IT Infrastructure Manager

IT Infrastructure Manager
Department: Technology
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Chicago, IL
Description
We are seeking an accomplished and seasoned IT Infrastructure Manager to lead our Information Systems and Helpdesk teams in a demanding, high-availability proprietary trading environment. This role blends hands-on technical expertise with strong leadership and communication skills. You will own and oversee enterprise systems that support critical trading and business operations, ensuring reliability, performance, and security across the firm's infrastructure.
What You'll Do

• Lead and develop the Information Systems and Helpdesk teams, setting technical direction and driving growth through mentorship and a culture of accountability.
• Oversee core enterprise services including Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Exchange, endpoint threat protection, backups and enterprise file/storage infrastructure.
• Architect and manage the firm's Microsoft cloud ecosystem, spanning identity and access management, compliance and data governance, cloud infrastructure, and hybrid connectivity, ensuring seamless integration with on-premises systems.
• Drive the adoption and governance of AI capabilities, evaluating and operationalizing features that meaningfully improves business workflows.
• Architect, manage and optimize virtual environments to ensure scalable, resilient and high-availability virtualization platforms.
• Execute major system initiatives-including deployments, migrations, and upgrades-ensuring operational continuity and effective coordination with other technology teams.
• Design and execute strategies for hardware and software lifecycle management, including versioning, patching, hardening and modernization.
• Partner closely with Network and Security teams to maintain a robust, secure, compliant, and high-performing environment.
• Manage Cisco Unified Communications, Webex, and associated collaboration platforms.
• Serve as the top-tier escalation point for complex infrastructure and helpdesk issues.
• Drive initiatives in system monitoring, performance tuning, and incident response to meet the low-latency and high-availability requirements of our system.
• Promote best practices in system security, access control, and change management, aligned with trading-industry requirements.
• Participate in long-term infrastructure planning, capacity management, and technology road-mapping with senior leadership.

What We're Looking For

• 8+ years of progressive operational IT experience supporting mission-critical environments.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, or an equivalent technical field.
• 2+ years leading or managing systems engineering or infrastructure teams.
• Deep expertise in Microsoft Server ecosystem: Active Directory, Exchange, DNS/DHCP, Group Policy, and endpoint management systems
• Strong hands-on experience across the Microsoft cloud ecosystem, including identity and access management, compliance and data governance, and hybrid identity integration with on-premises Active Directory environments.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and evolve a Microsoft 365 tenant, including security posture, administrative governance, and the rollout of AI-Powered productivity capabilities.
• Demonstrated success delivering major system deployments, upgrades, and infrastructure transformations.
• Strong hands-on proficiency with VMware, enterprise AV platforms, backup solutions, and enterprise storage systems
• Familiarity with Cisco Unified Communications, Webex, and modern collaboration tools.
• Strong collaboration skills with good understanding of networking fundamentals, and the ability to troubleshoot and collaborate effectively with network engineers.
• Experience supporting fast-paced financial or trading environments strongly preferred.
• Microsoft certifications strongly preferred, particularly in Microsoft 365 administration, identity and access management, or Azure infrastructure.
• VMware certifications are highly desirable.

Why Join Us
Our flat organizational structure promotes teamwork across the Firm and offers easy access to senior staff. While we work exceptionally well as a team in the office, our bonds are further strengthened through company events, activities and giving back. Volleyball, soccer, hockey, 5K runs, picnic, parties, and trivia nights provide friendly competition and build better relationships. By getting out of our usual environment and doing out-of-the-ordinary things together, we foster creativity and broaden our imaginations to accomplish new challenges.
Benefits:

• Highly competitive salary & bonus opportunity
• Generous paid time off and flexible scheduling
• 100% coverage of medical, dental, vision, life, and disability benefits for single coverage
• Generous Paid Parental Leave
• Retirement Plans: 401K and Roth 401K
• Profit sharing plan
• Long- and short-term disability

Additional Perks:

• Free breakfast and lunch from our in-house kitchen with rotating menus (including snacks!)
• On-site gym with a subsidized membership
• Frequent company outings
• Opportunity to give back to organizations that help individuals in need in the Chicagoland area

Professional Development:

• In-house education team - classes and resources are offered for continuous learning opportunities
• Mentorship Program through your first six months of employment

The base compensation range for this role is approximately $125,000-$175,000 contingent on experience. Wolverine Trading's total compensation model includes base salary and an annual discretionary bonus.