Systems Administrator

Vassar College Systems Administrator Department: Computer Science Department Duration of Position: Full year / Full time Work Schedule: Employee Type: Administrator Posting Date: 11/15/2023 Union Representation: Not Applicable Posting Number: AS435P Pay Rate: Compensation: The starting annual base salary range for this position is $67,500 to $87,000 (USD).
When extending an offer, Vassar College considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidates work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, budget, and other market and organizational considerations.
The starting salary range represents the Colleges good faith and reasonable estimate at the time of posting.
About Vassar College Located in the scenic Mid-Hudson Valley, Vassar College is a highly selective, residential, coeducational liberal arts college.
Vassar stands upon the homelands of the Munsee Lenape.
Vassar College is deeply committed to increasing the diversity of the campus community and to promoting an environment of equality, inclusion, and respect for difference.
The College is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer, and especially welcomes applications from veterans, women, individuals with disabilities, and members of racial, ethnic, and other historically underrepresented groups.
Vassar College is a smoke-free, tobacco-free campus.
Vassar College offers a comprehensive benefits package for administrators which includes:22 vacation days for full time employees - prorated if not full time, unlimited paid personal and sick time for use at the supervisors approval.
14 paid holidays per year which includes the week between Christmas and New Years Day.
A choice of three health plans (EPO, PPO, High Deductible), Participation in FSA, Dependent Care, and Transit programs.
Voluntary, employee paid dental insurance plan.
Life Insurance and Voluntary Supplemental Life InsuranceEmployer paid short-term and long-term disability programs.
403(b) defined contribution plan after one year of service.
For more information, visit: https://offices.
vassar.
edu/human-resources/benefits-and-wellness/retirement/New hires will be automatically enrolled in the SRA at a 4% employee contribution per paycheck.
Tuition Benefits- Eligible after applicable waiting period.
For more information, visit: https://offices.
vassar.
edu/human-resources/benefits-and-wellness/tuition/ Position Summary and Responsibilities The Systems Administrator supports the Computer Science (CS) Department and reports to the CS Department Chair.
Responsibilities: Manage and maintain our extensive Linux-based server infrastructure, installing hardware and software updates as needed.
Monitor performance metrics to ensure reliability and availability for academic, administrative, and student use.
Identify performance trends to proactively address potential issues.
Implement secure access controls and permissions to protect sensitive data and maintain compliance with data privacy regulations.
Conduct periodic security audits, system log analysis, and vulnerability assessments on our systems to prevent and detect unauthorized use of system resources, implementing remediation actions as needed.
Design and maintain firewall configurations to safeguard the CS network and servers, staying updated with the latest firewall technologies and industry best practices to enhance network security.
Design, implement, and maintain backup and disaster recovery strategies to minimize data loss and ensure continued operations.
Implement best practices to ensure data integrity and protection.
Collaborate with faculty to deploy and manage applications and services on the classroom and lab machines.
Evaluate and recommend hardware and software solutions to meet the evolving needs of the department.
Develop and maintain documentation, including system configurations, standard operating procedures, and troubleshooting guides.
Provide user support to faculty and students including appropriate training and classroom lectures to new users on systems and policies.
Lead system upgrades, patch management, and version control to keep the infrastructure up-to-date and secure.
Respond to and resolve escalated technical issues, providing expert-level support to faculty and students.
Configure and maintain remote file systems, ensuring seamless access to shared data for users across the network, identifying potential bottlenecks and implementing optimizations to improve data access speed and availability.
Conduct research on emerging technologies and industry trends to propose innovative solutions and continuous improvements.
Collaborate and meet regularly with Computing and Information Services (CIS) to ensure a secure and seamless flow of information across the campus network and alignment with college-wide standards and policies.
Meet financial requirements by submitting information for budgets, managing expenses, and creating budget projections based on academic course hardware and software needs.
Qualifications Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related technical field.
Three or more years of hands-on experience as a Linux Systems Administrator, with a proven track record of managing complex and large-scale server environments.
Proficiency in configuring and maintaining Linux-based web servers (Apache, Nginx), database servers (MySQL, PostgreSQL), and other related services.
Strong knowledge of configuration management tools like Puppet, Ansible, or Chef for automating system deployment and management.
Experience with containerization technologies like Docker and container orchestration platforms like Kubernetes.
Strong knowledge of virtualization technologies (KVM, VMware) and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
Demonstrated expertise in system monitoring such as Nagios, Zabbix, or Prometheus to ensure system health and performance.
Knowledge of scripting languages (Python, Bash, Perl) to automate repetitive tasks and create custom tools.
Understanding of networking principles, TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VPN, and firewall configurations.
Extensive experience in managing and configuring remote file systems, including NFS (Network File System) and/or SMB/CIFS (Server Message Block/Common Internet File System).
Familiarity with authentication mechanisms for remote file systems, such as Kerberos or LDAP, to ensure secure access control.
Ability to optimize remote file system performance and troubleshoot connectivity issues in distributed environments.
Experience with Storage Area Networks (SANs) and managing storage arrays to efficiently store and retrieve data.
Excellent project management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, interrupt-driven environment.
Proven ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams and communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work with diverse teams and end-users.
Must be willing to be on call to provide 247 support.
Special Instructions to Applicants To complete your on-line application, you will be required to attach your resume, cover letter, and contact information for 3 professional references.
All attachments must be in PDF format.
Review of applications will begin immediately.
If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources, 845-437-5820.
For full consideration applicants should apply by: All applicants must apply online at: https://employment.
vassar.
edu/postings/3622.