Job Details

Systems Administrator

The Systems Administrator is a professional member of Furman University's Information Technology Services Division, reporting to the Director of Systems and Networks. The Systems Administrator provides skilled management of UNIX/Linux systems and servers, select Windows systems and servers, the central university backup system, as well as Domain Naming System/Service. The Systems Administrator coordinates maintenance, changes, installations, and upgrades to these systems. Provides operating systems consultation and support for user services to meet the needs of the faculty, staff, and students. Provides programming support for the implementation and maintenance of automated departmental procedures.

Responsibilities

Linux and Windows System Administration:

• Builds and installs systems as requested.
• Performs OS upgrades and patches
• Deploys, configures and monitors, software, security, performance and reliability for servers, including application servers, database and transaction servers, etc>
• Consults with departmental academic specialists on OS and hardware needs
• Shell scripting
• Migrates applications/services to new servers/hardware/VMware
• Repairs and Recovers services due to hardware or software failures. Coordinates and communicates with impacted constituencies.
• Deploys and manages virtual machines in the management of servers.

Maintains and manages Linux or UNIX-based server technologies, including:

• DNS - on-prem and cloud hosted
• Web servers (Apache, Tomcat, etc)
• Digital certificates (mod_ssl, OpenSSL, Windows, etc)
• Application servers
• Operating system updates

Administers university backup system:

• Performs OS upgrades and patches
• Installs and configures backup client and server software
• Jointly responsible for backing up of all critical campus-wide information systems daily, using both full and incremental backups and approved tools and procedures.
• Accurately logs all backups
• Secures and stores Backup data in accordance with University requirements
• Consults on backup needs of the university
• Assists in the restoration of systems and data
• This backup requirement and/or restore of critical files is a 24/7 responsibility, and incumbent is expected to provide said service on demand.
• Maintains up to date backups, retention policies, documentation, and backup integrity tests

Works with Security Team to provide experienced patch management and security of Linux and Windows based systems as required.

Participates in on-call duties or after-hours work required to support enterprise needs.

Provides backup skills or support for other team members as assigned.

Collaborates with Academic Specialists for OS and integration expertise in support of academic and faculty needs.

Maintains current and up-to-date system logs and procedure manuals.

Maintains current skills necessary to assume primary and secondary responsibilities.

Applies state-of-the-art technology to meet requirements and improve system operations.

Manages implementation and renewal of SSL certificates.

Completes performance review process with supervisor to understand job performance expectations and how they fit into the department and university goals.

Pursues professional development to keep pace with demands for services and information; including maintaining up to date information about the department and university.

Performs other duties as required.

Relationships

Daily contact with members of own work unit, immediate supervisor, and members of other departments to plan, coordinate, problem solve, present information, and make suggestions related to mutual goals.

Frequent contact with student employees, other departmental staff, liaisons, faculty and staff to plan, coordinate, problem solve, present information, and make suggestions related to mutual goals.

Occasional contact with faculty and students to plan, coordinate, problem solve, present information, and make suggestions related to mutual goals.

Occasional contact with software and hardware vendors and retirees to exchange factual information and explanation of rules, regulations, practices or functions.

Responsibility for Final Decisions

Tasks involve multiple procedures with interrelated processes or steps. Work involves choosing the appropriate option or procedure to follow and applying established rules and procedures.

Errors may be detected within the department or section in which they occur, but may affect the work of others within the unit to trace errors and make corrections.

Reports To

Director of Systems and Networks

Work is performed independently except where the interpretation of law, policy, rule, complex procedure or request for exception is required.

Education

Bachelors Degree preferred with 3-5 years' experience in related field.

Skills

Preferred expertise:

• Managing Linux (Redhat/CentOS) Systems, and applications in an enterprise network
• Managing Windows Server systems in an enterprise network
• Shell scripting (Linux shell and PowerShell)
• Bind and Cloud Hosted DNS
• Deploying and managing physical and virtual machines including cloud servers.
• Integrating Linux/Unix systems with enterprise directory and user authentication systems including Microsoft Active Directory, SAML, etc.
• Working with multi-user Linux/Unix operating environment including standard utilities, system management tools, and SAN/NAS storage concepts.
• Administering web servers and managing digital certificates in Linux and Windows server environments
• Administering Apache, Tomcat, PHP MySQL

Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work well both independently and as a member of a team.

Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, administrators, staff and students.

Work Conditions

Work is performed under usual office conditions.

Education Requirements

Bachelors Degree preferred with 3-5 years' experience in related field.

Certification Requirements

Not specified.

Job Posting End Date (if date is blank, posting is open ended):

Not specified.