Federation & SysOps Engineer

About Datasphir

Datasphir builds and operates open digital infrastructure that supports research and education communities across Africa. Our services span federated identity (eduID), eduroam enablement, publishing platforms, and institutional digital transformation.

We are seeking a Federation & SysOps Engineer to anchor identity federation operations and eduroam service delivery across institutional and NREN environments.

Role Overview

The Federation & SysOps Engineer will serve as the operational backbone for Datasphir’s identity and network access services.

This role combines:

• Federated identity operations (eduID environments)
• eduroam and RADIUS service deployment
• Linux systems administration
• Institutional onboarding and technical support
• Operational automation and service reliability

The successful candidate will help ensure secure, scalable, and sustainable identity and network services for institutions.

Key Responsibilities1. Federation Operations (eduID Environment)

• Support the operation of SAML and OIDC-based identity federation services
• Assist with Identity Provider (IdP) and Service Provider (SP) integrations
• Manage metadata processes and federation compliance requirements
• Support attribute release configurations and best-practice alignment
• Assist institutions with identity onboarding and configuration

2. eduroam Enablement & RADIUS Operations

• Deploy, configure, and maintain FreeRADIUS and related services
• Support eduroam onboarding for institutions
• Configure realms, policies, and authentication workflows
• Assist with eduroam CAT profile generation and maintenance
• Troubleshoot authentication and roaming issues
• Support certificate lifecycle management where applicable

3. Systems Operations (SysOps)

• Maintain Linux servers (updates, patching, hardening, backups)
• Support containerised deployments (Docker; Kubernetes an advantage)
• Monitor uptime, logs, and service performance
• Implement automation using scripts or configuration management tools
• Maintain operational documentation and runbooks

4. Institutional Support & Service Delivery

• Respond to support tickets and onboarding requests
• Guide institutions through federation and eduroam deployment
• Participate in training workshops and technical clinics
• Contribute to developing repeatable onboarding models
• Support SLAs and service reliability targets

Required Qualifications

• Background in IT, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field
• Experience in Linux systems administration
• Familiarity with federated identity concepts (SAML, OIDC)
• Experience with RADIUS and eduroam environments
• Strong troubleshooting and documentation skills
• Based in Nigeria with reliable remote work capability

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Shibboleth, Keycloak, or similar IdPs
• Familiarity with LDAP directories
• Experience with Docker and basic CI/CD workflows
• Exposure to NREN or higher-education IT environments
• Bilingual (English/French) is an advantage

What We Offer

• Opportunity to build national and regional digital infrastructure
• Hybrid working model
• Exposure to international federation and trust communities
• Professional development and technical mentorship
• Competitive compensation aligned with experience

Why This Role Matters

Federated identity and eduroam services are foundational to secure access in research and education networks.

This role anchors Datasphir’s ability to:

• Deliver stable federation services
• Support institutions in adopting eduroam
• Maintain a secure identity infrastructure
• Scale services across multiple environments

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