Job Description:

Microsoft’s Live Site Engineering Team is looking for a technically strong Systems Engineer who will be a key member of an operations team focused on MSN and Maps & Mobile properties and services, as well as new and exciting web services. The team is responsible for building and maintaining the operating environment as well as partnering with the product teams to design and implement future services. Your work will have a positive influence on our overall service quality metrics, e.g. availability/reliability.

You will work closely with internal customers, program managers, developers, testers, and other systems engineers, during pre- and post- release phases of the software development life cycle (SDLC). This position requires strong verbal and written communication skills to a technical audience, organizational agility, rapid problem solving and composure in critical situations.

As a Systems Engineer your main drivers will be:

Work closely and consult with the product development and test teams, during both pre-release product cycles and post-launch operations to ensure the highest quality service.
You will provide technical engineering support for the implementation, integration, and evolution of complex system architectures; design and maintain Internet services support strategies; architect, implement and maintain Server Management and Quick Fix Engineering (QFE) tactics.
Provide application performance monitoring, tuning and optimization tactics; and provide technical expertise for resolving critical production systems issues.
You will provide systems statistical trending and analysis, server capacity and threshold testing, systems documentation maintenance, and the analysis and evaluation of new systems designs and technical strategies.

Key Success Criteria
Develop a deep knowledge of the technical architecture and processes managed by Live Site Engineering.
Proactive attitude towards dealing with service issues & addressing them promptly. Be prepared to take ownership and make the tough decisions.
Be committed to continual improvement.
Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
Maintain close working relationships with technical, product and business groups in all regions.
Maintain high availability and performance for all managed products/services.
Able to work in 24x7 support model

Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Essential Experience
Results oriented
Strong project management skills
Solid understanding of common business practices
Experience of working in a customer facing environment and exposure to corporate executives and critical situations
Financial budgeting & forecasting experience

Technical /Functional Skills
Expert with Microsoft service delivery applications:
IIS 6 & 7
SQL Server 2005/2008
Windows 2003/2008
Expert knowledge and applied experience in performance monitoring, remote administration, client/server architecture, Web application management, internet technologies and network architecture.
Strong knowledge of the delivery pathways that sit between the server and the end user:
Caching
DNS
Global Load Balancing
Hardware Load Balancing
Knowledge of scripting languages and technologies (Powershell, VBScript, Perl, WMI etc.), experience with programming (ASP.NET, XML, HTML, C#) is a plus

Personal Attributes
Excited by technology
Team player self-assured & confident
Initiative & ability to work independently
Ability to work well under pressure
Self-motivated, determined & enthusiastic
Deals well with ambiguity
Excellent communication skills

Qualifications
MCSE qualifications or relevant internet industry experience
IT related degree (desirable)

Special Requirements/Additional Information e.g. Language skills
Some travel to U.S. head office may be required.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer and supports workforce diversity.

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