Senior Systems Administrator

Allegheny Science & Technology (AST) is seeking a highly experienced Senior Systems Administrator to support and maintain a secure, reliable, and highly available enterprise IT environment. This role is responsible for the administration, optimization, and support of critical infrastructure systems, with a strong emphasis on VMware virtualization, Windows server administration, Microsoft 365 administration, cybersecurity best practices, backup and disaster recovery, and overall systems operations.

The ideal candidate is a self-motivated technical professional who can take ownership of infrastructure-related initiatives, troubleshoot complex issues, document procedures, and work effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders. This position requires strong technical judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to support a mission-critical environment where system availability and security are essential.

This position is primarily onsite with limited remote work flexibility and may require occasional after-hours support to maintain a 24/7 operational environment.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Administer, maintain, and optimize enterprise IT infrastructure and systems.

• Serve as the primary administrator for virtualized vSphere environments, including deployment, configuration, maintenance, troubleshooting, and performance optimization.

• Design, implement, and support server infrastructure, including both virtual and physical systems.

• Perform system hardening, vulnerability remediation, patch management, and security compliance activities.

• Administer Microsoft 365 services, including email, user accounts, security settings, and related administrative functions.

• Support and maintain Microsoft SQL Server environments and associated applications.

• Manage enterprise backup, recovery, and disaster recovery solutions to ensure business continuity.

• Maintain high data integrity for safeguards and disaster recovery.

• Monitor system performance and proactively identify opportunities for improvement, automation, and increased reliability.

• Configure and maintain endpoint protection technologies, including antivirus, malware, EDR, and XDR solutions.

• Manage user accounts, access controls, retention policies, and identity-related administrative functions.

• Support desktop, laptop, and peripheral device configuration, deployment, integration, and troubleshooting.

• Implement and maintain system logging, auditing, monitoring, and reporting capabilities.

• Design and support fault-tolerant and redundant infrastructure solutions.

• Develop and maintain technical documentation, procedures, and standard operational policies.

• Interface with customers and stakeholders to gather requirements, prioritize work, and resolve technical issues.

• Participate in troubleshooting and resolution of infrastructure, network, server, and application-related incidents.

• Stay current on emerging technologies, cybersecurity threats, and industry best practices.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related technical discipline; equivalent experience may be considered.

• Ability to obtain and maintain an HSPD-12 badge and DOE Q clearance.

• Minimum of 7 years of experience supporting IT infrastructure for small to mid-sized organizations.

• Strong hands-on experience administering VMware environments in production settings.

• Experience administering Windows Server environments and enterprise infrastructure.

• Experience with Microsoft 365 administration.

• Experience supporting backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity processes.

• Experience implementing security hardening, patch management, and system compliance requirements.

• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including technical documentation.

• U.S. Citizenship is required.

Desired Qualifications:

• Industry certifications such as VMware (VCP), Microsoft, CompTIA Security+, CISSP, or equivalent.

• Experience supporting Microsoft SQL Server environments.

• Experience with centralized logging, monitoring, and auditing platforms.

• Experience supporting environments with elevated security requirements.

• Experience with infrastructure automation and systems optimization.

• Active DOE Q clearance.

Other Qualifications:

• This position is primarily office-based and supports systems that operate in a 24/7 environment. Occasional after-hours support may be required to address critical issues, perform maintenance activities, or support operational requirements.

Multiple factors contribute to determining the final pay for a position. These include, but are not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications, and competencies that align with the specific role, geographic location, educational background, and contract provisions related to labor categories specific to the position. We are committed to offering a competitive compensation package that reflects the value and expertise that each candidate brings to our team.

The pay range for this position based on full-time employment is $125,000 - $135,000.

Compensation Range: $125K - $135K