Senior Systems Administrator

Location: Hybrid (Chandler, AZ) Reports to: Infrastructure Manager Employment Type: Exempt | Full-Time About StrongMind StrongMind is a remote-first education and technology company on a mission to transform learning for students, families, and educators across the country. For more than 25 years, we’ve partnered with schools and districts to deliver innovative, student-centered learning experiences powered by technology, compassion, and bold thinking. We believe education should be flexible, human, and built for real life. That belief shapes how we design our products, support our partners, and work together as a team. At StrongMind, you’ll find smart people doing meaningful work, a culture rooted in trust and accountability, and leaders who genuinely care about both outcomes and people. You’ll be part of the Information Services team , working closely with IT Operations, HelpDesk, Engineering and Platform, Security and Compliance, People Success, Facilities, and the schools we support, including Primavera, Valor Preparatory Academy, and American Virtual Academy. The Information Services team is responsible for supporting the technology, systems, infrastructure, and security tools that employees and school staff rely on every day. In this role, you’ll serve as a senior technical resource, owning key platforms and helping establish the standards that keep our technology environment secure, reliable, and efficient. The team culture is collaborative, solutions-oriented, and focused on continuous improvement. You’ll have opportunities to take ownership of complex technical challenges, mentor teammates, improve systems through automation, and help shape how our technology environment evolves. The Difference You Will Make As a Systems Administrator 2, you’ll be the senior technical problem solver on the IT team below the IT Operations Manager. You’ll go beyond administering established systems—you’ll help design solutions, establish technical standards, and take end-to-end ownership of critical platforms. Your work will directly impact the employees and school teams who rely on StrongMind’s technology every day. You’ll help ensure our identity, endpoint, network, telephony, and security environments are secure, reliable, well-documented, and increasingly automated. You’ll also play an important role in our AI-forward organization by using approved AI tools to improve automation, documentation, and analysis while helping the broader team adopt these tools responsibly and effectively. A Typical Day Looks Like While no two days are exactly the same, you can expect to: Own corporate identity administration, including directory and account architecture, groups, roles, licensing, conditional access, and multifactor authentication. Manage endpoint environments across Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS, including configuration, compliance, patching, application deployment, imaging, and device management. Administer corporate network infrastructure, including firewalls, routing, wireless, VLANs, DNS, DHCP, certificates, and remote access. Manage cloud telephony and contact center configurations, as well as physical security and access control systems in partnership with Facilities. Operate endpoint protection and email security platforms, investigate alerts, and remediate security findings. Automate recurring administrative tasks using scripting and maintain runbooks, standard operating procedures, and technical documentation. Use approved AI tools to support documentation, scripting, log analysis, research, and workflow improvements while verifying outputs before relying on them. Serve as a technical escalation point for Systems Administrator 1 and HelpDesk team members and provide mentorship and cross-training. Lead or support department projects such as platform migrations, device refreshes, decommissions, office build-outs, and infrastructure changes. Support annual statewide student assessment activities, including device staging, network readiness, on-site support, equipment collection, and reimaging. Partner with Engineering, Security and Compliance, People Success, schools, and Facilities on technology initiatives and operational needs. This role balances hands-on technical execution, independent problem-solving, collaboration, and technical leadership and is well-suited for someone who enjoys owning complex systems, improving processes, automating repetitive work, and helping others grow. We’re looking for someone who brings: Five or more years of experience in systems administration or infrastructure engineering, with at least two years at a senior or lead level, or equivalent demonstrated experience. Demonstrated end-to-end ownership of significant technology platforms, including designing, administering, documenting, and maintaining them. Deep working knowledge of cloud identity and productivity administration, including directory services, groups, roles, licensing, conditional access, and multifactor authentication. Microsoft Entra ID and Microsoft 365 experience preferred. Strong endpoint management experience at enterprise scale, including platforms such as Microsoft Intune and Jamf. Strong network administration skills, including firewalls, VLANs, routing, wireless, DNS, DHCP, certificates, and remote access. Experience administering Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS in centrally managed environments, with Linux experience where applicable. Strong scripting and automation skills using tools such as PowerShell, Bash, or Python. Experience administering endpoint protection and email security platforms, including policy tuning, alert triage, and remediation. Strong change-management practices, including written change records, maintenance windows, rollback plans, and communication. Ability to create clear architecture documentation, runbooks, and procedures that enable other administrators to operate systems independently. Practical experience using AI tools in a technical environment, along with the judgment to verify AI-generated output before relying on it. Ability to handle confidential staff and student information appropriately and in accordance with FERPA and company policy. Strong communication, problem-solving, organization, and collaboration skills. Bonus points if you also have: Identity platform migration experience or experience managing multiple identity providers. Cloud telephony or contact center administration experience, such as RingCentral. Experience administering physical security systems, including badging, cameras, and door access. Exposure to cloud infrastructure concepts and experience partnering with Engineering teams. Backup, recovery, and business continuity planning and testing experience. Experience managing asset management systems and hardware lifecycles at scale. Experience supporting standardized testing or large-scale seasonal device deployments. Experience preparing technical evidence for a security audit or compliance framework. Experience mentoring technicians or leading technical initiatives without formal authority. Relevant certifications such as Microsoft Certified Identity and Access Administrator, Endpoint Administrator, Azure Administrator, Jamf, or networking/security certifications. An associate or bachelor’s degree in a technology-related field. Demonstrated capability matters more here than credentials. Our Commitment to Inclusion & Belonging At StrongMind, we believe the best ideas come from bringing together people with different perspectives, experiences, and ways of thinking. A diverse and inclusive workplace fuels creativity, strengthens collaboration, and helps us build better solutions for the students, families, and communities we serve. We are committed to welcoming a broad range of talent and encouraging all qualified individuals to apply. We strive to create an environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging and is empowered to contribute, grow, and do meaningful work. How We’ll Take Care of You We believe that when people feel supported, they do their best work. At StrongMind, your well-being isn’t a perk—it’s part of our culture. Our commitment to you includes: A competitive total compensation package, including medical, dental, vision, and voluntary benefits Well-being that works for real life—from an on-site gym, virtual wellness programs, and wellness coaching to flexible work options for select roles, because your well-being fuels your brilliance Unlimited PTO for exempt roles, plus additional “life happens” days when you need flexibility A fully paid holiday week off at Christmas, so you can truly rest, reset, and reconnect Recognition and rewards that celebrate birthdays, meaningful milestones, legendary work, and community service hours that let you give back Quarterly Town Halls that keep communication transparent, honest, and human Annual social events and traditions we genuinely look forward to—like Halloween celebrations, Wellness Fairs, and other moments that bring our community together We’re intentional about building a workplace where people feel valued, connected, and empowered to thrive—at work and beyond. Additional Info Work Environment: StrongMind operates as a remote-first organization. This role is Arizona-based with on-site presence required for server room and network infrastructure work, equipment staging, school events, and the annual student assessment window. After-Hours Work: Infrastructure changes that affect availability are scheduled outside business hours, typically evenings or weekends. Participation in these maintenance windows is part of the role. Travel: Seasonal in-state travel is required. During the spring assessment window, this role supports school sites across Arizona, including driving to sites, transporting and setting up equipment, and occasional early start times. Physical Requirements: The role may require lifting and moving computer and network equipment, working in equipment staging areas, and performing rack and cabling work. Seasonality: Work volume peaks in late summer and early autumn for back-to-school activities and again in spring for student assessment. Comfort with predictable seasonal peaks is important. We welcome all qualified candidates eligible to work in the United States. At this time, we are unable to sponsor visas. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and provide consideration to all applicants regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender, national origin, age, veteran status, marital status, or disability protected by law. #J-18808-Ljbffr StrongMind