LINUX SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR

Hiring Department

Division of Information Technology

Job Description

Research Support Solutions “X-Team” within the Division of IT at the University of Missouri provides advanced technical support for research computing needs across the campus. Researchers at the University are involved in diverse fields of study and research, requiring innovative and committed technologists with a variety of skillsets.

We seek highly qualified candidates to join our advanced team of experts. Our team members are enthusiastic about enabling greater discoveries at MU and take pride in providing the best customer support. Successful applicants will be involved in supporting research computing needs by building, installing, and managing computer systems, research instrumentation, scientific applications, and security solutions for research across the campus. They are expected to provide top-tier customer and technical support, in-person and remotely via management tools. Well-qualified applicants will have excellent professional written and verbal communication skills as well as strong interpersonal skills.

Researcher systems exist in the campus environment and are managed using industry best practices and technologies. Some of the technologies in use might include Active Directory (AD), Puppet, Foreman, Ansible, Zabbix, VMWare, network and cloud file storage, configuration scripts (bash, tcsh, zsh, Python, PowerShell, and others), Veeam Backup and Replication, along with other enterprise and device-based tools.

Your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Frequently working one-on-one with faculty, staff, and students to aid in resolving issues.
• Diagnose and resolve end-user problems using a variety of methods including error messages, analysis of logs, searching documentation, collaboration, and communicating with vendors.
• Respond to escalated issues from customers and other support teams; perform triage, provide remote problem resolution, and, when appropriate, refer problems to associated groups.
• Coordinating with outside vendors for procurement and installation of hardware, software, and research instrumentation.
• Research, recommend, and implement hardware and software purchases to meet customer needs and ensure compatibility with university systems and architecture.
• Contribute to the development of customer support strategies.
• Learn and understand research workflows, investigate best practices, reduce obstacles, and guide development of workflows for data collection and analysis.
• Investigate and test new tools, systems, techniques, and software products.
• Provide technical guidance, documentation, and training to customers and IT professionals.
• Document system configurations, modifications, and concerns.
• Manage work orders, projects, and track efforts.
• Work well with colleagues, customers, and external organizations in written and verbal communication, both in-person and virtually.
• Advocate for the needs of researchers while promoting institutional policy.
• Staying current with emerging IT trends related to research computing and research support.
• Other duties as assigned.

This position is in-person and on-site in Columbia, MO, and has the potential for occasional travel to other campuses.

Shift

Monday – Friday 8am - 5pm

Evening, weekend, and call-in work may be required to meet deadlines and correct system failures.

This position is in-person and on-site in Columbia, MO, and has the potential for occasional travel to other campuses.

Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience is required.
• Experience installing, configuring, maintaining, and troubleshooting Linux systems in Academic, Enterprise, or Research environments.
• Experience securing and monitoring Linux systems as well as educating customers on proper security practices.
• Ability to determine and initiate necessary actions to restore normal services with minimal down time.
• Experience as a member of a highly technical and customer-service driven team.
• Demonstrated experience with documentation, professional communication, and interpersonal relationships in IT and/or research focused groups.
• Ability to provide and receive honest feedback on team and individual efforts and ideas.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct customer support in an academic or research environment is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience managing Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Enterprise Linux clones (CentOS/Oracle Linux/Alma/Rocky), Debian, and Ubuntu is highly desirable.
• Experience with web application development is highly desirable.
• Experience with networking, security, and compliance is a plus.
• Experience compiling and installing software on Linux systems without using standard package repositories is highly desirable.
• Experience with database management (MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB) is a plus.
• Experience with Python and R languages or development environments is a plus.

Anticipated Hiring Range

Salary Range: $60,000 - $85,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

University Title: System Administrator

Internal applicants can determine their University title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR

Sponsorship Information

Visa Sponsorship Information:

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. The University will not sponsor applicants for this position for employment visas .

Community Information

Columbia offers small-town friendliness with big city features and a high quality of life for people of all ages and interests. Founded on education and known as an ideal college town, its location also makes it an attractive spot for businesses and travelers. Located on Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 63, Columbia is right in the middle of the state and the nation. Just a couple hours’ drive from St. Louis and Kansas City, Columbia is Boone County’s largest population center offering big-city culture, activities, and resources with a low cost of living. Columbia is home to a variety of restaurants and entertainment venues and hosts more than a dozen cultural festivals each year. If you want to grow your career, continue your education, raise a family, and retire, Columbia is a good place to be!

Benefit Eligibility

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits .

Values Commitment

We value the uniqueness of every individual and strive to ensure each person’s success. Contributions from individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives promote intellectual pluralism and enable us to achieve the excellence that we seek in learning, research and engagement. This commitment makes our university a better place to work, learn and innovate.

In your application materials, please discuss your experiences and expertise that support these values and enrich our missions of teaching, research, and engagement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. This policy applies to all employment decisions including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, promotions, pay practices, benefits, disciplinary actions and terminations. For more information, visit https://www.umsystem.edu/ums/hr/eeo or call the Director of Employee and Labor Relations at 573-882-2146.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.

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