Senior Systems Engineer - IT Solutions

TITLE

Senior Systems Engineer

JOB SUMMARY 

The Senior Systems Engineer is responsible for developing, maintaining, testing, and analyzing university technology and infrastructure services to enable ITS Infrastructure to meet strategic goals. In this role the position will design new infrastructure services, manage the development and operational support for university information technology systems, and ensure the successful integration of both administrative and academic systems.

As a member of the IT Solutions team, the Senior Systems Engineer is expected to uphold the division’s mission to “empower an agile, digital university and elevate technology as a strategic institutional asset” and contribute positively to a collaborative, human-centered, innovative, accountable, transparent, and inclusive culture within ITS.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Reports to:      Manager, Platforms & Unified Communications 

Supervises:     No supervisory responsibilities  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES - May include, but not limited to the following:

Systems Management (65%)

1. Plans and implements new technology initiatives.
2. Manages and monitors all installed systems and infrastructure.
3. Designs, installs, configures, tests and maintains operating systems, application software and system management tools.
4. Proactively ensures the highest levels of systems and infrastructure availability.
5. Monitors and tests system performance for potential bottlenecks, identifies possible solutions, and works with stakeholders to implement those fixes.
6. Designs and maintains security, backup, and redundancy strategies.
7. Writes and maintains custom scripts to increase system efficiency and lowers the human intervention time on any tasks.
8. Creates, manages, and documents hardware and software requirements, objectives, deliverables, and specifications on a project-by-project basis.
9. Develops and evaluates systems specifications and coordinates the design of information and operational support systems.
10. Provides high quality and timely systems support, including responding to incident/problem tickets and troubleshooting errors and issues with systems infrastructure.
11. Evaluates, recommends, plans and implements hardware and software upgrades and updates and security patches.

Technical Innovation & Project Leadership (25%)

1. Develops an in-depth understanding of the university’s information technology infrastructure, including the functions and relationships of various server and storage platforms and connectivity methods.
2. Leads and/or participates in design, implementation, and assessment of departmental initiatives and projects, as assigned.
3. Researches, recommends, and pilots innovations in technologies and services.
4. Takes a lead role in documenting systems and common support procedures and encourages and facilitates cross-training.
5. Stays current with emerging trends and advances in technology that may have relevance to the university’s evolving needs and goals. Proactively educates other team members and departmental personnel on findings and new insights.
6. Continuously evaluates internal processes, procedures, practices, and standards and proactively propose changes to bring greater efficiencies.
7. Champions infrastructure automation in all facets of computing and process improvement.
8. Provides technical mentoring for other ITS staff in their area.
9. Assists with developing, preparing and recommending budget for purchasing, upgrading and maintaining systems, devices, and equipment; forecasts for future trends.
10. Develops long and short-term plans for updating equipment, adding capabilities enhancing existing systems.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

Participation & Support (10%)

• Maintains awareness of current practices and future trends in operating systems, infrastructure automation, storage, virtualization, cloud computing and backup technology and best practices.
• Represents IT Solutions and participates in the campus.
• Performs other duties as requested.

EDUCATION 

Bachelor’s degree required. Additional job-related experience may substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis. 

EXPERIENCE

Seven years of relevant experience in systems administration or computer support. Additional job-related education may substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis. 

REQUIREMENT

Regular and reliable attendance at the University during regular schedu