System Administrator

System Administrator

This goal of this program within the Department of Veterans Affairs is to provide high-level engineering, testing and planning support to mission critical application deployments across the VA enterprise. This support ensures the deployed infrastructure and processes are consistent with expected business volumes and response time requirements and adhere to VA guidelines and best practices. The Solution Delivery engineering staff focuses on capacity planning and capacity projections, application support and development in conjunction with the business line. The Solution Delivery engineering staff performs assessment of components to meet anticipated workload volumes.

We are looking for an experienced System Administrator to support system administration services and tasks for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The System Administrator must provide support to maintain the management of servers and related systems, data storage systems, and data backup systems. The ideal candidate will have experience with various Microsoft server operating systems as well as various Linux operating systems, in addition to the use of data storage and backup systems. Systems administrators are responsible for maintaining system efficiency. Experience in maintaining troubleshooting a wide variety of systems and networks to include high volume/high availability systems. Must have knowledge on several debugging protocols and processes. Must be able to troubleshoot problems and issues identified by customers and implement corrective actions quickly.

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Engineer robust solutions for large-scale deployment of software using OS deployment technologies such as Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (MECM), Tachyon.
• Provide SCCM administration and patch management support services for enterprise servers and client workstations. Troubleshoot and resolve SCCM issues related to server/workstation patches and configurations by supporting, but not limited to, scheduled maintenance events.
• Implement, update, and maintain enterprise level configuration management automated software and security configuration applications and packages to support all network systems.
• Analyze the current enterprise configuration management implementation and adjust the administrative environment as necessary to continuously enhance the effectiveness of deployments and patching levels.
• Provide a status report before and after remediation actions are engineered and executed.
• Validate deployment plans for compliance of the enterprise server and workstation software and security updates.
• Troubleshoot sites experiencing configuration management problems and document any known issues or inefficiencies.
• Provide Tier 3 support services as required to maintain and troubleshoot enterprise level products and services, including hardware (servers, clients, mobile devices) and software (Microsoft AD, Exchange, SCCM, SCOM) used to support systems worldwide.
• When required, remotely access government equipment to resolve issues related to SCCM.
• Manage trouble ticket queues; perform trend and root-cause analysis to resolve groups of trouble tickets; and document efforts in trouble ticket system.
• Monitor enterprise assets via SCCM, SCOM and other related applications ensuring core services are available and restored to normal production levels after maintenance windows. Create and distribute Situational Reports and Executive Summary documents for critical service outages post maintenance window where necessary.
• Communicate effectively both orally and written with customers, stakeholders, and technical specialists. Effectively lead detailed technical discussions and develop and present required briefing materials to ensure the customer's needs are met in accordance with VA requirements.
• Participate in technical working groups strategizing for future requirements and propose architecture enhancements based on business needs.
• Adhere to proper security and certification procedures and stay up to date on required training/certification renewals.
• Work with other IT personnel to ensure systems are meeting VA needs.
• Manage backup processes and systems to ensure the ability to recover from system failures.
• Maintain availability rates of over 99% for critical systems.
• Schedule planned outages with minimal disruptions for users.
• Coordinate changes to existing systems through the appropriate configuration control manager.
• Plan, install, configure and maintain file, web application, and SQL- server hardware and software.
• Manage user authentication and access to services and databases to maintain systems security; configure access by user identification and role.
• Troubleshoot system problems and analyzing system logs; identifying potential issues with systems.
• Monitor and manage systems' performance and adjusting computer memory, Central Processing Unit (CPU), storage technologies and network connectivity as needed.
• Manage backup processes and systems to ensure the ability to recover from system failures.
• Implement and support all print services, including basic print servers as well as Government areas of responsibility associated with the local mailroom bulk printer system.

Requirements:

• Experience and educational requirements listed below.
• Strong in PowerShell scripting.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including strong technical documentation skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively in dynamic team environment.
• Proven track record in demanding, customer service-oriented environment.
• Ability to communicate clearly with all levels within an organization.
• Excellent analytical skills, organizational abilities and problem-solving skills.

Desired Skills:

• Windows Domain Controller Administration.
• Cloud application management/configuration.
• Demonstrated experience in the use of Scrum and Agile methodology and processes.
• Experience supporting Department of Veterans Affairs or other federal organizations.

Years of Experience: 8+ years of experience of IT system administration experience and SCCM Current Branch experience (2-5 years).

Education: Bachelor's degree in a computer discipline, or 8 years of additional experience will be considered in lieu of degree.

Location: Remote within the United States.

Clearance: Ability to obtain government clearance.