IT Infrastructure Engineer

Summary

The IT Infrastructure Engineer designs, builds, and supports the infrastructure behind Crenlo's plants in Watertown, SD, Rochester, MN, and Greeneville, TN, and the corporate office in Bentonville, AR. The role owns systems, including VMware, Windows Server, Linux, Microsoft 365, backup, and datacenter operations. On the network side, the engineer is the next-level resource for escalation, design, engineering, and implementation, while the Network Administrator runs day-to-day operations.

Production runs on this infrastructure, so uptime, security, and fast recovery are the core of the job. The role reports to the IT Operations Manager and works closely with the helpdesk and Network Administration.

The ideal candidate is the person others call when something is truly broken, and who then makes sure it doesn't break the same way twice. They are comfortable on a manufacturing floor, can explain technical problems in plain terms, and keep good documentation.

Key Responsibilities

Systems, Virtualization, and Microsoft 365

• Administer VMware vSphere/ESXi, including host builds, capacity planning, and patching
• Maintain Windows Server, Active Directory, Group Policy, DNS, and DHCP
• Maintain Linux servers (RHEL, Ubuntu) and the SQL Server hosts that run business applications
• Administer Microsoft 365 and Entra ID, including Exchange Online, Teams, SharePoint, and licensing
• Automate routine work with PowerShell and Bash

Backup, Recovery, and Datacenter Operations

• Own Veeam backup and replication, including restore testing and offsite and immutable copies
• Build and test disaster recovery plans for production-critical systems
• Run datacenter operations (power, cabling, storage capacity, hardware lifecycle) and support consolidation and colocation moves

Network Engineering and Security

• Design and implement network infrastructure across all sites, including Fortinet firewalls, SD-WAN, Dell core switching, and Ubiquiti UniFi firewalls, switching and wireless
• Set network standards and design segmentation that keeps production equipment, industrial controls, and IoT devices separate from business networks
• Plan wireless for offices and production floors, and lead SD-WAN and WAN changes with carriers
• Hand off completed builds to the Network Administrator with documentation, and provide backup coverage when needed
• Work with IT Security on firewall policy, access controls, and incident response

Operations, Projects, and Team

• Act as the Tier 3 escalation point for the helpdesk, fix root causes, and share fixes so more issues get solved at first contact
• Coordinate with the IT Operations Manager and IT team on priorities, maintenance windows, and change control
• Lead infrastructure projects from design through cutover
• Manage infrastructure vendors and carriers to their SLAs, and provide input on purchases and capital planning
• Keep diagrams, configurations, runbooks, and SOPs current

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in IT, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of hands-on infrastructure experience covering both systems and networking
• Hands-on VMware vSphere/ESXi administration
• Strong Windows Server, Active Directory, and Microsoft 365/Entra ID administration
• Linux administration (RHEL, Ubuntu, or similar) and PowerShell/Bash scripting
• Veeam or comparable backup experience, including restores and DR testing
• Solid networking fundamentals: TCP/IP, routing, switching, VLANs, DNS, DHCP, and VPN
• Datacenter operations experience: servers, storage, power, and cabling

Preferred Qualifications

• Manufacturing or industrial experience, including OT networks, PLCs, or SCADA
• Hands-on experience with Fortinet firewalls and SD-WAN
• Enterprise wireless and switching experience with Ubiquiti UniFi or a comparable platform
• Certifications such as VCP-DCV, Fortinet FCP/NSE, CCNA, Veeam VMCE, Microsoft 365/Azure administrator, or RHCSA
• Datacenter migration or colocation experience
• ITSM experience (Freshservice preferred) and familiarity with NIST CSF or CIS Controls
• Uses AI tools such as Claude to speed up scripting, documentation, and troubleshooting

Key Competencies

• Service First mindset: responsive, follows through, and keeps people informed
• Troubleshoots to the root cause and stays calm when production is down
• Team player who shares what they know and keeps teammates in the loop
• Communicates clearly with plant staff, leadership, and vendors
• Disciplined about documentation and handles multiple priorities independently

Working Conditions

• Based in Bentonville, AR, with up to 20% travel between Crenlo facilities
• On-call rotation and after-hours maintenance required
• Exposure to manufacturing floor environments and ability to lift equipment up to 50 lbs