Background

UbuntuNet Alliance is the regional research and education networking organization for Eastern and Southern Africa. It builds and operates UbuntuNet, the regional high-speed Internet backbone network for Eastern and Southern Africa. UbuntuNet Alliance is registered in Malawi as a not-for-profit association of National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) in Africa to provide a secure data communications network that supports the region’s research, teaching, and learning. Membership of the Alliance includes NRENs of the following countries: Botswana, Burundi, DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The member NRENs work together to promote networking for research and innovation and welcome not-for-profit transnational research and education organizations. UbuntuNet Alliance has its headquarters in Lilongwe, Malawi.

The Alliance is seeking to engage the services of suitably qualified candidates with ability to work in a multi-cultural community to fill the following positions tenable at Lilongwe office:

Systems Engineer

The Systems Engineer shall report to the Technical Manager and shall lead and oversee all aspects of the development, running and packaging of value-added service offerings to member NRENs.

Job Functions

The Systems Engineer shall have the following job functions:

• Develop and operate relevant e-infrastructure services – as well as assist member NRENs in running these services themselves – for research and education;
• Research and define requirements for services demanded by the research and education community;
• In conjunction with the Technical Manager, coordinate trainings for e-infrastructure applications and services;
• Foster collaboration between the Alliance and its NREN members and their counterparts in Europe and other parts of the world with the aim of coordinating the services portfolio;
• Setup and administer applications for internal use at the UbuntuNet Alliance secretariat and by external involved parties; and
• Provide technical first and second level support to the UbuntuNet Alliance staff.

Qualifications and Personal Attributes

The Systems Engineer should have the following qualifications and attributes:

• A Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or other related fields from a recognised university. Those with an MBA will have an added advantage, as would relevant industry experience and professional qualification.
• Relevant professional qualification, for example, Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP).
• At least a minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in the development and running of enterprise services;
• Three to five years of experience in system administration, particularly in managing Linux and Windows systems
• Experience in implementing Systems security, including firewalls and other access controls.
• Familiarity with programming languages like Java, JavaScript, and Python
• Demonstratable experience in implementing and managing private clouds based on OpenStack and Proxmox.
• Demonstratable experience in managing public clouds.
• A sound understanding of the various trending technologies and applications in the research and education networking communities
• Demonstrated sound judgment, statistical knowledge, analytical mind, attention to detail and integrity.

• Develop and operate relevant e-infrastructure services – as well as assist member NRENs in running these services themselves – for research and education;
• Research and define requirements for services demanded by the research and education community;
• In conjunction with the Technical Manager, coordinate trainings for e-infrastructure applications and services;
• Foster collaboration between the Alliance and its NREN members and their counterparts in Europe and other parts of the world with the aim of coordinating the services portfolio;
• Setup and administer applications for internal use at the UbuntuNet Alliance secretariat and by external involved parties; and
• Provide technical first and second level support to the UbuntuNet Alliance staff.

• System administration (Linux and Windows)
• Systems security implementation (firewalls, access controls)
• Programming languages (Java, JavaScript, Python)
• Private cloud management (OpenStack, Proxmox)
• Public cloud management
• Understanding of research and education networking technologies

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or other related fields
• MBA (added advantage)
• Relevant industry experience (added advantage)
• Professional qualification (e.g., Certified Systems Engineering Professional - CSEP)