Torchora
Back to Home

exchange engineer

title: Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Exchange Engineer
salary: $100,000 - $165,000 USD Annually (Note: Varies by location and experience)
categories: [Information Technology, Systems Administration, Cloud Engineering, Microsoft 365, Messaging]
description: A comprehensive overview of the key responsibilities, required technical skills and professional background for the role of a Exchange Engineer.

🎯 Role Definition

This role requires a highly skilled and motivated Exchange Engineer to join our dynamic IT infrastructure team. In this pivotal role, you will be the subject matter expert for our enterprise messaging environment, responsible for the architecture, implementation, security, and day-to-day operations of our Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft 365 platforms. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver with a passion for automation and a deep understanding of modern collaboration technologies. You will ensure the reliability, performance, and security of our core communication systems, directly impacting business productivity and continuity across the organization.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Systems Administrator
  • IT Support Engineer (Tier 2/3)
  • Network Administrator

Advancement To:

  • Senior Messaging Engineer / Architect
  • Cloud Solutions Architect (M365/Azure)
  • IT Infrastructure Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • SharePoint/Teams Administrator
  • Azure Administrator
  • Cybersecurity Analyst (specializing in messaging security)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Design, implement, and maintain a highly available and resilient Microsoft Exchange environment, encompassing on-premises, hybrid, and Exchange Online configurations.
  • Serve as the top-tier escalation point for all complex messaging-related incidents, performing advanced troubleshooting of mail flow, database, and client connectivity issues.
  • Develop and maintain a robust suite of PowerShell scripts to automate routine administrative tasks, reporting, and system health checks to improve efficiency and reduce manual error.
  • Manage and configure Exchange Database Availability Groups (DAGs), ensuring successful database replication, failover, and high availability.
  • Administer and optimize Microsoft 365 security and compliance features, including Exchange Online Protection (EOP), Microsoft Defender for Office 365, Data Loss Prevention (DLP), and eDiscovery.
  • Plan, coordinate, and execute migrations of mailboxes and services from on-premises Exchange or third-party platforms to Exchange Online (Microsoft 365).
  • Proactively monitor system performance, mail flow, and service health using tools like SCOM, Azure Monitor, and third-party applications, addressing potential issues before they impact users.
  • Manage and troubleshoot the Azure AD Connect synchronization service, ensuring seamless identity management between on-premises Active Directory and Azure AD.
  • Configure and maintain email transport rules, connectors, accepted domains, and email address policies to meet business and security requirements.
  • Perform regular patching, security hardening, and version upgrades for on-premises Exchange servers in accordance with vendor best practices and company policies.
  • Manage the complete lifecycle of SSL certificates for Exchange services (e.g., OWA, ECP, Autodiscover, SMTP) to ensure secure communication.
  • Provide expert guidance and support for mobile device management (MDM) policies and ActiveSync/Intune configurations as they relate to corporate email access.
  • Create and maintain comprehensive documentation for messaging system architecture, configurations, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and disaster recovery plans.
  • Collaborate with the cybersecurity team to respond to security threats, phishing campaigns, and messaging-related security incidents.
  • Manage and configure email archiving, retention policies, and journaling to meet legal and regulatory compliance requirements.
  • Evaluate new technologies, features, and third-party tools within the messaging and collaboration space to drive continuous improvement.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis, particularly for eDiscovery cases and mail flow investigations.
  • Contribute to the organization's broader data and cloud strategy, providing subject matter expertise on messaging and collaboration services.
  • Collaborate with business units, application owners, and the help desk to translate communication needs into technical engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and other agile ceremonies as part of the infrastructure engineering team.
  • Provide training and knowledge transfer to other IT team members, including help desk and junior administrators, on Exchange and M365 topics.
  • Assist in the management of related M365 services such as SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, and Microsoft Teams.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Microsoft Exchange Server: Deep expertise in Exchange 2016/2019 and Exchange Online, including architecture, DAGs, and public folders.
  • PowerShell: Advanced scripting capabilities for automation, administration, and reporting across Exchange and Azure AD.
  • Microsoft 365 Administration: Proficiency in the M365 Admin Center, managing licensing, services, and security & compliance.
  • Active Directory & Azure AD: Strong understanding of AD DS, group policies, and identity synchronization using Azure AD Connect.
  • Messaging Security: Hands-on experience with Exchange Online Protection (EOP), Defender for Office 365 (formerly ATP), DKIM, DMARC, and SPF.
  • Hybrid Configuration: Proven ability to configure and manage a complex Exchange Hybrid environment using the Hybrid Configuration Wizard (HCW).
  • Network Protocols: Solid knowledge of core networking concepts including SMTP, DNS, TCP/IP, and TLS/SSL encryption.
  • Migration Tools: Experience with native and third-party tools for mailbox migration projects (e.g., BitTitan, Quest).
  • Monitoring Tools: Familiarity with system monitoring software such as SCOM, Azure Monitor, or Nagios.
  • Backup & Recovery: Knowledge of disaster recovery principles and experience with backup solutions for Exchange environments.

Soft Skills

  • Analytical Problem-Solving: Ability to systematically diagnose complex technical issues and identify root causes.
  • Excellent Communication: Capable of explaining complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to configuration, documentation, and change management.
  • Project Management: Ability to manage tasks, timelines, and deliverables for infrastructure projects.
  • Collaboration: A strong team player who can work effectively with cross-functional teams (e.g., security, networking, help desk).
  • Customer Focus: A commitment to providing reliable services and excellent support to end-users.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent combination of professional experience and certifications.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related discipline.
  • Microsoft Certifications such as Microsoft 365 Certified: Messaging Administrator Associate (MS-203) are highly desirable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Computer Science
  • Information Systems
  • Network Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 5-8 years of hands-on experience in a dedicated messaging administration or engineering role.

Preferred:

  • Proven experience managing an enterprise-scale messaging environment with over 5,000 mailboxes.
  • Demonstrable experience in leading at least one major on-premises to Exchange Online migration project.
  • Experience working in a regulated industry (e.g., finance, healthcare) with strict compliance and security requirements.
Explore More Careers