IT System Administrator

IT System AdministratorJoin the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing at the University of South Carolina as an IT System Administrator supporting the technology that enables teaching, research, administration, and outreach across the College. In this role, you will manage and support a diverse computing environment, work directly with faculty, staff, students, and researchers, and help develop secure, reliable, and scalable technology solutions. This position offers the opportunity to work with a wide range of technologies—including Windows, Linux/UNIX, macOS, enterprise endpoint management, scripting, networking, and secure research computing—while collaborating across the College and University to solve challenging technical problems and support the College's mission.The IT System Administrator manages and supports technology for academic departments within the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing. You will provide hands-on technical support and systems administration for faculty, staff, students, and researchers; manage computer hardware, software, and network resources; support secure research computing environments; and help translate diverse technology needs into reliable, standardized, and scalable solutions. The role also includes supervising and training student IT employees and collaborating with IT professionals across the College and University.Key Responsibilities:Manage and support departmental IT systems, including computers, hardware, software, network resources, and technology lifecycles supporting teaching, research, and administration.Partner with faculty, staff, students, and researchers to troubleshoot issues, provide technical guidance, and develop solutions that meet current and future technology needs.Support secure research computing environments while meeting applicable security, regulatory, University, and College requirements.Coordinate IT operations and supervise student technicians, including workload management, documentation, inventories, procedures, training, and customer communication.What You'll Bring:Broad technical expertise supporting Windows, Linux/UNIX, and macOS environments, with experience in endpoint management, security, networking, and scripting or automation.Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills with the ability to develop practical solutions for diverse teaching, research, and administrative technology needs.Excellent communication and customer-service skills with the ability to build trusted relationships with faculty, staff, students, researchers, and IT colleagues.An organized, self-directed professional who can manage multiple priorities, maintain strong documentation, learn evolving technologies, and translate organizational needs into standardized and scalable solutions.Why Join Us?Make a direct impact on teaching and research by supporting the technology used by faculty, students, and researchers across the College.Work with diverse and challenging technology, from enterprise endpoint management and automation to research computing and secure environments.Collaborate across MCEC and USC with IT professionals, faculty, researchers, and other University partners to solve meaningful technology problems.Continue developing professionally through training, certifications, self-directed learning, and participation in IT communities of practice.Perks of the University of South Carolina:Downtown COLA Location: Enjoy working in the heart of Columbia, SC, with easy access to vibrant city life, dining, and cultural events.Energetic Leadership: Thrive under the guidance of an energetic and innovative leadership team dedicated to transforming IT at USC, making your role impactful and exciting.Competitive Compensation: Some of the BEST benefits you can find! - Paid Tuition - Paid Parental Leave - Dependent Scholarships - State Benefits - State RetirementWork-Life-Balance: Full-time pay with a 37.5 work week Generous paid time off! (15 Paid Vacation Days, 15 Paid Sick Days, 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience - Requires job related accreditation from a technical school or an applicable skilled trades program and 4 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.Required Certification, Licensure/Other CredentialsPreferred Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in Information Technology Systems or related field, or an applicable skilled trades program, or equivalent experience. Four years of experience in computer systems development, management, and modifications; computer lab management, or equivalent. Experience working with student IT staff, IT operations, and IT project management. Higher Education IT experience.Knowledge/Skills/Abilities - Ability to support diverse research computing needs with custom and creative hardware, software, networking, and instrumentation solutions. Proficiency in Microsoft server and desktop operating systems, Linux/UNIX variants, and Macintosh OS; experience with MDM tools, GPO, and enterprise end device security. Programming or scripting skills; strong analytical abilities for project planning and supervision. Excellent organizational and technical writing skills for thorough documentation. Effective collaboration and communication. Ability to present data and maintain detailed records; relationship management with users vendors, and employees. Self-training to keep pace with evolving technology; and the ability to translate organizational needs into standardized, efficient, and scalable technology solutions.Job DutiesDesign, install, configure, maintain, monitor, troubleshoot, and upgrade hardware and system software configurations in support of CEC departmental administrative, academic, and research missions. Manage hardware and software lifecycles; negotiate pricing and purchasing. Manage, troubleshoot, and verify user workstation backups and network services to user workstations. Comply with all pertinent information security requirements and standards as mandated by federal and state laws and regulations, as well as University and College policies and procedures.Proactively partner with faculty, staff, and students to further university goals by providing technical assistance, troubleshooting, training, and consulting related to information technology services and resources. Assist users with issues and seek solutions to solve users' technology needs. Build and manage positive relationships with faculty, staff, and students to best understand their diverse technology needs and implement information technology best practices that fit the current and future anticipated needs. Develop trust by being knowledgeable, dependable, and responsive. Observe and analyze business processes and advise where additions or changes to technology may provide increased efficiency, accuracy, or otherwise provide value or improve the existing process. Comply with all pertinent information security requirements and standards as mandated by federal and state laws and regulations, as well as University and College policies and procedures.Use the enterprise IT ticket system to manage workload. Coordinate with other staff as needed to complete goals. Train and supervise student employees. Clearly communicate task steps and goals. Monitor task progress. Regularly provide updates on progress to supported users. Note and update tickets in enterprise IT ticket system to keep all staff informed of work in progress. Maintain physical space, tools, and equipment in IT offices to a reasonable standard of neatness and efficiency. Create and maintain related documentation, inventories, standard operating procedures, and training documents.Manage computers and computing resources in secure research environments. Understand the required regulatory frameworks for secure computing. Complete required trainings for secure computing. Assist faculty, staff, students, and researchers, manage, deploy and troubleshoot computer and computing resources issues in compliance with secure research needs and regulations.Obtain and maintain job training and certifications as required by job responsibilities. Self-train and maintain pace with rapidly changing technology as required. Participate in communities of practice.Perform additional duties as required.Position Attributes Employees in Safety-Sensitive or Security-Sensitive positions will be subject to pre-employment and post-employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR 1.95 Drug and Alcohol Testing.Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive - NoHazardous weather category - Non-EssentialPosting Detail InformationNumber of Vacancies - 1Desired Start Date - 10/15/2026Job Open Date - 10/07/2026Job Close Date - 10/14/2026Open Until Filled - NoSpecial Instructions to Applicant - Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email. We are only accepting applications submitted by October 14, 2026. The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to: Health and Life Insurance Retirement Programs Paid Tuition Dependent Scholarships Annual Leave Sick Leave 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday) Paid Parental Leave Professional Development Opportunities Click here to learn more about why you should work at USC.Quicklink for Posting -