SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR 4

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 4 Windows System Administrator is a senior-level role responsible for the strategic planning, design, and maintenance of the organization’s Windows Server infrastructure, including on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments. This role requires exceptional technical expertise, advanced problem-solving skills, and a strong commitment to innovation, automation, and security compliance. The successful candidate will work independently with minimal supervision, providing technical leadership and guidance to junior administrators.
 
Key Responsibilities
 
System Operations & Maintenance
•    Design, implement, and maintain complex Windows Server infrastructures, ensuring high availability, scalability, and performance.
•    Develop and execute comprehensive disaster recovery plans, including data backup and restoration procedures.
•    Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration of Windows systems with other technologies, such as networking, storage, and security.
•    Provide expert-level technical support, resolving complex issues and escalating problems to vendors or external experts as needed.
Virtualization & Infrastructure
•    Architect and manage large-scale virtualization environments, including VMware ESXi, Hyper-V, and cloud-based platforms.
•    Design and implement converged infrastructure solutions, such as Simplivity, to optimize resource utilization and reduce costs.
•    Ensure compliance with industry standards and best practices for virtualization, storage, and networking.
Automation & Scripting
•    Develop and maintain advanced automation scripts using PowerShell, Python, or other languages to streamline complex administrative tasks.
•    Design and implement automated deployment solutions for Windows systems, applications, and patches.
•    Collaborate with development teams to integrate automation scripts with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps tools.
Security & Compliance
•    Develop and implement comprehensive security plans to protect Windows systems and data from threats, vulnerabilities, and breaches.
•    Collaborate with security teams to ensure compliance with industry regulations, such as HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and SOX.
•    Design and implement monitoring and logging solutions using Splunk, ELK, or other tools to detect and respond to security incidents.
Collaboration & Documentation
•    Provide technical leadership and guidance to junior administrators, mentoring and training them on best practices and new technologies.
•    Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and maintain formal processes, operational runbooks, and system documentation.
•    Ensure that all documentation is up-to-date, accurate, and accessible to relevant stakeholders.

Must Have

Bachelor's Degree and 9 years of relevant exempt experience; Master’s Degree and 7 years of relevant professional experience; Ph.D. and 4 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 5-7 years of hands-on experience supporting Microsoft Windows Server operating systems (2016/2019/2022), with a focus on large-scale, complex environments.

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 and Hyper-V.
•    Strong practical experience with scripting and automation, especially PowerShell and Python.
•    Familiarity with server upgrade processes, data migration tools, and disaster recovery solutions.
•    Experience with Splunk, Simplivity, and other monitoring and logging 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 minimal 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 cloud platforms**: 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**: Familiarity with modern monitoring and observability platforms (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana, New Relic).
•    Working knowledge of configuration management or Infrastructure-as-Code**: Working knowledge of configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet) or Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) tools (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation).