Virtual IT Operations & Automation Specialist (Full-Time, Remote) at Truporch Homes

About Us

TruPorch Homes is a property management company operating short-term, mid-term, and long-term rental properties in the Atlanta, Georgia market. We run a fully self-hosted technology stack across Hetzner Cloud and Proxmox servers — including n8n workflow automation, Chatwoot, NocoDB, Snipe-IT, Metabase, BookStack, and more. We're looking for someone who can own the infrastructure, keep it running, and build new internal tools using AI-assisted development.

This isn't a helpdesk role. You'll be managing production Docker containers, building automation workflows, and shipping internal applications — not resetting passwords.

What You'll Do

Infrastructure & Operations (50%)

• Maintain and monitor 15+ Docker containers across Hetzner Cloud and Proxmox, deployed via Portainer
• Manage Cloudflare Tunnel routing, DNS, and SSL for all services
• Run container updates, database backups, and disaster recovery testing
• Monitor uptime via Uptime Kuma and respond to alerts
• Manage Proxmox VMs (Windows 11 virtual desktops for the VA team)
• Maintain Tailscale VPN across all nodes
• Document every change in BookStack — this is a core job duty, not optional

Automation & Workflow Building (25%)

• Build and maintain n8n workflows (webhook handlers, API integrations, scheduled jobs)
• Integrate services via APIs: Snipe-IT, Chatwoot, Google Workspace, SmartThings, Gemini AI
• Maintain and extend our QR code inventory scanning system (n8n webhook → Snipe-IT API)
• Build Google Apps Script automations as needed

AI-Assisted Development / Vibe Coding (25%)

• Build internal tools and dashboards using AI coding assistants (Cursor, Claude Code, Replit Agent)
• Modify and extend our Next.js/TypeScript Command Center application
• Build simple CRUD apps, admin panels, and data migration scripts
• Review AI-generated code for correctness before deploying to production
• You don't need to be a senior developer — you need to be good at directing AI tools and catching when they're wrong

Required Skills

• 2+ years working with Linux (Ubuntu) command line
• Strong Docker and Docker Compose experience (deploying, debugging, networking)
• Comfortable with APIs and webhooks (REST, JSON, authentication tokens)
• Basic proficiency in JavaScript or Python (enough to read code, spot bugs, write simple scripts)
• Experience with at least one AI coding tool (Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Claude, ChatGPT for code generation)
• Self-directed — you'll get a task brief, not step-by-step instructions
• Strong written English for documentation and async communication

Preferred Skills (Not Required)

• n8n or Node-RED workflow automation
• Next.js / React familiarity
• Proxmox virtualization
• Cloudflare (Tunnels, DNS, Zero Trust)
• Nginx or Caddy reverse proxy
• MySQL / PostgreSQL database administration
• Experience with Portainer
• Familiarity with Zebra label printers or barcode/inventory systems

Our Tech Stack

You'll be working with these daily:

• Infrastructure: Hetzner Cloud (Ubuntu 24.04), Proxmox, Docker, Portainer, Cloudflare Tunnel, Tailscale
• Automation: n8n, Google Apps Script, cron
• Applications: Snipe-IT, Chatwoot, NocoDB, Metabase, BookStack, Cal.com, Vaultwarden, Uptime Kuma, AFFiNE, Moodle
• Development: Next.js, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS (for the Command Center app)
• AI Models: Google Gemini (2.5 Flash/Pro), Ollama (local inference)
• Communication: Google Chat, Google Workspace

What Success Looks Like

First 30 days: You've documented the full infrastructure in BookStack, deployed one new service from a spec we provide, and resolved your first monitoring alert independently.

First 90 days: You're handling all routine maintenance without supervision, you've built 3-5 n8n workflows, and you've shipped at least one internal tool using AI-assisted development.

First 6 months: You own the entire infrastructure. When something breaks at 2 AM, you fix it before anyone else notices. You're proactively suggesting improvements and building tools that make the operations team faster.

How to Apply

Step 1 — Complete our candidate assessment Apply and take the assessment at: https://truporch-assess.vercel.app/ This is required before moving forward. It evaluates cognitive ability, work style, and problem-solving approach.

Step 2 — Interview Candidates who pass the assessment will be invited to a video interview to discuss your experience, working style, and fit for the role.

Step 3 — Technical case study Finalists will complete a hands-on practical exercise: diagnosing and fixing a misconfigured Docker Compose deployment, plus building a small automation workflow from a written spec. This takes about 60–90 minutes and simulates the actual work you'd be doing day-to-day.

Why This Role

• Work directly with the CEO — no layers of management
• Build real systems that run a real business, not throwaway prototypes
• Full autonomy over the infrastructure decisions within your domain
• Exposure to AI-assisted development workflows that most companies haven't adopted yet
• Stable, long-term position — we're building infrastructure, not chasing a funding round