Senior Systems Administrator
University of Iowa
Job Info
Job Function: Information Technology Job Family: System Administration and System Programming
Job Code: PIF3 Classification Title: Senior Systems Administrator
Pay Level: 5B Working Title: Senior Systems Administrator
Position Summary: The College of Public Health Department of Information Technology is seeking a Senior Systems Administrator to be responsible for the design, configuration, administration, security, operational integrity, support, and integration of diverse systems in an enterprise environment, including both cloud computing and on-premises resources. This position performs complex administrative tasks and collaborates effectively with other IT staff across the University of Iowa in support of the College of Public Health.
Analysis and Design
• Evaluate technology and tools and recommends buying decisions for departments, centers, research projects, and outreach programs in the College of Public Health. Include budget and regulatory requirements in analysis.
• Implement infrastructure and system design changes within the College of Public Health IT environment.
• Evaluate and implement changes in an enterprise environment to improve efficiency in the College of Public Health, optimize system performance, and ensure compliance with security policies and best practices.
• Develop complex Puppet Enterprise configurations for servers, Linux workstations, and cloud environments.
• Design and implement complex high-availability web services in both cloud and on-premises virtual environments.
• Design and maintain diverse Collegiate Linux systems, including servers and workstations.
Implementation (Installation, Configuration, Integration)
• Perform advanced and complex systems administration tasks such as hardware setup and upgrades, software upgrades, system backups, and preventive maintenance on College of Public Health servers and firewalls.
• Manage, maintain and monitor automated operating system and software patching, including the development of scripts and enterprise software configurations for all College of Public Health servers.
• Develop and maintain a secure environment for College of Public Health servers and data in both cloud and on-premises environments, including the management of file system access control lists, Cisco ASA firewalls, and processes for identity authentication.
• Configure, maintain, and monitor collegiate backup/restore servers and software, including Veeam Backup software and Amazon cloud backup services.
• Develop, manage and maintain College of Public Health software licensing and asset management databases.
• Build, install, and configure Linux software from source files when necessary.
• Manage Shibboleth Service Provider in cloud environment and integrate with ITS Shibboleth Identity Provider.
• Maintain, configure, and integrate various services with database engines, including Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle Database, MySQL, and Amazon Aurora.
• Configure CI/CD pipelines and integrate with complex infrastructure.
• Implement infrastructure as code (IAC) designs across on-premises and cloud environments to configure many systems in a consistent and reliable manner.
Documentation
• Write, maintain, and audit documentation relating to College of Public Health servers and server administration processes.
• Maintain public knowledgebase to assist end-users and IT staff with common support questions and complex configurations.
• Assist in developing and writing DR/BC plans for mission-critical collegiate services, including shared network file systems and web services.
• Develop cost estimates, service agreements, and memorandums of understanding (MoU) for administrative and research projects.
• Assist researchers in reviewing and writing data use agreements.
Support
• Provide direct support to both end users and other technical support staff on advanced issues involving processes and software used within the College.
• Support end users from other colleges and UI Healthcare, as well as users external to the University, in technical issues involving Collegiate services and research projects.
• Create complex system scripts and/or programs to diagnose and solve systems administration challenges within the College of Public Health IT environment.
• Maintain and extend automation of Active Directory security groups and e-mail distribution lists according to the business requirements of the College.
• Support Active Directory security groups and Amazon IAM users, groups, and policies for user rights delegation and system access. Maintain security by implementing principle of least privilege (PoLP) in access granted to users and systems.
• Support MECM and Puppet Enterprise environments for the College of Public Health.
• Provide on call support for critical issues and complex problems.
• Monitor uptime of critical services and configure alerts for issues which may impact operations.
• Support enterprise VMware cluster environment.
Relationship Management (Vendor/Customer)
• Interface directly with hardware and software vendors at the University and collegiate levels.
• Serve as a mediator between end-users and product or service vendors.
• Communicate with end-users regarding pertinent system changes within the College.
Leadership
• Mentor and train peer staff in the areas of networking, security, scripting, version control, and cloud computing.
• Develop and deliver presentations to senior management in the College and peer groups in the University.
• Participate in University-wide campus communities such as the IT Admins, Linux Admins, and AWS Users Group.
• Lead projects to successful outcomes by setting direction, delegating tasks, and engaging with Collegiate/University/external resources as necessary.
• Participate in the planning process for developing operating procedures, guidelines, and policies at a collegiate level.
• Collaborate with peers across the University to find ways to enhance research and IT services in the College of Public Health.
• Identify shifting trends in technology and align with forward thinking strategies.
Universal Competencies
Collaboration and Positive Impact (Working)
Ability to work with a variety of individuals and groups in a constructive and civil manner and utilize existing resources and learning to achieve or exceed desired outcomes of current and future organizational goals/needs.
- Shares appropriate information/feedback openly, professionally and respectfully.
- Models open, respectful, accepting, and supportive behaviors with team members.
- Maintains productive work relationships while considering multiple perspectives and using effective conflict resolution practices.
- Aligns expectations for self and team to achieve work objectives and overcome obstacles.
Ability to meet or exceed customer service needs and expectations and provide excellent service in a direct or indirect manner. Ability to effectively transmit and interpret information through appropriate communication with internal and external customers.
- Enhances service by seeking ways to add value to customer interactions/services.
- Demonstrates sincere concern and takes responsibility when a customer complains, even if the cause of the problem lies elsewhere.
- Listens to feedback without defensiveness and uses it to enhance communication effectiveness.
- Communicates in alternative ways to accommodate different listeners.
Ability to foster a welcoming and respectful workplace environment while recognizing personal differences. Ability to work with a variety of individuals and groups in a constructive and respectful manner while appreciating the importance of a workforce that benefits from the talents of all people across multiple characteristics, including: race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, gender identity, or associational preferences.
- Maintains productive work relationships while considering multiple perspectives.
- Resolves cross-cultural conflicts effectively.
- Understands and describes the unit's commitment to creating a workplace environment where people of all backgrounds and perspectives feel welcomed and appreciated, and the reasons for its importance.
- Contributes to a welcoming and respectful workplace environment as described above.
Management Tools
• 5+ years' experience working with Microsoft Configuration Manager in an enterprise environment.
• 5+ years' experience with Microsoft Active Directory computer administration.
• 5+ years' experience with backup and restore tools in an enterprise environment.
• 3+ years' experience with tools from the Microsoft Office365 platform, including SharePoint, OneDrive, Groups, and Flow.
• 3+ years' experience in Microsoft Group Policy administration.
• 3+ years' experience in Puppet for server and Linux workstation administration.
Enterprise Computer Hardware
• 3+ years' experience installing and maintaining research server and VMWare cluster hardware.
• Certified Dell repair technician for server hardware.
• 3+ years' experience managing and maintaining enterprise firewall hardware.
Programming/Scripting Languages
• 3+ years' experience utilizing SQL.
• 5+ years' experience utilizing Microsoft PowerShell.
• 3+ years' experience utilizing Python.
• 3+ years' experience utilizing Puppet configuration language.
• 5+ years' experience with web languages such as PHP, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and XML.
• 5+ years' experience with command line scripting languages, including Bourne shell and Microsoft batch scripting.
• 5+ years' experience utilizing Git.
Operating Systems
• 3+ years' experience configuring, deploying, and maintaining Linux operating systems, including Ubuntu, CentOS, and Amazon Linux.
• 5+ years' experience managing Windows Server operating systems, including Server Core configurations.
• 3+ years' experience managing VMware vSphere.
• 3+ years' experience managing Microsoft Hyper-V.
Networking
• 5+ years' experience diagnosing and troubleshooting network issues in an enterprise environment and in the field.
Cloud Computing
• 3+ years' experience designing and implementing cloud-native infrastructure in Amazon Web Services
• 3+ years' experience managing auto-scaling and stateless server infrastructure.
As part of performing the key areas of responsibility and competencies described above, staff members are expected to meet reasonable standards of work quality and quantity, as well as expectations for attendance established by their supervisor. Staff members are also expected to comply with policies governing employee responsibilities and conduct, including those contained in the University Operations Manual.
Required Qualifications:
• A bachelor's degree in Engineering, MIS, or Computer Science or equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• 5+ years' experience managing Windows Server operating systems, including Server Core configurations.
• 5+ years' experience with Microsoft Active Directory computer administration.
• 3+ years' experience in Microsoft Group Policy administration.
• 5+ years' experience with backup and restore tools in an enterprise environment.
• 3+ years' experience managing virtual server environments, such as VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V.
Desired Qualifications
• 3+ years' experience configuring, deploying, and maintaining Linux operating systems, including Ubuntu, CentOS, and Amazon Linux.
• 5+ years' experience with command line scripting languages
• 3+ years' experience utilizing Cloud Services, such as Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure.
Application Details:
To be considered for an interview, applicants must upload a resume and cover letter and mark them as a "Relevant File" to the submission. Job openings are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days and may be removed from posting and filled any time after the original posting period has ended.
Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to five professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.
This position is eligible for hybrid work, within Iowa and will require a work arrangement form to be completed upon the start of your employment. Per policy, work arrangements will be reviewed annually, and must comply with the remote work program and related policies and employee travel policy when working at a remote location.
For questions contact Kay Shie: kay-shie@uiowa.edu
Additional Information
- Classification Title: Senior Systems Administrator
- Appointment Type: Professional and Scientific
- Schedule: Full-time
- Work Modality Options: Hybrid, within Iowa
- Pay Level: 5B
- Organization: Public Health
- Contact Name: Kay Shie
- Contact Email: kay-shie@uiowa.edu
Additional Information
- Classification Title: Senior Systems Administrator
- Appointment Type: Professional and Scientific
- Schedule: Full-time
- Work Modality Options: On Campus, Hybrid within Iowa
- Pay Level: 5B
- Organization: College of Public Health
- Contact Name: Janet Duncan
- Contact Email: janet-duncan@uiowa.edu
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