Senior System Administrator & Onsite Lead; m​/w​/d

We’re looking for a hands-on Senior System Administrator who will act as the onsite technical lead for our Berlin office. You’ll be the day-to-day face of IT on the ground, ensuring smooth operations, driving improvements, and acting as a key link between IT and the business. As our Head of Office IT works remotely, this role comes with a high level of ownership and visibility.

Your responsibilities include:

• Serve as the primary onsite point of contact for IT and represent IT interests toward internal stakeholders.
• Provide 2nd-level support and manage escalations end-to-end.
• Administer and continuously improve our Microsoft 365 environment (Intune, Entra , Exchange Online, SharePoint, One Drive).
• Manage server infrastructure and virtualisation environments as well as selected third‑party tools.
• Lead IT projects independently, from scoping to rollout (e.g. security, automation, tooling).
• Coordinate external service providers and maintain clear system documentation.
• Identify and implement automation and AI-supported solutions to improve efficiency.
• Gradually take on onsite leadership tasks such as mentoring, coordination, and onboarding support.

What you bring along

• Completed IT training or a comparable qualification, with a solid technical foundation.
• 5+ years of experience in IT system administration or in a senior IT role.
• Strong hands-on experience with Microsoft 365 and cloud‑first environments.
• Practical experience with server infrastructure and virtualisation (Windows Server, Linux, VMware and/or Hyper-V), combined with solid networking fundamentals (LAN/WAN, VPN, DNS, DHCP) and the ability to troubleshoot independently.
• Solid understanding of IT security fundamentals, including endpoint protection, identity & access management (IAM), and patch management, with ownership of on-site security topics such as access reviews, endpoint compliance, and coordination with external audits.
• A proactive, structured way of working and comfort with a high level of autonomy.
• Resilience and clarity even in dynamic environments, combined with confident communication and people skills with both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Fluency in English and the ability to communicate in German.
• Willingness to be present in our Berlin office at least two days per week.

Nice to have

• Hands-on experience with AI-powered productivity and automation tools (e.g. Microsoft Copilot Studio, Claude Code or similar).
• Prior exposure to a team lead, tech lead, or informal leadership role (e.g. coordinating small teams or mentoring colleagues).
• Relevant Microsoft certifications such as MS-102, AZ-104, or SC-300.
• Background in a scale-up or mid-sized international company where initiative and adaptability matter as much as process.

Coffee and free food in the office are amazing and yes, we do have those. But let's be honest, that is not what really matters. At softgarden we strive to live an open company culture, where ...

• work moves around your personal life and not the other way around
• fair communication and feedback are not just any buzzwords
• you are trusted with flexible working hours, home office and remote work options