Storage Engineer

SUMMARY:
We are seeking an experienced Storage Engineer with in-depth knowledge of Hitachi OPS Center and Veritas NetBackup to join our client’s IT infrastructure team. The successful candidate will be responsible for the administration, configuration, management, and troubleshooting of enterprise storage systems and backup solutions. They will ensure the efficient operation of our storage infrastructure, data protection, and backup solutions, helping to maintain the integrity and availability of critical business data.

POSITION INFO:
Key Responsibilities:
1. Storage Management:
o Administer and maintain Hitachi OPS Center to manage storage infrastructure, ensuring optimal performance and availability.
o Configure and manage storage pools, volumes, and LUNs in line with business needs.
o Monitor and optimize storage performance, capacity, and usage across the enterprise.
o Conduct regular audits and health checks on storage systems to proactively identify potential issues.
o Implement storage provisioning and de-provisioning processes as required.
o Work with SAN and NAS storage environments to support various applications and business services.
2. Backup Management:
o Administer and manage Veritas NetBackup for enterprise-level backup and recovery solutions.
o Design, configure, and maintain backup policies, schedules, and disaster recovery procedures.
o Ensure regular and consistent backups, restoring data when required, and managing data retention policies.
o Troubleshoot and resolve backup failures, missed backups, or other related issues.
o Conduct regular tests of backup and recovery plans to validate data integrity and system readiness.
o Manage and monitor backup storage, ensuring capacity and performance are in line with business requirements.
3. Troubleshooting and Support:
o Provide advanced troubleshooting for both storage and backup infrastructure, identifying and resolving complex issues in a timely manner.
o Collaborate with other IT teams to diagnose and resolve cross-functional issues related to storage and backup systems.
o Document troubleshooting steps, configurations, and fixes for future reference and knowledge sharing.
4. Security and Compliance:
o Implement and maintain security measures for storage and backup environments, ensuring compliance with relevant data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR, POPIA).
o Regularly review and update backup and storage configurations to align with the organization's data protection and disaster recovery policies.
o Participate in audits related to data storage, backup, and disaster recovery compliance.
5. Capacity Planning and Reporting:
o Perform regular capacity planning for storage and backup environments, ensuring adequate resources for future growth.
o Generate and provide detailed reports on storage usage, backup performance, and capacity trends to management.
Recommend and implement optimizations to storage and backup infrastructure as needed.
6. Continuous Improvement:
o Stay up to date with new features, updates, and industry best practices related to Hitachi OPS Center and Veritas NetBackup.
o Provide input on improving and evolving storage and backup architectures to support business growth and technological advancements.
Required Skills & Qualifications:
- 3-5 years of experience in storage and backup administration.
- In-depth knowledge and hands-on experience with Hitachi OPS Center for managing storage environments.
- Extensive experience with Veritas NetBackup for enterprise data backup, restoration, and disaster recovery.
- Strong understanding of SAN/NAS architectures, storage provisioning, and LUN management.
- Proficiency in configuring and managing backup schedules, policies, and retention settings.
- Ability to perform advanced troubleshooting in storage and backup systems.
- Knowledge of scripting languages like PowerShell or Python for automation (advantageous).
- Familiarity with data security best practices and regulatory compliance requirements.
- Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills, with attention to detail.
- Strong communication and documentation skills.
Preferred Certifications:
- Hitachi Vantara certifications related to storage management (e.g., Hitachi Certified Specialist - Storage Administration).
- Veritas certifications related to NetBackup (e.g., Veritas Certified Specialist - NetBackup).
- ITIL certification (advantageous).
Soft Skills:
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams.
- Ability to work under pressure and handle multiple priorities.
- Proactive approach to identifying risks and opportunities for improvement.