System Administrator

Michigan Technological University

relocation assistance

United States, Michigan, Houghton

1400 Townsend Drive (Show on map)

Apr 11, 2025

Department: Office of Information Technology

Summary	Michigan Technological University's Information Technology department is seeking applicants for a system administrator focused on research computing infrastructures. Infrastructure will include single and multi-node CPU/GPU computing clusters, faculty research desktops, as well as some legacy systems still in production. This critical role will support research computing needs across campus. You will become part of a culture that empowers employees, treats them with respect and encourages innovation and open communication. This position is located in Houghton, Michigan and while occasional remote workdays are possible, this is normally a non-remote position.
Responsibilities and Essential Duties	Analyze requirements of researchers and design/recommend technical solutions. Apply standard practices from IT on research systems (e.g., standard backups, storage, configuration management, system monitoring, patching, updates, etc.). Compile and update application software in a Linux environment. Troubleshoot hardware and software problems and implement and document solutions on Windows, Linux and Mac workstations and servers. Ensure data and system integrity. Identify tasks which require automation and automate them. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of advances in information technology systems. Apply safety-related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work. Commit to learning about continuous improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work. Actively engage in University continuous improvement initiatives. Other duties as assigned.
Required Education, Certifications, Licensures	Bachelor's degree in computer science, management of information systems, or a comparable technology-related degree program; or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which required knowledge and abilities can be acquired.
Required Experience	Demonstrated expertise gained from experience with operating systems including Windows, Linux and / or Mac OS. Ability to diagnose technical problems and apply standard as well as innovative solutions.
Desirable Education and/or Experience	Experience compiling and deploying software suites from source in a Linux environment, ideally Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Experience with Linux command line and scripting languages including but not limited to BASH, PERL or Python. Experience with Revision Control Systems (e.g., Git). Experience with Configuration Management tools (e.g., Puppet, Chef, CFEngine, etc). Experience with software build/installation frameworks (e.g., EasyBuild, Spack, etc.). Experience with Queuing System/Job Scheduler (e.g., Grid Engine, PBS, Slurm, etc.). Relevant Microsoft, Red Hat, VMware certifications. Experience with cloud-based deployments in AWS or similar.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities	Demonstrated commitment to contribute to a safe work environment. Superb communication and social skills related to complex IT topics. This position requires that you be a US Citizen (no dual citizenship) due to the nature of its work and the data and systems you would have access to.
Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities	Exposure to/Experience with LaTeX document preparation system. Exposure to/Experience with PHP and MySQL for minimal data processing, extracting and visualizing meaningful analytics/metrics. Demonstrated success in working with persons with a wide variety of personal characteristics and viewpoints.
Work Environment and/or Physical Demands	WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.
Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment	Every employee at Michigan Technological University will receive the following 4 required trainings; additional training may be required by the department. Required University Training: Employee Safety Overview Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training Annual Data Security Training Annual Title IX Training Background Check: Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed. Other Conditions of Employment: Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of your appointment, and maintain eligibility without sponsorship throughout your appointment.
Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) % (1=100%)	1.00
FLSA Status	Exempt
Pay Rate/Salary	The anticipated salary for this position is no less than $60,000. The final salary will depend on experience and qualifications.
Title of Position Supervisor	Deputy Chief Information Officer
Posting Type	Internal & External Posting
Dependent on Funding	No
Additional Information	This position is located in Houghton, Michigan. Relocation assistance may be available to the successful applicant.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or accommodations during Michigan Tech's hiring process please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or hr-help@mtu.edu.