Junior IT System Administrator

A World of OpportunitiesCommitted to an industry that combines innovation and responsibility, we embody our slogan on a daily basis: "A World of Opportunities". Trust, Reputation, Integrity and Rise are strong values that make up Clayens' DNA!Job SummaryThe Junior System Administrator supports the day-to-day administration, maintenance, and security of the organization's computers, servers, virtualization, identity, endpoint, backup, and Microsoft 365 environments. Working under the guidance of experienced IT team members, this role provides hands-on exposure to both on-premises and cloud-based systems across multiple sites, while progressively developing technical expertise, autonomy, and ownership. The position is designed for an early-career IT professional with strong fundamentals, curiosity, and a willingness to learn, with a clear development path toward a full System Administrator role. As experience grows, the incumbent will take on increasingly complex operational responsibilities, contribute to infrastructure and cloud projects, and support the continuous improvement, reliability, performance, and security of the organization's IT environment.Work LocationCandidates must be based in either the Greater Boston area, the Greater Chicago area, or be eligible to work remotely from the Eastern or Central Time Zone.Supervisory ResponsibilitiesNoneKeys ResponsibilitiesAssist with the day-to-day administration, maintenance, and troubleshooting of computers, Windows Server environments, including Active Directory, Group Policy, DNS, DHCP, file services, and print services, under the guidance of senior IT team members.Support the monitoring and routine maintenance of virtualization platforms, virtual machines, storage, and related infrastructure capacity, escalating complex issues when appropriate.Perform routine tasks, including user accounts, groups, access permissions, and basic identity synchronization tasks, following established procedures.Monitor system availability, performance, capacity, and security using established tools; perform initial investigation, document findings, and escalate incidents as required.Assist with backup verification, recovery testing, patch deployment, vulnerability remediation, and disaster recovery activities in accordance with documented procedures.Learn to use PowerShell and other approved tools to automate simple recurring administrative tasks, with appropriate review and supervision.Provide second-level and third-level support for system-related issues, contribute to root-cause analysis, and work with senior administrators or vendors on complex escalations.Create and maintain accurate system documentation, operating procedures, asset records, troubleshooting notes, and recovery documentation.Participate in regional and global IT initiatives related to infrastructure modernization, standardization, security, and cloud services, gradually taking ownership of defined tasks as skills and experience develop.Required Qualifications and ExperienceDegree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Systems Administration, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.Hands-on experience administering Microsoft Windows Server, Active Directory, Group Policy, DNS, DHCP, and file services.Experience with virtualization, backup and recovery, patch management, storage, and system monitoring solutions.Working knowledge of Microsoft 365 administration, Microsoft Entra ID, identity management, and hybrid environments.Ability to use PowerShell for administration, troubleshooting, reporting, and task automation.Strong troubleshooting, analytical, organizational, and documentation skills.Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to explain technical matters clearly to users, management, and cross-functional teams.Ability to work independently, prioritize operational demands, participate in planned maintenance activities, maintain confidentiality, and follow organizational security and compliance requirements.Preferred Qualifications and ExperienceExperience administering Microsoft Azure services is preferred, particularly Azure virtual machines, storage, SQL, networking, backup, monitoring, and identity integration.Experience with hybrid identity, Microsoft Entra Connect, Conditional Access, and Microsoft Intune.Experience with Hyper-V virtualization platforms and Veeam backup solutions.Knowledge of infrastructure security best practices, privileged access, endpoint protection, vulnerability management, and disaster recovery.Relevant Microsoft, Azure, Windows Server, virtualization, or IT service management certifications.Experience supporting multi-site manufacturing environments and collaborating with international teams (Spanish, French).Experience using Atera to remotely connect to user computers and troubleshoot issues.Experience supporting Operational Technology (OT) environments, industrial systems, and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), including collaboration with production and engineering teams.