Data Center Engineer

Rock Valley College•Rockford, IL

72d

About The Position

The Data Center Engineer ensures the reliability, performance, and lifecycle management of the College's on-premises and cloud compute platforms. This role administers and supports Windows/Linux servers, patch management, SAN storage, VMware, Active Directory, Azure/Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, backup and disaster recovery systems, and physical data center infrastructure. Responsibilities include managing services such as file and print servers, email, M365/SharePoint, Group Policy, license management, and endpoint security. The Data Center Engineer collaborates with vendors, faculty, staff, and students on projects, service requests, incident resolution, and training. This position will document configurations, communicate planned changes, research and apply best practices, develop technical articles and standard operating procedures, implement hardening and other cyber security practices, assist with disaster recovery initiatives, perform root cause analysis and continuous improvement, and lead IT initiatives. In collaboration with other Rock Valley College Data Center and Network Engineers, this position must also provide 24/7 coverage for the College's systems.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in information technology, computer science, computer engineering or other related technical discipline or an Associate's degree in information technology, computer engineering, computer science and two years of related experience in lieu of Bachelor's degree.
3-4 years of relevant experience in a complex Microsoft server environment.
3-4 years of relevant experience administering Office 365
Valid Driver's License
Minimum of 2 years supporting an Azure cloud environment.
Experience with patch management, version control and operating system upgrades.
Experience managing enterprise email systems such as Exchange or Gmail.
Professional experience administering virtualization technologies like VMware, Citrix, or Nutanix.
Enterprise level understanding of network technology including LAN/WAN/WLAN, protocols, IP addressing, subnetting, VLANs, DHCP, DNS.
Working knowledge of Active Directory domains including, FSMO roles, domain controllers, sites and services, objects, users, attributes, GPOs, and OUs.
Experience working with scripting/programming languages such as PowerShell, BASH, Python, Go, or Ruby.
Excellent verbal, written, organizational skills, and ability to interface directly with executive level staff.
Must possess strong customer service and interpersonal skills; maintain courteous attitude in dealing with students, faculty, and staff.
Ability to work independently or with specialized teams.
Ability and willingness to complete several concurrent tasks in a fast-paced, detail-oriented, multi-tasking environment.
Open to inquirers about new ideas and technologies.
Uses tools, utilities or programming to automate redundant tasks.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in an educational setting is desirable.
Professional experience working in IT environments subject to regulatory compliance audits such as FERPA, HIPPA, FISMA, ITAR, PCI DSS, NIST 800-53 is desirable.
A successful candidate will have excellent analytical and reasoning skills; the ability to prioritize effectively and work efficiently without direct supervision; and be able to communicate effectively.

Responsibilities

Administer and maintain core infrastructure including Windows/Linux servers, SAN storage, VMware virtualization and physical data center systems.
Design, implement and maintain systems supporting multiple operating systems (Windows, Mac OS, Linux).
Configure and manage platforms such as Active Directory, Azure/Entra ID, Google Workspace, Group Policy.
Support enterprise applications and services including Microsoft Exchange, Gmail, file shares, print servers, Zoom, IIS, databases, and Microsoft 365.
Develop, implement, and monitor system baselines for operating systems, patching, applications, and performance while ensuring compliance with security and regulatory standards (FERPA, HIPAA, GLBA, PCI, cyber insurance).
Plan and manage lifecycle activities for servers, applications, accounts and hardware including upgrades, patching, and decommissioning.
Respond to alerts and incidents, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions for continuous improvement.
Maintain and test backup systems, recovery procedures and failover solutions prioritizing business continuity.
Respond to alerts, investigate system issues, and perform root-cause analysis.
Monitor and maintain physical data center infrastructure including security, rack elevations, structured cabling, and environmental conditions.
Research and implement industry best practices including cybersecurity measures such as hardening techniques, least privilege, and just-in-time access.
Utilize automation and scripting for deployment, monitoring and configuration tasks.
Packages, tests and deploys software applications using MECM to support enterprise-wide software deployment.
Document work, communication, changes, incidents and resolutions within ticket tracking software.
Provide Tier 3 support for escalated technical issues.
Create and maintain accurate technical documentation, including SOPs, diagrams, and end-user guides.
Coordinate with vendors and internal teams/individuals for hardware/software procurement, support, and project delivery.
Serve on college technical committees, project teams and task forces as appropriate.
Responsible for ensuring critical systems are available 24/7 365.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Regular attendance is required.