requirements:
- 8-10 years of hands-on experience in systems or infrastructure engineering, with a track record spanning both building new environments and administering them long-term.
- Proven experience standing up VMware vSphere clusters from bare metal - ESXi, vCenter, vSAN, distributed switches, and HA/DRS - as well as ongoing vSphere administration.
- Direct experience building Active Directory forests and domains from scratch, combined with strong day-to-day AD administration skills.
- Strong Group Policy experience spanning both initial design and framework build-out as well as ongoing GPO management and troubleshooting.
- Hands-on experience with physical Windows Server hardware: racking, BIOS/iDRAC/iLO configuration, RAID provisioning, NIC teaming, and bare-metal OS deployment.
- Deep proficiency with Windows Server (2016/2019/2022) including AD DS, DNS, DHCP, PKI, DFS, and print services.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft 365 administration including Exchange Online, licensing, tenant configuration, and hybrid connectivity via Azure AD Connect.
- Strong PowerShell scripting skills for both infrastructure automation and routine administrative tasks.
- Solid understanding of networking fundamentals - VLANs, routing, DNS, and firewall rules - as they apply to VMware and Windows environments.
- Experience with enterprise backup and DR platforms such as Veeam, Zerto, or VMware Site Recovery Manager.
- Ability to produce clear technical documentation including build guides, diagrams, and operational runbooks.
- Microsoft Intune experience is a plus. Familiarity with Intune for endpoint enrollment, compliance policies, configuration profiles, and co-management alongside on-prem Group Policy is highly desirable.
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field or equivalent professional experience
