Windows System Administrator

Job Type Contract Description

Founded in 2007, Initiate Government Solutions (IGS) is a Woman-Owned Small Business and a fully remote IT services provider supporting federal partners nationwide. We deliver innovative Enterprise IT and Health Services solutions with a strong focus on data analytics, health informatics, cloud migration, AI, and the modernization of federal information systems.

Our vision is to be a health IT trendsetter, continuing to solve the nation’s most challenging healthcare IT issues by conceiving, designing, and building solid, creative, and innovative open-source solutions. 

Our mission is to innovate, design, and deliver tailored solutions that balance technical advancement with cost-awareness while providing exceptional service.

Assignment of Work and Travel:

This is a remote access assignment. Candidates will work remotely daily and will remotely access VA systems and therein use approved VA provided communications systems. Travel is not required; however, the candidate may be required to attend onsite client meetings as requested.

Please note this is a 1099 assignment for 4 months. 

We are seeking an experienced and skilled Windows System Administrator to join our IT team. As a key member of our infrastructure support team, you will be responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining our Windows-based systems, networks, and applications.  This position offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on veteran healthcare, while working in a dynamic, mission-driven environment that values collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. 

Responsibilities and Duties (Included but not limited to):

• Perform monthly security patching and vulnerability remediation for Windows Operating Systems (OSs).
• Harden Windows servers per VA Security Technical Implementation Guide (STIG) guidelines. 
• Patch all systems, Windows, to minimize security vulnerabilities and stay in Authority to Operate (ATO) compliance.
• Provide updated ATO documentation for each system as necessary.
• Schedule and maintain backup jobs for all systems (Windows) (backup varies from system to system; generally, data consists of physical systems that are primarily Windows. 
• Administer backup servers (Windows) for Microsoft Data Protector Manager and HP Data Protector or similar software. Troubleshoot and repair failed backups and bottlenecks. 
• Upgrade backup software approximately twice per year. 
• Generate daily and weekly reports from each backup application for backup success/failures, which shall be delivered as part of the Weekly Status Report.
• Conduct Back-up software installation/upgrade/patching. 
• Conduct Back-up load balancing and optimizations. 
• Administer HP Data Protector, Commvault or similar devices, policies, backup specifications, templates, and global configuration settings. 
• Monitor and adjust to keep optimal system performance and identify any input/output (I/O) bottlenecks during backup. 
• Create and maintain Pre/Post backup scripts (custom scripts ran before and after back-up job) as part of the Weekly Status Report. Any failed back-up issues shall be reported weekly by telephone or email to Technical PM. 
• Integrate and administer HP Command View Tape Library. 
• Administer Commvault or other backup software being used in the environment and associated devices. 
• Perform data restorations approximately twice per quarter as directed by Technical PM. 
• Provide Build guides, Configuration guide, Backup Management Plan, Lifecycle migration plan for all Systems.
• Install, configure and maintain approved OS versions which can include Windows 2019, including OS patching, drivers and hardware firmware. 
• Perform operating system upgrades and patching weekly or as needed. 
• Administer Microsoft HYPER-V clusters and Virtual Machine Manager.
• Conduct System optimization and updating. 
• Conduct Server performance bottleneck troubleshooting. 
• Maintain or create group policies/ local policies required by security entities. 
• Maintain Microsoft Forefront Threat Management Gateway (TMG) servers as the firewall for the project  by creating/removing/modifying security policies monthly or as needed. 
• Maintain Applications (commercially available and VA developed applications) through Microsoft terminal services application deployment services. 
• Administer System Center Operations Manager – upgrade, configuration & maintenance. 
• Verify weekly backups by checking the backup application log. 
• Report on any system issues and document any system addition or modifications as part of the Monthly Platform Support Healt