Lead Engineer (Microsoft)

Netcracker — the people designing the future of tech

What’s the value of working with Netcracker?

• Your contribution matters. Your expertise drives large-scale business transformations and helps design architectural solutions for millions of telecom customers in Japan, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, the UAE, and beyond — at the intersection of cutting-edge technologies.
• An engineering culture that values mentorship and a vibrant expert community. A professional environment where knowledge sharing thrives and depth, rigor, and technical mastery are valued.
• Career growth in every direction. Switch projects, specialize, and expand your domain, or step into management.
• Work smarter, not harder. We value outcomes over hours. We trust professionals and support flexibility.
• Resilience & adaptability. 30+ years globally and 3.5 years in Kazakhstan. We progress even amid global economic challenges.
• Flexibility & comfort. Modern offices in convenient locations, flexible schedules, and a build-your-own benefits package — you choose what matters most.

Since 1993, Netcracker Technology has been developing and implementing unique IT solutions for more than 250 customers worldwide, mostly telecom providers. We create dozens of innovative products and lead the global market of BSS/OSS solutions ready to be used in the cloud environment. Our comprehensive portfolio of software solutions and professional services enables large-scale digital transformations, unlocking the cloud's opportunities, virtualization, and the changing mobile ecosystem.

About the Role:
We are seeking an experienced and proactive Lead Engineer to oversee our global Windows server infrastructure and lead a team of skilled engineers. In this role, you will be responsible for the strategic planning, project delivery, and operational excellence of our core Wintel services, including Microsoft Exchange, Virtualization (Hyper-V), VDI environments (Windows & Citrix), and supporting systems. The ideal candidate is a natural leader, a strong project manager, and a technical expert who can drive innovation and ensure the highest levels of system performance and security.

Why join our team:

• Lead the design and implementation of mission-critical infrastructure solutions for a global company.
• Get unlimited opportunities for professional and career development in a dynamic environment.
• Play a key strategic role in shaping the future of our IT infrastructure.

What you’ll do:

Team Leadership & Project Management:

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Wintel engineers, fostering a culture of high performance and continuous improvement.
• Plan, coordinate, and oversee complex Wintel infrastructure projects from conception to completion (migrations, upgrades, deployments).
• Manage project timelines, resources, and budgets effectively.
• Act as the primary point of escalation for critical incidents and complex technical issues, ensuring timely resolution and root cause analysis.
• Develop and maintain strategic roadmaps for the Wintel ecosystem.

Technical Management & Administration:

• Design, implement and oversee the entire Microsoft stack: Active Directory (on-premise and AD RO), DNS, DHCP, Group Policy, ADFS, and Certificate Services.
• Manage and support enterprise messaging systems based on Microsoft Exchange.
• Administer and optimize virtualization platforms (Hyper-V) and Windows Server environments.
• Oversee the design, health, and performance of VDI solutions (Windows and Citrix).
• Manage file transfer solutions (FTP/s), patch management systems (WSUS), and other core infrastructure services.
• Ensure system security, compliance, and reliability through rigorous hardening, monitoring, and backup procedures.
• Coordinate the implementation and maintain oversight of corresponding Wintel technologies in public clouds (Azure, AWS), including integration with Office 365, Azure AD, and related services.
• Collaborate with other IT teams (Network, Security, Cloud) on integration and optimization initiatives.

What we are looking for:

Must have:

• 8+ years of experience in Wintel administration with at least 2+ years in a team lead or supervisory role.
• Proven experience in leading infrastructure projects (migrations, upgrades, new deployments).
• Expert knowledge of Microsoft technologies:
  • Windows Server OS (2016, 2019, 2022)
  • Active Directory, DNS, Group Policy, ADFS
  • Microsoft Exchange Server
  • Hyper-V virtualization
• Strong hands-on experience with VDI technologies (Citrix XenDesktop/XenApp and Windows Virtual Desktop).
• Experience with infrastructure services: FTP/s, WSUS, file and print services.
• Excellent troubleshooting skills for critical and high-severity incidents.
• Strong understanding of network fundamentals (TCP/IP, routing, firewalls).
• Ability to assume a leadership role, own outcomes, and focus on delivering results.
• Experience with infrastructure automation and scripting (PowerShell).
• Understanding of ITIL framework principles.
• Advanced level of English verbal/writing skills is a must – C1 or higher;
• MSc degree (or equivalent) in Computer Science, Information Security, Applied Mathematics, or similar

Nice to have (will be a plus):

• Knowledgeable in Public Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure):
  • AWS Cloud Practitioner / Azure Fundamentals
  • Experience with Azure AD Connect, IAM, SSO (SAML) integrations
  • Knowledge of deploying and managing Windows workloads in cloud environments (AWS EC2, Azure VMs)
• Relevant certifications (e.g., MCSA/MCSE, Citrix CCA).
  

  We offer:

• Competitive salary;
• Medical insurance, covering dental services;
• More than 300 hard and soft-skills programs by the corporate career development center;
• Open environment and encouraging knowledge sharing culture;
• Free English courses and opportunity to practice foreign languages daily;
• Flexible working hours.