Engineer, Cloud and IT Systems
Job Description
Based in our Corporate Headquarters in Schaumburg, IL, Mizkan America is a subsidiary of the Mizkan Group, a global, family-owned company that has been Bringing Flavor to Life™ for over 220 years. As one of the leading makers of vinegars, condiments, and sauces in the United States, Mizkan America maintains 12 manufacturing facilities that serve the retail, foodservice, specialty-Asian and food-ingredient trade channels. We are committed to following our two core principles: continuously challenging the status quo and delivering only the finest products for our customers. Our leadership seeks out, embraces, and implements ideas for improvement from all of its employees. Transparency and accountability are two key factors that drive our company’s overall management approach.
The Cloud and Systems Engineer is a hands‑on technical role responsible for designing, implementing, and supporting secure, scalable, and reliable infrastructure across cloud and on‑premises environments that enable business outcomes.
This role combines deep expertise in Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 with strong systems engineering fundamentals, acting as both a solution contributor and technical leader. The engineer partners closely with IT teams, vendors, and business stakeholders to deliver integrated, end‑to‑end infrastructure solutions while ensuring alignment with enterprise standards, security requirements, and long-term strategy.
The ideal candidate thrives in a mid-size enterprise or lean IT environment, bringing the strengths of a broad technical generalist, versatile infrastructure engineer, and well-rounded technical problem solver, with cross-functional ownership across infrastructure, cloud, identity, networking, endpoints, and collaboration platforms.
Essential Functions:
- Design, implement, and manage secure, reliable, and highly available infrastructure solutions across cloud and hybrid environments, aligning with organizational standards and security policies.
- Provide leadership and expertise in Azure architecture, engineering, and operational strategy; lead cloud architecture and strategic initiatives focused on Microsoft Azure and hybrid environments.
- Administer and optimize Microsoft 365 services including Exchange Online, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Entra ID.
- Oversee identity, access, and security configurations (Active Directory, Entra ID, MFA, Conditional Access) to ensure robust protection.
- Act as a subject matter expert and escalation resource for complex infrastructure and user-related challenges, offering technical guidance, mentorship, and resolution for complex issues.
- Support and enhance core infrastructure systems such as servers, virtualization platforms, storage, backup solutions, networking components, and endpoints through upgrades, lifecycle management, troubleshooting, and performance optimization.
- Establish, implement, and maintain governance, security, and operational controls to ensure compliance, resiliency, and efficiency.
- Monitor performance, availability, and security posture; proactively identify and resolve potential issues.
- Plan capacity, conduct cost analysis, and optimize infrastructure and cloud expenditures, ensuring financial stewardship.
- Lead lifecycle management activities including upgrades, patching, migrations, modernization initiatives, troubleshooting, and performance optimization.
- Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, vendors, IT staff, business partners, and stakeholders to achieve solutions and improvements and deliver comprehensive infrastructure solutions.
- Participate in incident response, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement efforts; provide 24x7 infrastructure support as needed.
- Maintain comprehensive documentation, standards, and facilitate knowledge sharing within the IT organization.
- Provide on-call or after-hours support as required.
- Ensure consistent, reliable in-person attendance during designated business days as mandated by organizational requirements. For optional in-person days, employees are expected to remain engaged during scheduled work hours.
- Fulfill additional duties to support team, department, and organizational objectives, including involvement in cross-functional projects, process enhancements, or special assignments.
- This list outlines the general nature and level of responsibilities performed. It is not intended to be an exhaustive statement of all tasks required for this role.
Key Skills/Competencies:
- Strong hands-on expertise with Microsoft 365 (Exchange Online, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, Entra ID).
- Deep experience with Microsoft Azure services (compute, networking, identity, and security).
- Strong knowledge of Microsoft infrastructure technologies including AD/AAD, DNS, DHCP, GPO, Kerberos, LDAP, IIS, and file services.
- Proficiency with Windows Server (2012–2022) and Windows 10/11.
- Experience with virtualization platforms such as Hyper‑V and VMware.
- Experience with enterprise backup and recovery solutions (e.g., Veeam).
- Solid networking fundamentals, including firewalls, VPNs, and network design concepts.
- Familiarity with wireless networks and connectivity troubleshooting.
- Strong troubleshooting skills across cloud, systems, identity, networking, and endpoints.
- Experience with governance, security controls, and operational best practices.
- Strong project and time management skills with ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Excellent documentation and communication skills.
- Comfort working in cross-functional and fast-paced environments.
- Experience in MSP or mid-size enterprise environments preferred.
- Familiarity with Operational Technology (OT) environments is a plus.
Education/Experience/Qualifications/Certifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field, or equivalent experience.
- 10+ years of hands-on experience supporting and engineering infrastructure across cloud and on-premises environments.
- 5+ years of experience with Microsoft Azure
- 5+ years Microsoft 365 platforms administration
- Demonstrated experience designing and implementing enterprise technology solutions.
- Strong experience troubleshooting complex, cross-platform issues.
- Experience delivering infrastructure services across servers, networking, storage, virtualization, identity, endpoints, and security.
Physical Requirements and Work Conditions:
- Ability to remain seated at a workstation for extended periods (up to 8 hours per day).
- Frequent use of hands and fingers for typing, writing, and handling office equipment.
- Ability to view computer screens and read printed materials for prolonged periods.
- Occasional standing, walking, and reaching within the office environment.
- Ability to lift and carry office supplies or equipment weighing up to 10–15 lbs.
- Adequate hearing and speech to communicate effectively in person and via phone/video.
- Willingness to work extended hours or weekends when required.
- Travel up to 10%.
Compensation & Benefits:
- Annual salary for this position ranges from $125,000 - $170,000
- Note: Compensation is based on a number of factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills and experience.
- This role is eligible for a Short-Term Incentive Bonus
- A full range of medical, dental, vision, 401K plus up-to-four percent (4%) match, profit sharing, wellness program, paid parental leave, long-term-care insurance, critical accident insurance, short- and long-term disability and education assistance are also available.
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