Systems & Network Engineer, Japan

About the role

We are seeking a Systems & Network Engineer who is passionate about designing, implementing, and maintaining robust infrastructure solutions to power our global operations. In this role, you will own the end-to-end reliability, security, and scalability of our systems and network architecture across all Cic locations. You will be a pivotal technical leader responsible for ensuring that our digital infrastructure supports our members, our partners, and our innovation ecosystem without interruption. This position requires a proactive mindset and a commitment to excellence in every layer of the technology stack. You will work closely with diverse teams to translate business requirements into resilient technical strategies. If you thrive in complex environments and value meticulous execution, this is a critical role within our organization.

Key facts

What you'll do

You will monitor, troubleshoot, configure, and optimize our networks, which are heavily dependent on Wi-Fi as a core service provided to our members, utilizing hundreds of Access Points and low footprint network stacks from vendors such as Extreme and Ruckus. You will set up and manage scalable and reliable physical access control solutions for Cic's Campuses across the world, administering thousands of locks and a larger volume of user access cards to ensure secure and reliable entry. You will deploy and maintain core and auxiliary systems, including cloud services like Google Workspace and GCP, alongside platforms such as Atlassian JIRA Service Management and ElasticSearch, as well as internal tools operating within Docker and Kubernetes environments on both Windows and Linux virtual machines. You will monitor network traffic and systems usage patterns to perform capacity planning, proactively identifying requirements for infrastructure expansion to meet growing demands. You will collaborate with vendors and suppliers to procure and maintain network hardware, software, and services, ensuring these assets meet our quality and performance standards. You will maintain comprehensive network and systems documentation, including detailed network diagrams, configurations, and change management records for audit and operational clarity. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to understand their requirements and provide technical guidance and support to ensure alignment with business objectives. You will participate in an on-call rota for network-related emergencies, delivering timely resolution and support to minimize disruption to our operations and members.

Requirements

You demonstrate a deep understanding of network protocols, technologies, and best practices, where concepts such as ANonce and SNonce are familiar and network attenuation is a known factor in your decision-making. You possess exceptional problem-solving and troubleshooting skills, with the ability to diagnose complex IT issues and implement effective, sustainable solutions that reduce future risk. You have a proven ability to design and implement IT solutions that meet organizational requirements, ensuring high availability, scalability, and performance across global deployments. You communicate excellently in both written and verbal formats, conveying complex technical information clearly to non-technical stakeholders to bridge the gap between technical teams and business functions. You are prepared to be on-call for network-related emergencies, maintaining vigilance to provide timely resolution and support across all operational hours. You work effectively within cross-functional teams, collaborating well with colleagues and demonstrating a strong commitment to teamwork and shared goals that drive Cic's mission forward. You are able to work independently as an individual contributor, aligning expectations with local and global colleagues across diverse time zones and cultural contexts. You bring proven experience as a systems or network engineer, with at least 7 years of hands-on experience in a Network System Engineer role, building a track record of reliability and expertise. You have working knowledge of IT Service Management principles and apply them in your daily operations to ensure consistency and compliance. You have a working knowledge of network equipment from vendors such as eXtreme Networks, Ruckus, or alternatives like Cisco and Juniper, allowing you to adapt to various infrastructure environments. Experience with physical access controls is considered an advantage, particularly in environments requiring high security and scalability. You have familiarity with network security principles and best practices, including frameworks such as Zero Trust and SASE, to protect our digital assets. You are knowledgeable about monitoring tools like Nagios, Zabbix, or similar platforms, using data-driven insights to maintain operational health. You have experience with at least one of the leading Cloud Infrastructure as a Service or Platform as a Service providers, such as GCP, AWS, or Azure, to support hybrid and cloud-native strategies. You exhibit excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills, applying structured methods to identify root causes and prevent recurrence. You possess strong communication and collaboration abilities, fostering productive relationships with both technical and non-technical partners.

Nice to have

You will have experience working with globally distributed teams, which will help you navigate our multi-site and international operations smoothly. You hold an ITIL certification, demonstrating your commitment to standardized IT service management practices and continuous improvement.

Practical notes

This role operates on a standard full-time schedule. There may be requirements for travel between Cic locations as needed. A valid visa is required to perform this role in Tokyo, Japan. Candidates must meet all requirements outlined in the job description to be considered.