SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR 3

The Role

Maintains smooth operation of multi-user computer systems, including coordination with network administrators. Interacts with users and evaluates vendor products. Makes recommendations to purchase hardware and software, coordinates installation and provides backup recovery. Develops and monitors policies and standards for allocation related to the use of computing resources. Ancillary duties may include setting up administrator and service accounts, maintaining system documentation, tuning system performance, installing system wide software and allocating mass storage space.

The Level 3 Windows System Administrator is a critical, mid-level role responsible for the operational stability, performance, and maintenance of the organization’s Windows Server infrastructure, both on-premises and in cloud environments. This role requires strong technical execution, advanced troubleshooting skills, and a commitment to automation and best practices, working independently under general supervision.
 
Key Responsibilities
•    System Operations & Maintenance:
•    Perform system patching, updates, and major operating system upgrades across a geographically dispersed environment.
•    Monitor system health, performance, and capacity, proactively identifying and resolving resource constraints.
•    Provide timely and effective technical support, responding to trouble and support tickets to meet published Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
•    Execute and maintain customer-specific and security-mandated procedures, including an understanding of SOX controls for financial systems support.
•    Virtualization & Infrastructure:
•    Manage and support Windows Servers deployed in virtual environments (e.g., VMware ESXi) and on physical hardware.
•    Utilize and maintain core infrastructure components such as SAN storage, ESX Virtual Center, and converged infrastructure platforms (e.g., Simplivity).
•    Automation & Scripting:
•    Develop, deploy, and maintain robust automation scripts (primarily using PowerShell) to streamline routine administrative tasks, increase efficiency, and ensure consistent configurations.
•    Seek opportunities to automate operational procedures and system deployments.
•    Collaboration & Documentation:
•    Coordinate and collaborate with cross-functional organizations (e.g., Networking, Security, Application Teams) to resolve incidents and implement projects.
•    Create, maintain, and follow formal processes, operational runbooks, and system documentation.
•    Enforce operational policies and procedures to ensure high-quality service delivery.

Must Have

Bachelor's Degree and 5 years of relevant exempt experience; Master’s Degree and 3 years of relevant professional experience; Ph.D. and 0 years of experience.

One of the following may be used as an equivalent to Bachelor's Degree for Information Technology Related Positions Only:

• NNS Apprentice School graduate
• Navy Nuclear Power School (NNPS) graduate
• Associate's Degree or other formal 2 year program and 2 years of relevant exempt experience or 4 years of relevant non-exempt experience
• Military Paygrade E-5 or above military experience
• High School/GED and 4 years combined of Manufacturing, Shipbuilding, Trades, Military experience or other relevant exempt experience
• High School/GED and 8 years combined of Manufacturing, Shipbuilding, Trades, Military experience or other relevant non-exempt experience
• A relevant professional certification can be substituted for a Bachelor's Degree.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related discipline, OR equivalent practical experience.
  •    Minimum of 3-5 years of hands-on experience supporting Microsoft Windows Server operating systems (2016/2019/2022).

Nice to Have

Technical Expertise:
•    Advanced proficiency in Windows Server core services (Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Group Policy).
•    Demonstrated expertise in virtualization technologies, preferably VMware ESXi.
•    Strong practical experience with scripting and automation, especially PowerShell.
•    Experience with Ansible Automation: The candidate should have hands-on experience with Ansible, including:
o    Creating and managing Ansible playbooks, roles, and templates to automate infrastructure and application deployment
o    Writing Ansible modules and plugins to extend Ansible’s functionality
o    Utilizing Ansible’s built-in features, such as variables, conditionals, and loops, to create dynamic and flexible playbooks
o    Managing and configuring Ansible inventories, including static and dynamic inventories
o    Implementing Ansible’s security features, such as encryption and authentication, to secure automation workflows
o    Troubleshooting Ansible playbook runs, including debugging and error handling
o    Integrating Ansible with other tools and systems, such as CI/CD pipelines, monitoring systems, and cloud providers
o    Experience with Ansible Tower or AWX, including creating and managing jobs, inventories, and credentials
o    Familiarity with Ansible’s best practices, including playbook organization, variable management, and testing
    *   Familiarity with server upgrade processes and data migration tools.
 
General Requirements:
•    Strong commitment to a team concept approach and willingness to learn new technologies.
•    Excellent written and verbal communication skills, exhibiting a professional and responsive customer service manner.
•    Must be detail-oriented, self-motivated, and capable of working in a fast-paced, virtual environment with general supervision.
 
Additional Requirements
•    Security Clearance: Capable of obtaining and maintaining a U.S. Security Clearance.
•    Travel Requirements: Periodic travel may be required.
•    On-Call Rotation: Periodic after-hours work and participation in an on-call rotation are required.
 
Highly Desired (Bonus) Qualifications
•    Experience with at least one major public cloud platform (e.g., Azure, AWS, GCP) for administration of virtual machines or infrastructure services.
•    Familiarity with modern monitoring and observability platforms (e.g., Splunk, Prometheus, Grafana).
•    Working knowledge of configuration management or Infrastructure-as-Code