Computer Science Systems Administrator

Brigham Young University•Provo, UT

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Computer Science (CS) Animation Systems Administrator will provide essential technical support and assistance to faculty, staff, and students within the Animation program specifically and when feasible within the CS Department more broadly. This role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the smooth operation of Animation and computer science education, research, and administrative functions.

Requirements

A firm commitment to the mission of BYU.
Bachelor's degree: A B.S. in Computer Science, Information Technology, Computer Engineering, or a related field preferred. However, candidates with equivalent degrees may also be considered OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
3 or more years of experience with at least two of the following: managing end-user desktop/mobile systems, network design/management, and backend services.
3 or more years of practical experience providing technical support and assistance in an academic, corporate, or IT service desk environment. This includes diagnosing and resolving hardware, software, and network issues, as well as assisting users with technology-related inquiries.
Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills are crucial for effectively communicating with faculty, staff, and students and providing quality support.
The ability to troubleshoot technical issues remotely and in person while maintaining a positive and professional demeanor is important.
Proficiency in documenting technical procedures, troubleshooting steps, and user guides is important.
Effective written and verbal communication skills are essential for conveying technical information clearly and concisely to users with varying levels of technical expertise.
Strong familiarity with computing environments such as Windows, macOS, and Linux is essential.
Experience with server administration, virtualization technologies.
Strong problem-solving abilities and the capacity to think critically and analytically to resolve complex technical issues.
The role may require the ability to adapt to new technologies and methodologies quickly.
An awareness of IT security best practices and a commitment to safeguarding sensitive data, research assets, and intellectual property are essential.
Experience with adhering to departmental and university IT security policies and procedures and defending against cybersecurity threats and minimizing vulnerabilities.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience providing technical support within an academic or research environment, particularly within a computer science department or similar setting, may be advantageous.
Experience as a leader of a team of IT professionals, ideally a team which also includes students.
Familiarity with programming languages commonly used in computer science education and research, such as Python, Java, C/C++, and others, may be beneficial for assisting faculty and students with programming-related issues.
Previous experience with animation software, pipelines, and classes in production and education settings.
Familiarity with Animation software and development pipelines.
Experience with cloud computing platforms such as AWS.

Responsibilities

Manage hardware and software assets within the Computer Science department, including inventory tracking, procurement, and deployment.
Collaborate with animation faculty and students to identify needs and possible solutions.
Architect, plan, and deploy hardware and software needed to support Animation students with input from the Animation faculty.
Create, update, and maintain critical production pipelines in a timely manner to avoid interruptions in classes and student projects.
Design and refine systems for reporting and resolving support requests.
Craft long term plans and solutions in response to direction from Animation faculty about program long term plans.
Collaborate with animation faculty and students to ensure labs continue to meet program needs.
Take responsibility for the operation of Animation computer labs, classrooms, and specialized computing facilities used by Animation students and faculty.
Perform routine maintenance, software updates, and equipment troubleshooting to minimize disruptions to teaching and learning activities.
Assist with the installation, configuration, and maintenance of computers, servers, peripherals, and specialized software tools used for teaching and research purposes.
Manage a diverse set of operating environments including Linux, Mac, and Windows; and also includes the management of the network infrastructure.
Assist with management of general department hardware and software assets as needed.
Assist in implementing and enforcing IT security policies, procedures, and best practices within the Department of Computer Science.
Collaborate with the university's IT security team to address cybersecurity threats, vulnerabilities, and compliance requirements.
Manage student employees: Hire, manage and mentor student employees who will take care of the day-to-day operations of computing support.
Train student employees in the skills they will need to be effective.
Offer consulting, guidance and training to departmental users on the proper use of computing resources, software applications, and IT systems.
Assist and consult with faculty and students in setting up development environments, configuring software tools, and troubleshooting programming-related issues.
Maintain accurate documentation of IT procedures, troubleshooting steps, and system configurations.
Create and update user guides, manuals, and knowledge base articles to empower users to resolve common technical issues independently.
Collaborate with other System Administrators from the college to develop best practices and to improve user experience.
Work with university (OIT) to develop best practices and to improve user experiences.

Benefits

401k. BYU automatically contributes 8% at no cost to you. Additionally, if you contribute 5%, BYU adds an additional 4% (Rehires may qualify for different retirement plans)
Excellent work-life balance: 13 paid holidays + 22 days paid vacation + 12 sick days, accrued annually
Employee assistance program, available to the employee and all members of their household
Tuition benefits for employees and eligible family members
Access to athletic facilities
Excellent medical/dental benefits
Short/long-term disability benefits
Paid parental and maternity leave
Wellness Program
Free on-campus parking
Free UTA passes for employees, spouses, and qualified dependents
Discounts at the BYU Store and for many events at BYU