Client Device Specialist

Engineering a world of possibilities

The Client Device Specialist identifies, designs, and administers appropriate hardware solutions for the Mines community. They work within the Infrastructure Services team in the Information and Technology Solutions (IT) department at Mines to provide a broad range of professional Information Technology (IT) consultation and hardware architecture design to staff, faculty, and students.  This position is responsible for the administration of all aspects of the endpoint management infrastructure including operating system deployment, hardware driver packaging, identification of software needs with departments and vendors, attaining seamless compatibility of required software, monitoring hardware or software failures, and ensuring that the teaching and learning experience is of the highest quality. This position identifies standard hardware specifications and centrally deploys configurations to Mines-owned devices. The Client Device Specialist maintains an excellent rapport between IT and customers, representing Mines to both internal and external customers. This position will be part of a team that is responsible for architecting and providing Tier 3 support for an enterprise endpoint environment including 5000+ endpoints of a mixture of operating systems and hardware platforms.

ENDPOINT ADMINISTRATION 

• Utilize Microsoft technologies including Microsoft Windows Server, Active Directory, Group Policy, Microsoft Licensing technologies, MECM, Azure AD, Microsoft Endpoint Manager, and InTune to manage and deploy configurations to endpoint devices.  
• Utilize JAMF Pro configuration management including Apple School Manager, AppStore, and traditional application deployment support and functionality to manage and deploy configurations to endpoint devices.  
• Assist with providing a consistent user experience across both physical and virtual desktop environments.  
• Create base configurations for all types of client devices used at Mines.  
• Perform client endpoint system installations, tests, tuning, and troubleshooting.  
• Create installation packages, administer deployments, and monitor software delivery.  
• Monitor hardware and license utilization.  
• Use scripting to make multiple changes on machines campus wide.  
• Create, administer, and maintain group policy settings for the centralized license, settings, and file management across client systems.  
• Verify client functionality of group policy settings.  
• Profile management maintenance and support.  
• Create software and hardware installation packages as new applications and needs become available.  
• Upgrade driver packages as new hardware is delivered to campus to allow for pre-boot execution environment (PXE) processes.  
• Configure profile management software to capture necessary attributes for a seamless user experience across systems on campus.  
• Deploy group policy to restrict access as necessary to comply with license and security restrictions.  
• Build deployment packages for new operating systems.  

  

END-USER DEVICE EVALUATION AND SELECTION 

• Conduct research on client device standards and remain abreast of developments with emerging technologies.  
• Work with stakeholders and gather requirements to develop and implement common standards that fit a wide range of needs.  
• Participate in the evaluation of innovative technologies and make recommendations for new device adoption.  
• Develop and implement hardware, software, and equipment standards and procedures.  
• Drive transformational initiatives to help modernize the workstation infrastructure to meet the expectations and demands of a modern workforce.  

  

ACQUISITION & DEVICE DEPLOYMENT 

• Deploy client devices and configuration standards for faculty, students, and other Mines community members.  
• Lead new and existing equipment, hardware, and software upgrades.  
• Interact and negotiate with vendors, outsourcers, and contractors to secure products and services in collaboration with other ITS staff.  
• Reviews bids to ensure that vendors meet minimum requirements.  
• Performs cost benefit analysis as required.  
• Develop RFPs (Request for Proposal) through requirements gathering and documenting of technical questions.  

  

OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATIONS   

• The employee in this position will communicate and interact extensively with other IT employees and the campus community about technical and policy issues, translating technical information into a format and style that is useful for non-technical users and Tier 1 & Tier 2 IT support staff, while providing Tier 3 support.   

• Clearly document plans and work performed so that other team members can maintain and admi