Systems Administrator 3

About RTI

RTI is an independent organization dedicated to conducting innovative, multidisciplinary research that improves the human condition. With a worldwide staff of more than 4,000 people, RTI offers innovative research and development and a full spectrum of multidisciplinary services. Universities in North Carolina founded RTI in 1958 as the first scientific organization in and centerpiece of the Research Triangle Park.   Job Description The System Administrator is responsible for the operation of Windows and/or Unix-based application, database, messaging, specialized computing, storage, and web platforms. Operational support includes implementation as well as maintenance of user rights, group rights, and operating systems.  The System Administrator is responsible for executing business continuity and system test plans.  The System Administrator monitors and maintains system capacity, cost recovery accounting, data security, patch management, systems documentation, and system management tools. The System Administrator serves in a tier three support capacity and may coordinate or manage projects in addition to serving as a project resource.

Responsibilities

• Install operating systems software in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations. 
• Configure equipment based on technical specifications and/or SOPs. 
• Manage file system rights and access.
• Conduct quality assurance testing to validate installation against design specifications. 
• Refine configuration/performance against baseline metrics and reported trends.
• Monitor systems availability, performance, capacity, and/or security.
• Develop baseline performance and track ongoing trends such as system availability and response time. 
• Maintain system documentation to reflect current configuration status. 
• Perform maintenance, including installation of patches and upgrades, required to keep systems operational and as directed by management.
• Track system usage and corresponding charges.
• Troubleshoot and resolve problems in response to alerts from monitoring tools or trouble reports from other ITS staff. 
• Escalate problems to and status with vendors or other ITS staff as needed and in accordance with SOPs.
• Perform meaningful tests on the solution to confirm problem resolution and ensure the absence of unintended side affects. 
• Work projects through to completion while keeping project team members, stakeholders, vendors and ITS management informed of issues and overall status. 
• Manage time utilization to ensure that tasks are complete on or ahead of schedule, or that issues are escalated to project or ITS management.
• Communicate status to impacted stakeholders - including end users, ITS support staff, and ITS management – before, during, and after the installation or problem resolution activities as appropriate and in accordance with SOPs.

Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge of or skills in diagnosing, repairing and communicating the status of HP or other network printers.
• Applied knowledge of or skills in interfacing with end users and vendors.
• Applied knowledge of or skills in installing, configuring, and implementing group rights, user rights, and operating systems.
• Applied knowledge of or skills in testing Business Continuity Plans.
• Applied knowledge of or skills in monitoring and maintaining system capacity, patches, system quotas, system documentation and system management tools.
• Applied knowledge of or skills in diagnosing, repairing and communicating status of system back ups and restorations, system capacity, file and print services, group and user rights, operating systems, system quotas, and systems management tools.
• Applied or general knowledge of or skills in diagnosing, repairing, and communicating the status of applications, database systems, messaging systems, specialized computing platforms, storage systems and web technologies.
• General knowledge of or skills in monitoring or maintaining cost recovery accounting and data security.
• General knowledge of or skills in project coordination.  Basic knowledge of or skills in project management.  May also participate in projects as a team resource.

MACHINES, EQUIPMENT AND SPECIALIZED TOOLS APPROPRIATE TO FUNCTION INCLUDE:

• Windows Server, UNIX, VMWare and Linux platforms.
• HP or other network printers.
• SiteScope, McAfee Antivirus, Net BackUp utilities.
• Oracle, MS SQL, or Sybase database systems.
• MS Exchange, Visto, Group Shield, Postini/Trend Micro, SMTP, POP3, Listserv messaging applications.
• SAN, NAS, near-line, off-line, and/or direct-attached storage from Dell, EMC, McData, Brocade, Emulex, QLogic, Sun, HP storage components.
• IIS, Tomcat, Apache, Oracle application server, Web Logic application server, Macromedia Cold Fusion MX, MS ASP, MS .NET, F5 Big IP Load Balancing, Macromedia J Run.
• CONTACTS:  The system administrator interacts directly with internal customers, ITS peers, vendors, and ITS management daily.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: 
• Experience:  Typically 4-7 years of IT work experience with applied knowledge or skill regarding Windows or Unix system administration along with specialization in database, messaging, specialized computing, storage, or web.
• Education:  Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• Certifications:  MCSA or RHCT plus database, storage, messaging, web or other electives in addition to Dell Certified Systems Expert (DCSE)   Equal Employment Opportunity

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V

To apply for this position, go to www.rti.org/careers and apply on line for position number 11665.