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Senior System / Network Administrator | Kleine Brogel Air Base | F-35 Operations

Diegem
Full-time
Permanent employee

Opportunity

Senior System & Network Administrator — F-35 Operations 
Contract type: Permanent, full-time · On-site Kleine Brogel Air Base
About the role
The F-35 doesn't fly without its data backbone. As Senior System & Network Administrator embedded with Belgian Defence at Kleine Brogel Air Base, you will hold a lead position in the ILIAS Solutions team, working in close cooperation with the Belgian Defence team that has overall lead on the programme. You will be responsible for keeping ALIS and ODIN, the Autonomic Logistics Information System and Operational Data Integrated Network, running across the full IT infrastructure that F-35 flight operations depend on. Database administrators on the team manage the data lifecycle; your focus is ensuring the underlying systems, networks, and infrastructure remain available, secure, and performing to the standard a live military flying environment demands.
This is a player-coach position: you lead and support the local ILIAS System & Network Administration team while remaining hands-on across the full infrastructure stack. This role requires physical presence and continuity inside a security-controlled military facility.

Your Mission

What you'll do
  • Lead and support the ILIAS System & Network Administration team, managing priorities and ensuring high-quality delivery across all infrastructure and user-support responsibilities, in close cooperation with the Belgian Defence team.
  • Maintain, monitor, and optimise server, storage (NAS/SAN), and virtualisation infrastructure, including backup and disaster recovery operations and system configuration control.
  • Administer and secure firewalls, routers, switches, and network appliances across LAN/WAN environments, applying strong TCP/IP, VPN, SSL, and Layer 2/3 networking practices.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve system and network issues, providing reliable user support and maintaining network monitoring across the facility.
  • Develop and maintain scripting solutions (Shell, Bash, Batch or comparable) to automate operational and administrative tasks.
What success looks like
ALIS/ODIN remains available through the operational tempo of an active flying squadron, with no infrastructure failures that reach the flight line. The ILIAS team operates with clear priorities, consistent processes, and the confidence that comes from well-maintained systems and a lead who is technically present, not just managing from a distance. 

Over time, your ownership of the configuration baseline, disaster recovery posture, and infrastructure lifecycle disciplines becomes the standard the programme relies on, and your working relationship with the Belgian Defence team is a reliable foundation for day-to-day operations.
What you bring
  • At least 10 years of experience in a comparable IT infrastructure environment, preferably in a high-stakes or security-regulated setting.
  • Hands-on experience with enterprise server, storage (NAS/SAN), and virtualisation technologies, including backup and disaster recovery.
  • Strong working knowledge of LAN/WAN, TCP/IP, VPN, SSL, and Layer 2/3 networking, with practical administration of routers, switches, firewalls, and network appliances (Cisco or Juniper preferred, comparable platforms considered).
  • Proven administration of both Windows Server and Linux/Unix environments, with scripting experience in Shell, Bash, Batch or a comparable language.
  • Professional working proficiency in English and Dutch, and the ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and deliver consistent support in a demanding operational environment.
  • Eligibility to obtain and maintain the required national or NATO security clearance for this role (we support candidates through the clearance process).
If you meet most of these requirements and are comfortable working in a security-controlled military environment, we encourage you to apply. The clearance eligibility requirement is not flexible.
Nice to have
  • Familiarity with IDS or security monitoring solutions such as Splunk.
  • Relevant certifications: Microsoft Windows Server Administration, Red Hat Linux Administration, CompTIA Security+, CompTIA Network+, CCNA, Juniper, or Splunk Administration.
  • Prior experience in a defence or military IT environment.

Build Your Future with ILIAS

Why ILIAS Solutions
ILIAS Solutions is a defence-software company within the Patria Group, delivering the operational data and IT systems that defence customers depend on in the field. The work here is consequential: the systems you administer directly enable flying operations, not back-office functions. You will be embedded with Belgian Defence on an active operational base, leading the ILIAS team in close cooperation with the Belgian Defence team, working where your decisions carry real weight and your expertise is visible.
For candidates seeking infrastructure work with genuine operational stakes, where reliable and secure systems are the standard, not an aspiration, this role offers that environment on a permanent basis.
Eligibility
ILIAS Solutions is an equal-opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and make hiring decisions on merit, without regard to gender, age, ethnicity, national origin, religion or belief, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected under Belgian and EU anti-discrimination law. We are committed to an inclusive recruitment process and will provide reasonable accommodations on request.
How to apply
Apply directly through this vacancy page. Questions before you apply? Reach out to Tim van Dam at tim.van.dam@ilias-solutions.com, he is happy to tell you more about the role, the environment, and the clearance process.

About us

In defence operations, timing and reliable information shape every decision. Many organizations still rely on fragmented systems, limiting visibility and slowing execution. ILIAS Solutions connects logistics, maintenance, and operations into one integrated platform. This creates a single source of truth and enables teams to act on real time data across strategic, operational, and tactical levels. Large volumes of operational data move continuously between systems. This data reflects maintenance cycles, logistics flows, and asset readiness. Accuracy and consistency directly impact operational outcomes.