Desktop Support Engineer - Abu Dhabi - Vatic Labs

Description

We are looking for an experienced IT Systems Engineer to implement and operate our standard IT infrastructure in our Abu Dhabi office, closely aligned with our New York setup. You will be responsible for building out and maintaining the local office environment (network, FortiGate VPN/firewalls, endpoints, collaboration tools) and providing day‑to‑day IT support to employees. This is a hands‑on role that combines infrastructure work with high‑quality end‑user support.

Key Responsibilities

Office Infrastructure Implementation & Operations

• Implement and maintain the office network environmentσως (LAN, Wi‑Fi, switching, routing, internet connectivity) following global standards.
• Set up, configure, and operate our FortiGate‑based VPN and firewall infrastructure in line with the existing New York configuration.
• Roll out and support standard laptop/desktop builds, ensuring consistent and secure configurations across all endpoints.
• Monitor network and systems, troubleshoot performance or reliability issues, and escalate when required.

Security & Access Management

• Apply and enforce security policies on endpoints and network devices, including patching, antivirus/EDR, and disk encryption.
• Manage user VPN access via FortiGate and multi‑factor authentication via Duo, as well as role‑based permissions across core systems and applications.
• Ensure that local infrastructure and devices comply with internal security and compliance requirements.
• Administer Google Workspace / Microsoft 365, Slack, and other collaboration tools (groups, shared drives, distribution lists, permissions, etc.).
• Support and maintain conferencing platforms (e.g., Zoom, Teams, Google Meet) and related integrations.
• Assist in configuring and maintaining other business applications and services as needed.

End‑User Support (Day‑to‑Day IT)

• Act as the primary IT contact for Abu Dhabi‑based employees for hardware, software, and connectivity issues.
• Provide hands‑on support for Windows, macOS, and Linux devices, including setup, troubleshooting, and performance tuning.
• Support users with access to VPN (FortiGate), Duo MFA, shared drives, printers, and core business tools.
• Communicate clearly with technical and non‑technical employees, ensuring issues are understood and resolved efficiently.

Device & Inventory Management

• Procure, receive, image, configure, and deploy laptops, peripherals, and accessories.
• Manage the full lifecycle of devices, including off‑boarding, secure wipe, and redeployment.
• Maintain an accurate inventory of all hardware and relevant software licenses.

Office & A/V Support

• Set up and maintain workstations, docking stations, monitors, and peripherals.
• Support meeting rooms and A/V equipment (cameras, microphones, speakers, displays) for internal and external meetings.
• Assist with office moves, new desks, and layout changes, ensuring smooth IT setup for employees.
• Document configurations, procedures, and troubleshooting steps in an internal knowledge base.
• Follow and contribute to standard operating procedures (SOPs) for recurring IT tasks.
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes, automate repetitive tasks, and improve the overall user experience.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Computer Engineering, or a related field (required).

Experience

• 5–7 years of relevant experience in IT infrastructure and support roles, preferably in small to medium office environments.
• Proven experience setting up and running office IT environments, including network, VPN, and endpoint management.
• Hands‑on experience supporting Windows, macOS, and preferably Linux devices.

Technical Skills

• Solid understanding of networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, VLANs, DNS, DHCP, switching, Wi‑Fi).
• Practical experience configuring and operating FortiGate or similar enterprise firewalls and VPN solutions.
• Experience administering Google Workspace and/or Microsoft 365.
• Familiarity with MFA solutions, ideally Duo, and integrating them into user access workflows.
• Familiarity with endpoint management/MDM platforms for laptops and mobile devices.
• Experience with ticketing systems (e.g., Jira, ServiceNow, Zendesk) for tracking incidents and requests.
• Basic scripting skills (e.g., Bash, PowerShell, Python) to automate routine tasks are a plus.

Soft Skills

• Strong ownership mindset – comfortable being the "go‑to" IT person for the office.
• Excellent communication skills in explaining issues and solutions to non‑technical users.
• Ability to prioritize, organize, and manage multiple tasks and requests.
• Team player with a service‑oriented attitude and strong customer focus.

Nice‑to‑Have

• Experience working with distributed/global teams and aligning with a central IT function.
• Exposure to financial services, trading, or other high‑security environments.

What you can expect

At Vatic, we're serious about our work—but we also believe in balance, growth, and having fun along the way.

• Flat structure with direct executive exposure – work closely with leadership and make an impact from day one.
• Comprehensive health benefits – full health insurance coverage for employees and dependents.
• Daily meals provided – enjoy free lunch at the office.