First, let’s Introduce the GABA IT Department

GABA's In-House Systems

For Clients

For Instructors

For Employees

To further increase IT infrastructure efficiency and improve service quality

CTO

Martin Lindner After studying at a German university, he worked at a local mobile phone company to develop network test solutions. After marrying a Japanese woman, he moved to Japan where he engaged in infrastructure and application development at the National Institute of Informatics (NII). He was recruited to work at GABA by a former NII colleague. He is GABA’s main geek.

IT Division Infrastructure Division Manager

Yuko Takahashi She came to GABA after gaining experience in server requirement definition, construction, and operation, and providing consulting services at Microsoft, SIer, and user companies. Currently, she is involved in the development of GABA’s next core system while supporting the current systems infrastructure. She has the most Windows product knowledge in the company.

• 
  Lindner

• GABA has been committed to in-house application development and system operation since it was established. We are basically responsible for everything, from IT infrastructure design to server and storage specification and procurement. This is because it is difficult to introduce new technology or add functions quickly if we have to outsource or rely on outside vendors.

• 
  Takahashi

• From 2015 to 2017, we completed a major overhaul of the IT infrastructure. It had been used for over 15 years and gone through many expansions and renovations so maintenance had become very time-consuming. Specifically, we updated old on-site servers and virtualized platforms, reviewed the database structure, and rewrote PHP applications in Java. This project was called "GABA Next Engine (GNE) 2.0".

• 
  Lindner

• GNE2.0 was a success. However, if we try to improve its efficiency in the future, we will face limitations as all systems are operated on-site. So, from last year, we started to consider cloud migration of the IT infrastructure as we believe we can greatly reduce maintenance time by utilizing the various functions and managed services of the public cloud. Using the time saved to research and new technology, it might be possible to further improve our service quality. We would like to do that now, but there is one problem.

• 
  Takahashi

• Currently, there are only four infrastructure engineers, including me. So it is difficult to work on this immediately. We do not have enough members to start a new project while operating systems for clients, instructors, and counselors. So, we are looking for a new member now.

The Infrastructure Division also leads the implementation of new technologies

• 
  Lindner

• GABA’s IT Division consists of four sections and the nationality of members are varied such as Japanese, German, Filipino, South Korean, French and Chinese. The engineering team working in the back works in an international environment just like the instructors working in the front.

Web Solution Section

Infrastructure Section

Service Desk Section

IT Planning Section

IT infrastructure cloud migration, DevOps,...

• 
  Lindner

• Currently, many services are developed and operated in-house. The immediate goal is moving the current IT infrastructure to the cloud to make it simpler and more user-friendly. We are looking for an infrastructure engineer who can help us update GNE2.0 to a more modern system. You will be able to participate in the project from the conceptual stage since the specific overall design will start in the near future. We are looking for an engineer who is interested in projects that will push our IT infrastructure into the next phase.

• 
  Takahashi

• Last time, it took two years to replace the IT infrastructure. We think the next project will be an even larger effort. In addition, infrastructure engineers may have more opportunities to write code in the future because we are thinking of moving to DevOps to improve services in conjunction with development. We would love to meet an engineer who is not only interested in operating a cloud-based IT infrastructure or building a DevOps system, but is frustrated with the limited scope of their current work.

• 
  Lindner

• GABA’s IT infrastructure still has a monolithic architecture even if GNE2.0 eliminated some of the accumulated technical debt. In the future, we intend to work on a cloud shift of IT infrastructure with a view to making applications microservices. I look forward to meeting the curious infrastructure engineer who will help make this happen.

＜Open Position＞

Infrastructure Engineer

＜Expected Role＞

In addition to the operation and maintenance of the current IT infrastructure, you will be involved in the design, technology selection, and implementation of the next generation infrastructure depending on your capability and suitability.

＜Technologies Used＞

Knowledge related to the following technologies is preferable, although it is not necessary to be familiar with all of them.

Cloud service

Infra

Repo

Configuration Management tool

hypervisor

manage

• 
  Takahashi

• ＜Target Person＞
  
  As there are a variety of tasks we want you to handle, we welcome those who are full-stack engineer oriented and don’t want to be bound by the role of an infrastructure engineer. GABA’s engineering team is flat and has a culture of helping each other when they are in trouble. It is not an organization where managers micromanage by giving you detailed instructions and asking you to report about each action. It is a mature organization that respects the ideas of individual engineers. So the engineer can decide how to solve the technical problems they are assigned. It is a comfortable environment for those who are good at self-management.

• 
  Lindner

• ＜Other Points＞
  
  The monthly overtime average is 11.16 hours (FY 2018 results) so individuals can adjust their working time accordingly. You don’t have to be confident in your level of English as long as you are not resistant to communicating in English and are willing to catch up by using the employee English lesson system.