Senior Systems Administrator; VMware,Cisco,Palo Alto Job Cleveland area,Ohio USA,IT/Tech

Position: Senior Systems Administrator (VMware, Cisco, Palo Alto)
Senior Systems Administrator (VMware, Cisco, Palo Alto)

Location: Cleveland, OH

Position Summary

The Senior Systems Administrator is responsible for the design, administration, security, and support of enterprise IT infrastructure across on-prem and cloud environments. This role requires strong hands-on expertise with VMware virtualization, Cisco networking, Palo Alto firewalls, Azure cloud services, Splunk monitoring, backup systems, and PCI-compliant environments. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver who ensures infrastructure reliability, security, and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

Administer, maintain, and optimize VMware vSphere / ESXi environments, including virtual servers, storage, and high availability
Manage and support Cisco network infrastructure, including switches, routers, VLANs, routing, and troubleshooting
Configure, maintain, and optimize Palo Alto firewalls, including security policies, NAT, VPNs, rule sets, and threat prevention
Monitor system, network, and security events using Splunk; analyze logs, create alerts, and respond to incidents
Support and administer Microsoft Azure infrastructure, including virtual machines, networking, and hybrid integrations
Ensure systems and network configurations meet PCI-DSS compliance requirements and internal security standards
Manage backup and disaster recovery solutions, including backup verification, restores, and documentation
Perform system patching, upgrades, and lifecycle management for servers, network devices, and security platforms
Troubleshoot complex issues across systems, networking, virtualization, cloud, and security layers
Collaborate with IT security, application teams, vendors, and auditors to support business and compliance needs
Participate in on-call rotations and provide after-hours support as required
Maintain accurate documentation for infrastructure, configurations, procedures, and changes

Required Qualifications

3+ years of experience as a Senior Systems Administrator, Infrastructure Administrator, or similar role
Strong hands-on experience with VMware vSphere / ESXi in enterprise environments
Solid knowledge of Cisco networking (switching, routing, TCP/IP, VLANs)
Hands-on experience administering Palo Alto firewalls
Experience with Splunk or similar log management and monitoring tools
Working experience with Microsoft Azure (hybrid or cloud-based infrastructure)
Experience supporting environments subject to PCI-DSS compliance
Experience managing backup and disaster recovery systems
Strong troubleshooting skills across systems, networks, and security

Preferred Qualifications

Certifications such as VMware (VCP), Cisco (CCNA/CCNP), Palo Alto (PCNSE/PCNSA), or Azure (AZ-104)
Experience with Windows Server environments (Linux experience a plus)
Scripting or automation experience (Power Shell, Bash, Python)
Experience with vulnerability management or security hardening
Experience supporting highly available or mission-critical environments

Soft Skills

Strong communication and documentation skills
Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities
Detail-oriented with a security-first mindset
Comfortable working in a fast-paced, production environment

Why This Role

Hands-on senior role with ownership across infrastructure, networking, security, and cloud
Exposure to enterprise systems and regulated environments
Opportunity to influence infrastructure reliability, security, and compliance posture

Contact Information:

Luke Slabe

lsl

Senior Systems Administrator; VMware, Cisco, Palo Alto