IT INFRASTRUCTURE SPECIALIST

IT INFRASTRUCTURE SPECIALIST

Position Number: 22133913 Anticipated Starting Salary: $54,924.06

The IT Infrastructure Specialist provides technical support and maintenance for IT systems. This includes servers, networks, operating systems, and storage systems that support ArkansasIDEAS, the statewide professional development resource for K-12 educators. This grant-funded position is dedicated to ensuring the reliability, security, and availability of technology services that enable educators to meet licensure requirements, pursue professional growth, and improve student outcomes. Working as part of a small, highly skilled technology team, the IT Infrastructure Specialist assists with system administration, troubleshooting, automation efforts, and infrastructure improvements to support uninterrupted access to critical educational content.

Responsibilities:

• Support the administration and maintenance of the VMware virtualization environment and related infrastructure to ensure reliable system operations.
• Work with team members and stakeholders to communicate infrastructure performance, operational needs, and integration requirements.
• Troubleshoot and resolve server, virtualization, storage, networking, and operating system issues, escalating complex problems when appropriate to maintain system availability.
• Assist with system hardening activities, vulnerability remediation, software updates, and infrastructure improvements to support secure and reliable services.
• Monitor system health and communicate system status, identified risks, and support activities while contributing to documentation and knowledge sharing within the IT team.
• Participate in infrastructure upgrades, migrations, and platform improvement projects under the guidance of senior technical staff and assist in evaluating new technologies and tools.
• Monitor system performance, availability, security, backups, and patching activities to help ensure reliable and secure operations.
• Assist with the implementation, maintenance, and enhancement of infrastructure supporting Moodle, PostgreSQL, video streaming, and other ArkansasIDEAS services, with a focus on system reliability and performance.
• Develop and maintain basic Ansible automation, configuration management processes, and standardized system deployments to improve operational efficiency and consistency.
• Provide technical support for applications and services by troubleshooting infrastructure and platform-related issues and coordinating with internal and external stakeholders as needed.
• Create and maintain technical documentation, system diagrams, standard operating procedures, configuration records, and disaster recovery documentation to support operational continuity, knowledge sharing, and business continuity.
• Collaborate with senior technical staff to identify opportunities for process improvement and implement best practices for system administration and support.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of computer networking concepts, operating systems, server infrastructure, and storage technologies.
• Knowledge of information security principles and industry best practices.
• Ability to troubleshoot and resolve hardware, software, networking, and system performance issues.
• Ability to install, configure, maintain, and monitor IT infrastructure components.
• Ability to develop and maintain technical documentation.
• Ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Skill in identifying opportunities for process improvement and automation.
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and respond effectively to operational needs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1 plus years of experience in any of the following: Moodle LMS / PHP Applications, Linux administration, or VMware virtualization platforms
• Supporting web application hosting environments with database services, in operations, data center operations, or managed services department.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Monitor and report on the performance of information technology infrastructure systems, including servers and networks.
• Assist in troubleshooting and resolving basic technical issues to minimize downtime.
• Support the implementation of upgrades, patches, and backups under supervision.
• Document system configurations, processes, and resolutions for internal records.
• Collaborate with team members on infrastructure-related projects and initiatives.
• Learn and apply security protocols to protect systems and data.
• Provide basic technical support to end-users and escalate complex issues to senior infrastructure support personnel.
• Stay informed about emerging technologies and best practices in IT infrastructure.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Strong willingness to learn and adapt to new technologies and responsibilities.
• Basic analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Good organizational and documentation skills.
• Attention to detail and ability to follow instructions accurately.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Basic understanding of networking concepts, operating systems, and system hardware.
• Familiarity with common tools such as troubleshooting software, ticketing systems, or diagnostic utilities.

The State of Arkansas is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.