Who are we looking for?
We're hiring an IT System Officer who combines first line IT support with hands-on system administration. You are the first point of contact for employees with IT questions and incidents, and at the same time you take ownership of the IT infrastructure that keeps our engineering and business teams running at our sites in Antwerp and Leuven.
The role is deliberately broad: one moment you are helping an engineer get back to work, the next you are configuring a server, rolling out a patch or analysing a security alert. We are looking for an autonomous and proactive colleague who does not wait for tickets to arrive, but spots issues before users notice them, tackles root causes instead of symptoms and comes forward with proposals to make our IT environment more stable, secure and efficient.
Because Antwerp Space develops security-sensitive products for customers such as ESA, the EU and defense, you work according to our information security policy, the NIS2 requirements and the security operating procedures (SecOPs) for our accredited systems, in close cooperation with the Lead IT System Officer, the IT Manager and the Security Officer.
In this role you'll be responsible for:
First line IT support
As the first point of contact for all IT-related questions and incidents, you provide professional, customer-focused support to employees across the organization, and you make sure the same problem does not come back twice.
- Resolve incidents and service requests via phone, e-mail, on site, remote support and the ticketing system, within the agreed service levels.
- Support hardware, Microsoft 365 and engineering applications such as MATLAB, SolidWorks and CAD / simulation software.
- Handle IT onboarding and offboarding, from deploying laptops via Intune / Autopilot to managing access rights and equipment.
- Tackle recurring incidents at their root cause and maintain knowledge articles so users can help themselves.
System administration & infrastructure support
Alongside user support, you are responsible for the day-to-day administration and second-line support of our IT infrastructure.
- Manage accounts, groups and access rights in Active Directory / Entra ID, Microsoft 365 and Intune, based on least privilege.
- Maintain servers (Windows, Linux), virtualization, storage and the network between the Antwerp and Leuven sites.
- Run backups and restore tests, and carry out patch and vulnerability management.
- Keep the CMDB, asset inventory and documentation up to date, and automate recurring tasks (PowerShell, Bash).
Our IT environment supports business-critical and classified projects. Security is part of everything you do.
- Configure and monitor security solutions (firewall, EDR, MFA, SIEM) and analyze security alerts.
- Administer the accredited (classified) systems and isolated networks according to the SecOPs.
- Help investigate security incidents with the IT Manager and Security Officer, and apply GDPR principles in your daily work.
Proactive monitoring & continuous improvement
We expect you to take ownership: you plan and prioritise your own work, keep the bigger picture in mind and act before problems become incidents.
- Monitor capacity, performance and availability (e.g. Zabbix, LibreNMS) and act before users are impacted.
- Propose concrete improvements to the workplace, the infrastructure and the IT processes.
- Independently run smaller IT projects such as roll-outs, migrations and upgrades.
- Share knowledge and coach colleagues, interns or student workers.
Working Environment
You report to the IT Manager and are part of a compact IT team in which you have real ownership and room for initiative. You work closely with the Security Officer, Operations, external IT partners and the IT department of the OHB group.
You regularly work at both our sites in Antwerp and Leuven, in the office, at users' desks, in server rooms and, for the classified systems, in secured areas. Planned maintenance occasionally takes place outside office hours, and participation in an on-call arrangement for critical incidents is part of the role.
Training and coaching are provided so you become familiar with Antwerp Space's tools, procedures and security requirements. The role offers a clear growth path: as you gain experience, you take on the design of infrastructure changes, the technical preparation of accreditation and audit files, and the coaching of colleagues.
Mandatory Requirements
- Eligible for an EU security clearance (EU citizen, or eligible for citizenship and living in the EU for at least 10 years.
- Candidates currently living outside Belgium will only be considered if they are willing to relocate to Belgium before the start of their contract. Relocation is a prerequisite for employment.
- Fluency in spoken and written English. Knowledge of Dutch and French is an asset.
Required technical competences and practical needs
- Bachelor's degree in (applied) computer science or electronics-ICT, or equivalent through relevant work experience.
- At least 3 years of experience in IT support and system administration.
- Good knowledge of:
- Windows 10 / 11 and PC hardware and peripherals
- Microsoft 365, Active Directory / Entra ID and Intune administration
- Windows Server and virtualisation
- Networking (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VLAN, VPN)
- Basic scripting skills (PowerShell).
- Proven ability to work autonomously: you take ownership, set priorities and see issues through to the end.
- A proactive, solution-oriented attitude with an eye for structural improvements.
- Strong customer service and communication skills, by phone, by e-mail and face to face.
- Methodical, accurate and disciplined in following procedures and documenting your work.
- Fluent in Dutch and English; knowledge of French is an asset.
- Meet the criteria to obtain an EU security clearance and be comfortable working with confidential information.
- Willingness to travel between the Antwerp and Leuven sites and to participate in an on-call arrangement.
Preferred
- Experience with Linux, VMware or Hyper-V, and firewall and switch configuration.
- Experience with backup solutions, EDR and SIEM tools.
- Exposure to monitoring tools such as Zabbix or LibreNMS.
- Familiarity with ITIL processes (incident, problem and change management) and CMDB / asset management.
- Knowledge of information security frameworks (NIS2, CyberFundamentals, ISO 27001), ideally with classified or isolated systems.
- Relevant certifications (e.g. Microsoft, CompTIA, Cisco or security certifications).
- Experience supporting engineering applications in a technical or engineering-oriented company.
What We Offer
- A stable position in a leading Belgian company in the field of space-based RF applications.
- A varied role combining user support and system administration, with real ownership and room for initiative.
- A modern technical environment with a diverse range of technologies and engineering applications.
- On-the-job training, coaching and opportunities for certification.
- A clear growth path towards a senior system administration role.
- A collaborative working atmosphere with highly skilled colleagues.
- Competitive salary and benefits package.
- The opportunity to contribute to projects in the space and aerospace sector while building strong expertise in IT infrastructure and security.
Come and explore Antwerp Space
At Antwerp Space we treasure our human capital. From the moment you get on board until retirement, we will be at your side to make sure you feel at home and you get the chance to travel all the way through Antwerp Space, developing yourself and growing together.
As a company with a passion for innovation, we want to create a dynamic, open and enriching environment for people, where people are passionate about their work and exchange ideas & expertise.
Moreover, we understand the need for a healthy working environment and we focus on the employee’s well-being, offering amongst others fruit@work, yoga, ergonomic advice, and many other initiatives. We also focus on a good work-life balance, offering flexible working hours and additional holidays. Each year a number of events are organized to emphasize that it is important to have fun, relax and create a good team spirit.
Eager to join us? Get in touch!
Apply now by clicking the Apply button below and send us your motivation letter and CV. We will be get back to you soon.
