Sr IT Systems Administrator

Job Title – Sr IT Systems Administrator

Department – Information Technology

Reports to – Director IT Infrastructure & Ops

Job Summary

The Sr IT Systems Administrator will be responsible for designing, implementing, maintaining, and securing the organization’s IT infrastructure with a strong focus on Microsoft Azure cloud services. This role requires deep technical expertise, proactive problem-solving, and the ability to lead infrastructure projects while mentoring junior team members.

Key Areas of Responsibility

Systems Administration, Cloud & Virtualization

Manage, monitor, and optimize servers, storage, and network infrastructure (Windows, Linux, and virtualization platforms including VMware and ProxMox)

Perform regular system updates, patching, and performance tuning

Oversee backup and recovery operations using Veeam Backups, Replication, Failover, and Failback

Ensure effective disaster recovery and business continuity processes leveraging both on-premises and cloud object storage (Azure Blob, AWS S3, Wasabi, etc.)

Deploy, manage, and optimize Microsoft Azure services, including computer, networking, identity, security, and storage

Implement and manage Azure Active Directory (Entra ID), including conditional access, RBAC, MFA, and hybrid identity integration

Configure and maintain Azure Virtual Networks, VPN Gateways, ExpressRoute, and Azure Firewall for secure connectivity

Manage Azure DevOps pipelines for infrastructure and application deployments (PowerShell, Terraform, Ansible, Python automation)

Implement and monitor Azure Security Center, Defender for Cloud, and Microsoft Sentinel (SIEM) for proactive threat management

Oversee monitoring and observability systems (Prometheus, Alertmanager, Grafana, OpenSearch/Kibana) and integrate with Azure Monitor and Log Analytics

Assist with the administration and optimization of our Microsoft 365 platform (Entra ID, Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams, Intune, and related services)

Configure and troubleshoot LAN, WAN, VPN, and wireless networks, including Cisco Meraki solutions

Manage DNS, DHCP, Active Directory, Group Policy, and authentication systems

Support & Client Services

Provide Level 2/3 technical support to client services and internal teams for escalated infrastructure, system, and networking issues

Collaborate with the service desk team to resolve complex problems efficiently and document solutions

Act as a subject-matter expert for Azure and infrastructure escalations

Contribute to cost monitoring, budget forecasting, and license management of Azure and related platforms

Collaboration & Leadership

Work closely with IT leadership to design and execute hybrid cloud infrastructure roadmaps

Lead infrastructure improvement projects and cross-team initiatives with a focus on cloud adoption

Mentor junior administrators on Azure cloud administration and automation

Contribute to policy development for data handling, retention, and access control

Support and uphold HS&E policies and procedures of NCS and the customer

Align individual goals with NCS corporate goals, while adhering to the NCS Promise

Participate in your Personal Development for Success (PDS)

Other duties, relevant to the position, shall be assigned as required

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or equivalent experience

7+ years of experience in system administration or infrastructure roles, including 3+ years with Azure cloud services

Proven expertise with Azure cloud (compute, storage, networking, security), ProxMox virtualization, Cisco Meraki networking, Veeam backup solutions, and cloud object storage services (Azure Blob, AWS S3, Wasabi)

Prior experience providing Level 2/3 technical support in an enterprise or service-oriented environment

Expert knowledge of Azure Active Directory/Entra ID and hybrid identity

Strong understanding of Azure governance, RBAC, policies, and compliance

Hands-on experience with Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Bicep, ARM templates) and automation (PowerShell, Python, Ansible)

Experience with Azure networking (VNets, VPN, ExpressRoute, load balancers, firewalls)

Familiarity with Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), containerization (Docker), and cloud-native services

Strong background in Windows Server and Linux administration

Expertise with ManageEngine IT management tools (ServiceDesk Plus, Endpoint Central, ADManager Plus)

Knowledge of security frameworks (ISO, NIST, CIS)

Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills

Excellent communication and documentation abilities

Ability to work independently and lead complex cloud and infrastructure projects

Preferred Certifications: Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104)

Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305)

Microsoft 365 Certified: Enterprise Administrator Expert

ManageEngine Certified Product Professional (MECPP) or ManageEngine Certified Solution Professional (MECSP)

ProxMox VE Certification (preferred)

Cisco Meraki Specialist or CCNA/CCNP with Meraki experience

Veeam Certified Engineer (VMCE)

VMware Certified Professional (VCP)

CompTIA Security+ or CISSP

Additional Information

Status: Overtime Exempt

Employment Classification: Full-time, Regular

Work schedule: 5 days on, 2 days off; Monday to Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm, on call 24/7 for support

Travel: 15-20% domestic travel required; some international travel may be required

Bonus: Eligible

Special Equipment: Cellphone and Laptop

Criminal background check required for all positions

Safety sensitive positions will require additional pre-employment testing

Core Competencies

Teamwork/Collaboration – Able to work cooperatively with other individuals

Service Focus – Builds & maintains customer satisfaction and provides excellent service to internal & external customers

Decision Making – Able to make decisions and solve problems of varied levels of complexity using logical, systematic, and sequential approach

Ethics & Integrity – Trustworthiness and ethical behavior with consideration for impact & consequence when making decisions/taking action

Problem Solving – Ability to approach a problem by using a logical, systematic, sequential approach

Continuous Improvement – Ongoing improvement of products, services, or processes through incremental & breakthrough improvements

Accountability – Obligation or willingness to be answerable for an outcome