From Vocational School Graduate to Infrastructure Engineer
When I was studying Computer and Network Engineering at Wikrama Vocational School, I developed a strong interest in servers and Linux systems.
While many topics in IT caught my attention, Linux administration and server infrastructure were the areas that interested me the most. I enjoyed learning how operating systems worked, how services were deployed, and how servers supported applications behind the scenes.
At that time, I didn’t realize that this interest would eventually shape my career path.
My first professional experience came through an internship at SPN Polda Metro Jaya, where I provided technical support for computer and network systems. At the time, my understanding of IT was quite simple: fixing problems when something stopped working.
After joining PT. Bringin Inti Teknologi (Bitcorp), I was introduced to a much broader world of infrastructure operations.
Learning Through Internal Projects
During my first year at PT. Bringin Inti Teknologi (Bitcorp), I worked on various internal projects that exposed me to different areas of infrastructure operations.
Some of my responsibilities included:
- Managing OpenVPN users and access requests
- Monitoring infrastructure using Grafana and Zabbix
- Monitoring security events through Wazuh
- Provisioning Ubuntu servers based on user requirements
- Installing and configuring Docker environments
- Performing system maintenance, security checks, and patching activities
At the time, these tasks felt routine. Looking back, I realize they provided the foundation for many of the skills I use today.
Each task taught me something different about Linux, networking, monitoring, troubleshooting, cloud infrastructure, and operational support.
More importantly, I was fortunate to have a mentor who played a significant role in my growth as an engineer.
He consistently encouraged me to learn, challenged me to improve, and never hesitated to share his knowledge. Whenever I faced difficulties, he was always willing to help me understand the problem rather than simply giving me the answer.
To this day, I still consider him the best mentor I have ever had. Beyond being a mentor, he became a trusted colleague and someone I deeply respect. His guidance shaped not only my technical skills but also the way I approach learning, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Looking back, I believe many of the opportunities and skills I have today were built upon the lessons, support, and trust he gave me during my early career.
Moving Into Enterprise Infrastructure
In September 2023, I joined an HPE Cloudera project where I became responsible for operating and monitoring more than 112 HPE servers.
This project introduced me to a much larger enterprise environment and exposed me to many technologies and concepts that were new to me. Beyond server operations, I had the opportunity to learn more about enterprise storage systems, network switches, hardware monitoring, and infrastructure management processes.
My responsibilities included:
- Monitoring server health using HPE OneView and iLO
- Installing and administering Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
- Investigating hardware alerts and system events
- Troubleshooting networking and operating system issues
- Deploying and configuring Zabbix Agents
- Upgrading HPE iLO firmware
- Generating CPU and memory utilization reports for capacity planning
- Supporting infrastructure maintenance activities
One of the things I appreciate most about this project is the people.
I am fortunate to work alongside teammates who are knowledgeable, supportive, and always willing to help each other. Their support has made the learning process much more enjoyable and has encouraged me to continue growing professionally.
Because of this experience, I not only gained technical knowledge but also learned the value of teamwork and collaboration in maintaining enterprise infrastructure.
A Change in Perspective
For a long time, I thought I was simply monitoring servers.
However, over time I realized that the work involved much more than watching dashboards.
It required understanding:
- Linux administration
- Networking
- Hardware troubleshooting
- Monitoring systems
- Capacity planning
- Incident response
- Infrastructure maintenance
The more experience I gained, the more I understood that infrastructure engineering is not only about technology. It also requires patience, communication, documentation, and the ability to solve problems under pressure.
Overcoming Self-Doubt
One challenge I faced was comparing myself to others.
As a vocational school graduate, I sometimes felt insecure when looking at people with different educational backgrounds or more advanced technical skills.
But working with production systems taught me an important lesson:
Experience matters.
Every server deployment, every monitoring alert, every troubleshooting session, and every maintenance activity contributed to my growth as an engineer.
The knowledge I gained was not only from courses or certifications, but also from solving real-world problems and learning from the people around me.
Looking Ahead
Today, I have a much clearer understanding of the career path I want to pursue.
Infrastructure Engineering is the field that interests me most, and I plan to continue developing my skills in Linux, networking, cloud platforms, monitoring systems, automation, and enterprise infrastructure operations.
My journey is still far from complete, but every project has taught me something valuable.
Looking back, I no longer see myself as someone who “just monitors servers.”
I see myself as an engineer who is continuously learning how to build, operate, and maintain reliable infrastructure.
And for that, I am grateful for every opportunity, every challenge, every teammate, and every mentor who helped shape the engineer I am becoming today.