Senior Systems Administrator

Overview

Allegheny Science & Technology (AST) is seeking a highly experienced Senior Systems Administrator to support and maintain a secure, reliable, and highly available enterprise IT environment. The role focuses on VMware virtualization, Windows Server, Microsoft 365, cybersecurity, backup and disaster recovery, and overall systems operations.

The ideal candidate is a self‑motivated technical professional who can take ownership of infrastructure initiatives, troubleshoot complex issues, document procedures, and collaborate with both technical and non‑technical stakeholders. This position requires strong technical judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to support a mission‑critical environment where system availability and security are essential.

This position is primarily onsite with limited remote work flexibility and may require occasional after‑hours support to maintain a 24/7 operational environment.

• Administer, maintain, and optimize enterprise IT infrastructure and systems.
• Serve as the primary administrator for virtualized vSphere environments, including deployment, configuration, maintenance, troubleshooting, and performance optimization.
• Design, implement, and support server infrastructure, including both virtual and physical systems.
• Perform system hardening, vulnerability remediation, patch management, and security compliance activities.
• Administer Microsoft 365 services, including email, user accounts, security settings, and related administrative functions.
• Support and maintain Microsoft SQL Server environments and associated applications.
• Manage enterprise backup, recovery, and disaster recovery solutions to ensure business continuity.
• Maintain high data integrity for safeguards and disaster recovery.
• Monitor system performance and proactively identify opportunities for improvement, automation, and increased reliability.
• Configure and maintain endpoint protection technologies, including antivirus, malware, EDR, and XDR solutions.
• Manage user accounts, access controls, retention policies, and identity‑related administrative functions.
• Support desktop, laptop, and peripheral device configuration, deployment, integration, and troubleshooting.
• Implement and maintain system logging, auditing, monitoring, and reporting capabilities.
• Design and support fault‑tolerant and redundant infrastructure solutions.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, procedures, and standard operational policies.
• Interface with customers and stakeholders to gather requirements, prioritize work, and resolve technical issues.
• Participate in troubleshooting and resolution of infrastructure, network, server, and application‑related incidents.
• Stay current on emerging technologies, cybersecurity threats, and industry best practices.

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related technical discipline; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Ability to obtain and maintain an HSPD‑12 badge and DOE Q clearance.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience supporting IT infrastructure for small to mid‑sized organizations.
• Strong hands‑on experience administering VMware environments in production settings.
• Experience administering Windows Server environments and enterprise infrastructure.
• Experience with Microsoft 365 administration.
• Experience supporting backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity processes.
• Experience implementing security hardening, patch management, and system compliance requirements.
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including technical documentation.

• Industry certifications such as VMware (VCP), Microsoft, CompTIA Security+, CISSP, or equivalent.
• Experience supporting Microsoft SQL Server environments.
• Experience with centralized logging, monitoring, and auditing platforms.
• Experience supporting environments with elevated security requirements.
• Experience with infrastructure automation and systems optimization.
• Active DOE Q clearance.

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Must be able to obtain DOE Q clearance.
• This position is primarily office‑based and supports systems that operate in a 24/7 environment; occasional after‑hours support may be required.

The pay range for this position based on full‑time employment is $125,000 - $135,000.