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