Systems Administrator 3

Systems Administrator 3 at Schurz Communications

This position is a senior-level technical role focused on architecting, optimizing, and securing large-scale systems and infrastructure. The Systems Administrator 3 serves as a technical expert, mentor, and key contributor to infrastructure strategy, automation frameworks, and security compliance initiatives. They manage essential services that enable customer connectivity, automate operational workflows, and respond quickly to technical challenges. Success in this role requires a blend of strong technical expertise, problem-solving ability, and a customer-focused mindset to maintain reliable and secure service delivery.

This position reports to the Senior Director, Engineering & Operations and is a full-time role.

Primary Responsibilities Include

• Architect and oversee enterprise-level server and infrastructure environments. Lead the design, deployment, and optimization of Windows/Linux/Unix servers, virtualization platforms, and storage systems to meet performance and scalability requirements.
• Design and improve mission-critical services (DHCP, DNS, RADIUS, VoIP, authentication, provisioning). Ensure these core ISP services are highly available, redundant, and automated for large-scale customer environments.
• Collaborate with senior network and engineering teams on large infrastructure projects. Act as a technical lead in network design, capacity planning, and cross-department initiatives involving data centers and ISP backbone systems.
• Develop advanced automation and orchestration frameworks. Create tools, pipelines, and processes (e.g., using Ansible, Terraform, Python) that standardize deployments, eliminate manual intervention, and enhance operational agility.
• Lead security and compliance initiatives. Oversee vulnerability management programs, incident response, and compliance with industry regulations (e.g., FCC, PCI, SOC 2). Provide guidance on system hardening and risk mitigation strategies.
• Perform advanced troubleshooting and root cause analysis for critical incidents. Act as the highest-level technical escalation point for complex issues that impact core infrastructure or large customer segments.
• Manage disaster recovery and business continuity strategies. Design and regularly test backup, recovery, and failover procedures to ensure resilience against outages or data loss.
• Drive innovation and strategic improvements. Identify emerging technologies and recommend upgrades or changes to support long-term business goals and operational efficiency.
• Mentor and guide junior and mid-level administrators. Provide leadership, training, and knowledge transfer to build team expertise and foster career growth.
• Maintain executive-level documentation and reporting. Produce high-level architecture diagrams, post-mortem analyses, and recommendations for executive and technical leadership.

You Will Need To Have

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field (or equivalent work experience).
• Senior-level certifications such as RHCE (Red Hat Certified Engineer), Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE), Cisco CCNP/CCIE, or VMware Certified Professional (VCP): Recognized technical authority in system and network management.
• 8+ years of Server or Networking experience.
• Expert knowledge of TCP/IP, ISP network architecture, and core protocols including a deep understanding of networking concepts, including routing, switching, and IP addressing schemes essential for ISP environments.
• Mastery of managing and troubleshooting servers primarily through shell commands and scripting, ensuring robust system operation.
• Expert level skills in diagnosing complex technical problems quickly and implementing effective solutions before they impact services. Capable of leading root cause investigations and developing robust solutions.
• Automation mindset with solid scripting experience automating routine tasks to increase accuracy, speed, and consistency.
• Security-first approach with experience in vulnerability management, intrusion detection, and incident handling. Ability to implement and enforce security best practices and respond to security threats.
• Works effectively with cross-functional teams and mentor junior staff to foster knowledge sharing and skill development.
• Adaptability and eagerness to learn emerging ISP technologies.
• Understands the critical impact of reliable systems on customer satisfaction and strives to maintain high availability and performance.

Key skills/competency

• System Administration
• Infrastructure Architecture
• Network Protocols (TCP/IP)
• Automation (Ansible, Terraform, Python)
• Security Compliance (FCC, PCI, SOC 2)
• Disaster Recovery
• Troubleshooting & Root Cause Analysis
• Virtualization
• Linux/Windows Server Management
• Mentorship