Observability Engineer

Job Posting Organization:
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is a pioneering international organization established to support the development of market economies and promote private and entrepreneurial initiatives in countries across Europe, Asia, and beyond. Founded in 1991, the EBRD has grown to employ thousands of professionals and operates in over 30 countries. The organization focuses on fostering sustainable development, promoting equality, and driving digital transformation in the regions it invests in. The EBRD is committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring that its workforce reflects the rich variety of cultures and backgrounds of the communities it serves.

Job Overview:
The Observability Engineer position is a critical role within the Information Technology division of the EBRD, aimed at enhancing the performance, reliability, and resilience of the organization's platforms. The engineer will be responsible for designing and optimizing advanced monitoring solutions that span both hybrid and cloud-native environments. This role requires a deep understanding of observability tools and practices, including but not limited to SolarWinds, Prometheus, Azure Monitor, and Grafana. The engineer will leverage their scripting skills and automation mindset to build scalable observability platforms that provide comprehensive insights through metrics, logs, and distributed traces. The position emphasizes proactive monitoring and operational excellence, making it essential for candidates to be fluent in observability concepts and passionate about system intelligence. The engineer will also play a pivotal role in shaping the digital infrastructure of the enterprise, ensuring that monitoring solutions are effectively integrated into ITSM workflows and deployed using tools like Terraform.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Observability Engineer will have a diverse set of responsibilities, including but not limited to:

• Designing, automating, and optimizing observability platforms for logging, metrics, and tracing.
• Managing and configuring monitoring solutions such as SolarWinds, ManageEngine App Manager, and open-source tools like Prometheus and Grafana.
• Utilizing Microsoft Azure monitoring services to enhance observability across cloud environments.
• Developing and maintaining scripts in languages such as Python, Bash, and PowerShell for task automation.
• Deploying and configuring monitoring and logging infrastructure using Terraform or Ansible.
• Analyzing application and system logs at an enterprise scale, with a focus on integrating with ITSM platforms.
• Understanding and applying protocols (WMI, SSH, SNMP) and methods (API, Traps) for effective data gathering.
• Ensuring compliance with telemetry standards for interoperability and best practices in performance monitoring.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to troubleshoot application issues and improve infrastructure management practices.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates for the Observability Engineer position should possess a comprehensive set of qualifications, including:

• Proven experience in designing, implementing, and supporting both commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) and open-source monitoring solutions.
• A solid understanding of software development principles and the ability to troubleshoot application issues effectively.
• Familiarity with infrastructure management principles and troubleshooting practices.
• Knowledge of performance monitoring approaches and best practices.
• Intermediate to advanced technology certification in the relevant specialism, demonstrating expertise in observability tools and practices.
• An entry-level service management certification, such as ITIL Foundation, to ensure a foundational understanding of service management principles.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for the Observability Engineer position includes a degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field. Candidates should have a strong foundation in technology principles, with a focus on systems engineering, software development, and IT infrastructure management. Advanced degrees or specialized certifications in observability or cloud technologies are highly desirable and will be considered a significant advantage.

Experience:
The ideal candidate for the Observability Engineer role should have a minimum of 3-5 years of relevant experience in observability, monitoring, and IT infrastructure management. This experience should include hands-on work with various monitoring tools and platforms, as well as a proven track record of designing and implementing observability solutions in complex environments. Familiarity with cloud-native architectures and hybrid environments is essential, as is experience in scripting and automation.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for the Observability Engineer position, as it is the primary language of communication within the organization. Knowledge of additional languages, particularly those spoken in the EBRD member countries, is considered a valuable asset and may enhance a candidate's application.

Additional Notes:
The Observability Engineer position is a fixed-term contract with a duration of 3 years. The role is based in Sofia, Bulgaria, and offers a hybrid working arrangement, allowing for flexibility in work location. The EBRD promotes a collaborative work culture, requiring in-person collaboration at least three days a week. The organization values diversity and encourages applications from qualified candidates regardless of their background. Compensation and benefits will be competitive and commensurate with experience.