Junior System Administrator (Network Operations Centre)

Job Introduction

Serco is the preferred partner for European Institutions and International Organisations, offering ICT services and Contact Centre management across Europe. Our expertise extends from Information System support to consultancy under the government framework, supporting key entities such as the European Commission and Executive Agencies. As a leader in Service Integration and Management, we ensure seamless delivery of services across various platforms, embodying our commitment to excellence in every aspect of our work.

We are hiring a Junior System Administrator (Network Operations Centre) for the European Commission in Ispra, Italy and various locations around Europe.

Main Responsibilities

The requested profile is a Junior System Administrator to support network and system administration within the Datacentre and Campus Network Services team. This position is ideal for a highly motivated graduate or a profile with early career experience, eager to develop deep technical expertise in a complex enterprise environment.

Nature of tasks Service and Project oriented: The selected person will work closely with senior team members to support daily operations for relevant services and gradually contribute to the execution of new projects. This role offers a structured growth path where the candidate will learn to manage real-world infrastructure and transition from guided tasks to independent responsibilities. Main activities for the profile entail supporting both Service and Projects across the areas related to the Knowledge and Skills section below.

Knowledge and Skills

Core Networking & Legacy Infrastructure (Solid Foundations)

• Routing & Switching: Strong theoretical and practical understanding of Layer 2 and Layer 3 technologies (Switching, Routing, dynamic routing protocols, LAN technologies, and the TCP/IP suite). A CCNA-level background or equivalent vendor certification/knowledge is highly valued.
• Network Protocol Services: Solid grasp of core network services such as NTP, DNS, DHCP, and SNMP.
• Physical Infrastructure & Layer 1: Basic knowledge of physical data centre environment components, including copper and fibre optic cabling (singlemode/multimode), SFP/QSFP transceivers, and basic signal troubleshooting or measurement.

Next-Generation Networks & Data Centre (Familiarity & Willingness to learn)

• Network Automation & Programmability: Basic knowledge or academic exposure to modern network automation workflows. Familiarity with script development using Python, infrastructure automation/configuration tools like Ansible, and NetDevOps concepts or Network Source of Truth (e.g., NetBox).
• Software-Defined Networking (SDN): Academic knowledge or basic exposure to modern Data Centre and Cloud architectures, such as Cisco ACI, VMware NSX, VXLAN overlays, and server virtualization platforms (VMware ESXi, vCenter).
• Enterprise Wi-Fi: Understanding of wireless architectures and protocols, with a focus on Cisco Wi-Fi environments.

Network Edge, Security & Systems (Administrator/Operator level)

• Unified Threat Management (UTM) & Edge: Basic understanding of firewalling and UTM concepts, with a preference for Fortinet and Cisco solutions.
• Infrastructure Operations: Familiarity with the Linux server environment (RedHat, CentOS, or Ubuntu) and basic infrastructure monitoring concepts (e.g., PRTG, Syslog).

Candidate Profile

Education: University degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, or a strictly related technical field.

Mindset: Strong aptitude for learning, a proactive attitude, and a genuine desire to get involved.

Handling Complexity: Natural inclination to problem-solving and the ability to deal with complexity, breaking down intricate technical challenges into manageable solutions.

Experience: limited professional experience; passion for technology, personal labs, or relevant academic projects will be highly valued.