IT Systems Administrator

DEPARTMENT: IT

REPORTS TO: Director of IT

FLSA: Full-Time, Exempt (Salary)

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm (Hybrid)

Position Summary

Smart Start is seeking a highly skilled IT Systems Administrator to manage and enhance our global IT infrastructure. This role demands advanced, enterprise-level expertise in Windows Server administration, structured patching across multi-tier production systems, large-scale network engineering, and sophisticated automation practices. The successful candidate will also oversee enterprise storage technologies and high-availability designs, ensuring resilient, secure, and efficient global IT operations that underpin Smart Start's life-saving mission.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Install, configure, and manage Windows Server environments ([redacted]) across multiple production tiers.
• Lead patch management efforts for Windows servers and third-party applications, including thorough testing and phased rollouts.
• Administer enterprise Active Directory, Group Policy, DNS, DHCP, and Azure AD hybrid environments.
• Maintain Hyper-V virtualization clusters with high availability and disaster recovery capabilities.
• Support and manage global network infrastructures, including VPN solutions and redundant firewall configurations.
• Manage SAN/NAS storage systems and contribute to disaster recovery planning and execution.
• Oversee enterprise backup and recovery systems, including Veeam, Backup Exec, and cloud-based solutions.
• Monitor and optimize infrastructure performance using SolarWinds and FortiMonitor.
• Implement system hardening, address vulnerabilities, and ensure compliance with SOC2, ISO, and NIST standards.
• Collaborate with IT architects, developers, and global teams to support mission-critical applications.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive technical documentation and standard operating procedures.
• Provide tier 3 technical support and participate in on-call rotations for global IT operations.
• Any other duties assigned by the IT Director

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years' experience in systems administration within enterprise environments.
• Proven experience designing and maintaining redundant, high-availability infrastructure.
• Strong, hands-on expertise in Microsoft Active Directory, Group Policy, and identity management systems.
• Strong knowledge of networking principles, including VLANs, and clustered firewalls.
• Strong practical experience with Hyper-V virtualization in multi-site configurations.
• Strong expertise in enterprise backup solutions, replication strategies, and disaster recovery planning.
• Advanced expertise in patch management and automation for Windows and third-party applications.
• Strong proficiency in PowerShell scripting for automation and administrative tasks.
• Strong understanding of IT security best practices and compliance frameworks.
• Excellent troubleshooting, communication, and documentation skills.
• Must have strong analytical and problem-solving skills within a technical environment.
• Must have excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to positively interact with all levels of the organization
• Must have the ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Must have the ability to lift servers, network, and storage equipment up to 50 lbs.
• Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate or equivalent preferred.
• Knowledge of Juniper OS and Palo Alto network technologies preferred.
• Experience with Azure, Microsoft 365, and Intune for endpoint management preferred.
• Skills in SQL Server administration preferred.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers to handle, or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments.

All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills aptitudes and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others.

The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" relationship.