Senior Systems Engineer (Contract)

Six month contract | Onsite, Sydney | Immediate start

- Six month contract with a world class animation studio
- Hands on data centre migration: server, storage and network moves through to cutover
- Broad generalist remit across Linux, Windows, macOS, automation and hybrid cloud

About the client Our client is a world class animation studio, part of a global entertainment business producing animated feature content for audiences worldwide. Its systems engineering team builds and runs the infrastructure behind content creation, working closely with artists, technical creatives and production teams. It is a high trust environment where engineers are given real ownership, expected to make sound decisions and encouraged to keep raising the bar.

About the role

This is a six month contract for a senior systems engineer to deliver a data centre migration while backing up the permanent team on day to day operations. You will map dependencies, move servers and storage, reconfigure networks and run cutovers, then make sure everything works properly on the other side. Alongside the migration you will join the on call rotation and help keep production running for a studio that relies on its infrastructure every day.

Just as importantly, you will leave behind clear runbooks and documentation so the team can own the work long after your contract ends.

Duties

- Plan and run data centre migration work, from inventory and dependency mapping through to server, storage and network moves, cutover and validation.
- Provide operational cover for the engineering team, including troubleshooting,



incident response and participation in the on call rotation.
- Maintain and extend internal tooling and automation, including configuration management and service based infrastructure management.
- Support system and infrastructure updates and migrations across hybrid on premise and cloud environments.
- Write runbooks, migration plans and system configuration documentation so the permanent team can operate and maintain the environment after the contract ends.

Requirements

- At least 6 years of hands on experience administering and deploying complex production systems.
- Strong systems fundamentals across Linux, Windows and macOS, including networking, storage and troubleshooting from hardware level through to software.
- Hands on experience with data centre operations or migrations, such as physical moves, cutovers, capacity planning or hardware lifecycle work.
- Deep experience with configuration management and infrastructure automation across multiple platforms and methodologies.
- Proficiency in at least one scripting or programming language for automation, such as Python, Go, Bash or PowerShell.
- The ability to work independently in unfamiliar systems, quickly identify what matters and deliver with minimal ramp up.
- Experience in VFX, animation or a similar creative services setting, hybrid on premise and cloud infrastructure, or production on call and incident response is highly regarded.
- Available to start immediately, able to work onsite in Sydney and holding full Australian working rights.

How to apply If you are a hands on infrastructure generalist who enjoys getting a complex migration over the line, we would love to hear from you.

📌 Senior System Engineer (Sydney)
🏢 Cox Purtell Staffing Services
📍 Sydney