System Engineer 

Location: Brussels

Preferred Start Date: 01/05/2026

Duration: Until 30/04/2027

Deadline for Application: 13/04/2026

Language: English

Work Schedule: Full-time, Hybrid (2 days on-site per week)

Job Description:

We are looking for an experienced professional to support the containerization of an existing application currently deployed on a traditional virtual machine within a complex, production-critical environment. The application is being migrated from a VM-based installation to a Docker-based deployment. Docker images are prepared by the application development teams, and this role focuses on taking over from that point to integrate, deploy, operate, and upgrade the containerized application on Linux-based virtual machines. The professional will play a key role in establishing a reliable container runtime, ensuring a smooth migration, maintaining service continuity, and supporting production operations. Close collaboration with application developers, infrastructure teams, and operations is essential throughout the migration and subsequent lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the containerization of an existing application currently deployed on a traditional virtual machine (currently using RHEL v8), ensuring a smooth and controlled migration to Docker.
• Take ownership of integrating and deploying Docker images produced by application teams onto Linux-based virtual machines.
• Configure and manage the Docker runtime environment on VMs, including networking, storage/volumes, resource allocation, and lifecycle management.
• Plan and execute application upgrades, including rolling upgrades, version transitions, compatibility validation, and rollback strategies.
• Ensure platform stability and resiliency during migration, deployment, upgrades, and day-to-day operations.
• Support system and application integration, ensuring correct interaction between containerized applications, host systems, databases, and external services.
• Investigate and resolve production issues related to Docker, VM infrastructure, and application runtime through log analysis and root cause analysis.
• Develop and maintain operational procedures and scripts related to Docker deployment, upgrades, and VM lifecycle activities.
• Work closely with application developers, taking over after image creation and participating in integration, deployment, and upgrade reviews.

Technical Skills (Required):

• Strong hands-on experience with Docker containerization, focusing on integration and deployment of application images prepared by development teams.
• Proven experience deploying Docker containers on virtual machines (VMs), including host preparation, configuration, and runtime management.
• Solid understanding of Docker lifecycle management (image handling, container orchestration on single VMs, networking, volumes, resource constraints).
• Strong experience in system and application integration, ensuring correct interaction between applications, databases, and underlying platforms.
• Experience with Linux Red Hat (application installation, scripting, troubleshooting). Currently using RHEL v8.
• Experience with ksh scripting (application installation, operational scripts).
• Basic to intermediate Python programming skills.
• Ability to investigate and support production issues (log analysis, root cause analysis, coordination with operations teams).
• Ability to work closely with application developers, including participation in technical reviews, integration design discussions, and validation of deployment/configuration choices.

Nice to Have Skills:

• Knowledge of CI/CD pipelines related to container build, delivery, and deployment.
• Familiarity with networking concepts in containerized environments (ports, bridges, TLS, firewall rules).
• Exposure to monitoring and logging of containerized workloads (e.g., Elastic / Kibana or similar).
• Experience with automation tools (Ansible) for VM or Docker lifecycle management.
• Knowledge of PKI / SSL (system certificate setup and maintenance).

Experience Required:

Senior level with 5 years of relevant experience.