IT Manager (Operations & Infrastructure)

Job description / Role

About the client

The client is a Dubai-based real estate and hospitality developer building technology-enabled, design-led communities. It brings AI, smart-living systems, and longevity-focused design into its residential and hospitality developments. Its engineering and agentic Smart Home/IoT teams are building intelligent environments that shape how AI is deployed in the physical world. It is now building a strong IT and infrastructure foundation to support that growth.

About the role

The client is seeking a hands-on, highly versatile IT Manager and Infrastructure Lead to own, manage, and scale its complete hybrid IT, server, and vendor ecosystem. You will bridge technical operations and vendor management, overseeing RFPs, statements of work (SOWs), software licensing, and hardware procurement (including AI edge servers and lab equipment), while directly maintaining cloud and local infrastructure.

You will manage the core IT foundation supporting the engineering and agentic Smart Home/IoT development teams. From AWS account provisioning and Linux server administration to Proxmox virtualization, NAS backup management, on-premises lab hardware, and live Smart Home installations (servers, hubs, and switches running Zigbee, KNX, Matter over Thread, and similar protocols), you will keep systems resilient, secure, and performant.

Key responsibilities

Vendor management, RFPs, SOWs, and licensing

• Lead the drafting, technical review, and management of RFPs and SOWs from software, hardware, and service vendors.
• Review and optimize software licenses, SaaS subscriptions, and developer tooling across the organization.
• Manage procurement pipelines for high-performance computing hardware, GPU setups, edge platforms (NVIDIA Jetson, ESP32, and Raspberry Pi), and lab equipment.
• Monitor vendor SLAs, negotiate contract terms, and track IT budget allocations and spending.

Cloud administration and Linux engineering

• Manage and provision AWS resources (IAM, VPCs, EC2, S3, CloudWatch, and Cost Explorer) following security and cost-optimization best practices.
• Serve as the principal Linux administrator (Ubuntu, Debian, and RHEL) for all on-premises, edge, and cloud server instances.
• Build, deploy, and manage containerized applications and local development environments using Docker and container registries.

Virtualization, storage, backups, and local hardware lab

• Administer, maintain, and expand local virtualization clusters using Proxmox VE or ESXi for staging, CI/CD runners, and test environments.
• Manage NAS/SAN storage architectures (e.g., TrueNAS and Synology) to ensure high-speed data availability, multi-tier automated backups, and disaster recovery execution.
• Maintain local hardware lab infrastructure, including managed network switches, VLANs, routers, firewalls, power redundancy (UPS), and IoT hardware test benches.

Smart Home installations, networking, and telemetry

• Install, manage, and maintain Smart Home installations, including home servers, controllers, hubs, gateways, sensors, and smart switches and actuators.
• Configure and support devices across Smart Home protocols such as Zigbee, KNX, Matter over Thread, Z-Wave, and Wi-Fi/IP-based devices, including Thread border routers and KNX IP interfaces.
• Work with installation vendors and electrical contractors to plan, schedule, and oversee hardware installations; review their designs and SOWs; and sign off on commissioning and handover.
• Design and manage the local network infrastructure supporting Smart Home systems, including VLAN segmentation for IoT devices, Wi-Fi coverage, PoE, firewall rules, and secure remote access via Tailscale (tailnets, ACLs, subnet routers, and exit nodes).
• Configure and manage camera systems (IP/PoE cameras, NVRs, and RTSP/ONVIF streams), including placement, recording and retention policies, and secure access.
• Deploy, calibrate, and maintain sensors, including mmWave radar and presence/occupancy sensors, Bluetooth/BLE beacons and proxies, and motion, contact, and environmental sensors.
• Build and assemble ad hoc ESP32-based devices, including soldering, wiring sensors and relays, designing power supplies, and fitting enclosures; flash and maintain their firmware (e.g., ESPHome, Arduino, and ESP-IDF).
• Oversee monitoring and telemetry from installed systems (device health, uptime, alerting, logs, and metrics, e.g., MQTT, Prometheus, and Grafana), and drive troubleshooting, firmware updates, and preventive maintenance.

Requirements

• Experience: 5+ years in system administration, DevOps, or IT infrastructure management.
• Linux expertise: Expert-level mastery of Linux system administration, performance tuning, security hardening, and scripting (Bash and Python).
• Cloud and virtualization: Strong experience managing AWS cloud infrastructure and hypervisor environments such as Proxmox VE.
• Containers and storage: Hands-on experience with Docker, container networking, and enterprise storage systems (NAS, ZFS, and RAID configurations).
• Vendor management and budgeting: Direct experience managing vendor relationships, evaluating RFPs and SOWs, tracking licenses, and executing hardware procurement.
• Networking and hardware: Solid understanding of LAN/WAN, VPNs, VLANs, and firewalls, along with hands-on hardware troubleshooting experience.
• Smart Home systems: Proven experience installing, managing, and maintaining Smart Home installations (servers, hubs, switches, and controllers) using protocols such as Zigbee, KNX, and Matter over Thread.
• Tailscale and remote access: Working knowledge of Tailscale for managing virtual VPNs and mesh networks across sites, servers, and devices.
• Cameras and sensors: Experience configuring and managing IP camera systems and deploying sensors such as mmWave radar, presence, and Bluetooth/BLE devices.
• Electronics and hardware assembly: Good hands-on electrical knowledge (soldering, wiring, low-voltage power, and reading schematics) for assembling ad hoc ESP32-based devices.
• Installation vendor coordination: Experience working with installers and contractors to deliver on-site hardware installations, from design review through commissioning.
• Monitoring and telemetry: Hands-on experience setting up monitoring, alerting, and telemetry for networked devices and IoT/Smart Home systems.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience procuring and configuring AI/ML hardware (e.g., GPU servers, workstation setups, and edge AI nodes).
• Familiarity with infrastructure as code (IaC) tools such as Ansible or Terraform.
• Experience with Smart Home platforms such as Home Assistant and with ETS for KNX programming.
• Relevant certifications: AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE), CISSP, or KNX Partner certification.

Benefits

• Competitive tax-free salary: A market-leading monthly package in AED, commensurate with experience.
• Performance incentives: Rewards linked to delivery and performance outcomes.
• Visa and medical insurance: Full UAE visa sponsorship and comprehensive health cover.
• Paid leave: 30 days’ annual leave plus UAE public holidays.
• Annual flight ticket and end-of-service gratuity: As per UAE market practice and labor law.
• Top-tier tooling: Modern hardware, a fully equipped lab, and cloud tools.
• Learning and career growth: Certification and conference support, with a clear path to leadership.
• Autonomy and impact: Build the IT and infrastructure function from the ground up and shape how AI is deployed in the physical world.