Senior Windows Systems Administrator, Information Technology, College of Natural Sciences

Senior Windows Systems Administrator

The Senior Windows Systems Administrator is responsible for the design, implementation, security, and operational support of enterprise Microsoft Windows systems that enable the University's academic, research, and administrative missions.

This role provides senior-level technical leadership within the IT Infrastructure team, supporting faculty, staff, students, and researchers by ensuring reliable, secure, and scalable Windows-based services. The position works closely with cybersecurity, networking, academic technology, and application teams to support a highly distributed computing environment.

Responsibilities

• Enterprise Systems Administration: Design, deploy, and manage Windows Server infrastructure supporting teaching, research, and administrative systems. Administer core services including Active Directory, SCCM, DHCP, certificate services, and identity integrations. Perform OS installs, OS/software updates, VM provisioning, hardware maintenance, user support, trouble shooting, hardware and software configuration, and backups. Ensure high availability, performance, and reliability of Windows servers. Manage college-wide Windows licenses hosted on managed servers and coordinate updates to maintain compliance.
• Security, Compliance & Risk Management: Implement security best practices aligned with university policies, regulatory requirements, and higher-education standards (e.g., FERPA, HIPAA, grant-funded research controls). Partner with the Information Security Office on vulnerability remediation, audits, incident response, and identity governance. Maintain secure authentication, authorization, and access controls across on-premises and cloud environments.
• Academic & Research Support: Collaborate with faculty, research staff, and IT partners to support research computing, instructional labs, and specialized academic applications. Support hybrid and specialized environments required for grants, compliance, or research initiatives. Balance enterprise standards with the flexibility required in an academic setting.
• Automation & Modern IT Practices: Develop and maintain automation to improve operational efficiency and reliability. Support modern endpoint and device management solutions. Participate in cloud and hybrid infrastructure initiatives
• Operations & Documentation: Provide support and technical leadership for complex incidents and escalations. Create and maintain technical documentation, operational procedures, and knowledge-base articles. Participate in after-hours maintenance as required
• Other related duties and projects as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 4+ years of experience administering Windows systems in a large-scale or enterprise environment.
• Advanced experience with:
• Windows Server administration
• Active Directory, DHCP, and Group Policy
• PowerShell automation and scripting
• Experience with virtualization technologies
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work effectively in a complex, collaborative environment.
• Excellent communication skills with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a higher-education or research institution.
• Familiarity with hybrid identity and cloud services.
• Experience supporting instructional labs, research systems, or grant-funded infrastructure.
• Relevant certifications (e.g., Microsoft, cybersecurity-related).
• Experience with change management and IT service frameworks in academic environments.
• Experience with MySQL Always On, S2D storage, cluster aware patching.
• Experience working with Linux/UNIX environments.

Salary Range

$95,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• On-site or hybrid work depending on operational requirements.
• Occasional lifting and installation of standard IT equipment.

Work Shift

• Participation in occasional after-hours work.

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest