Project Engineer OIT

About this position

OVERVIEW & PURPOSE Optimized IT is regional in scope, providing Managed IT Services from small to mid-sized organizations including Commercial Business, Not-for-Profit, and K-12 markets. We are seeking a highly skilled Project Engineer with good client communication skills and an appetite to solve problems. The Project Engineer spearheads client onboarding, product deployment, and service enhancements. Acting as an escalation point, they collaborate with the NOC and Service Department, both internally and externally.

This role also drives automation and AI-enabled service delivery improvements. On-call availability is required. This position reports to the Director of Service and works closely with the Project Manager & Solutions Architect.

• Mentor and train other members of the Service & NOC Team and continuously improve processes company wide.
• Build and deploy new client hardware (servers – physical or virtual, switches, firewalls, and/or SAN) through project engagements.
• Design, implement, and support automation solutions using scripting (Power Shell) and platforms such as Rewst, HATZ.AI, and N ‑ central (N
  * N).
• Develop and maintain reusable automation scripts, runbooks, and AI‑assisted workflows to improve service efficiency and consistency.
• Receive escalated customer calls for complex troubleshooting and technical support.
• Collaborate with external vendors and partners to test, validate, and implement solutions.
• Provide continual status updates to customers and project managers regarding tickets, automation initiatives, and projects.
• Proactively identify project risks, constraints, and opportunities for automation or AI optimization and manage accordingly.
• Provide detailed specifications for proposed solutions including materials, manpower, timelines, and automation strategy.
• Assist engineering teams in creating demonstrations of proposed solutions, including automation workflows and AI use cases.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of internal systems through automation, scripting, and integration of AI tools.

• Expert understanding of Microsoft 365, Azure, Server platforms, and Exchange.
• Expert understanding of Microsoft system management (AD, Group Policy, DNS, DFS, NPS, etc.).
• Strong understanding of storage solutions.
• Strong understanding of virtualization (VMware VCP a plus).
• Strong understanding of networking (Advanced Routing Protocols, VLAN, NAT, BGP, etc.).
• Strong understanding of firewalls (Familiarity with Sonic Wall and Cisco ASA a plus).
• Experience with backup and disaster recovery solutions.
• Advanced scripting skills, particularly in Power Shell, for automation and systems management.
• Hands‑on experience with automation platforms such as Rewst, HATZ.AI, and N 8N or similar tools.
• Experience designing and implementing IT process automation and AI‑assisted workflows.
• Familiarity with API integrations and workflow orchestration tools.
• Some experience with mobile device management.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent time management skills and ability to multi‑task.
• Ability to work cross‑functionally and communicate with internal teams, customers, and vendors.
• Highly motivated, energetic self‑starter with a passion for innovation.
• Adaptable to change and able to work under pressure in a fast‑paced environment.

• An easy‑going environment and culture (we all enjoy what we do).
• Hybrid work flexibility (Mon–Tues in office; Wed–Fri work from home).
• A stand‑up desk and your own LEGO set on your first day.
• A proactive approach to ongoing training to help you develop life‑long skills, including automation and AI technologies.

This position has no supervisory responsibility.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, mfds, and software tools.