Server Lead

PingWind • Huntsville, AL

1d • Onsite

About The Position

PingWind is seeking a Server Lead to direct system administration, virtualization, server maintenance, backup/recovery, and disaster-recovery operations for PAE Fires enterprise systems. The Server Lead will provide hands-on technical leadership to maintain secure and highly available platforms, validate backup and restoration capabilities, and support continuity and COOP reconstitution requirements.

Requirements

• Advanced systems administration experience with VMware ESXi, vCenter/vSphere, vSAN, virtual machines, and enterprise VDI technologies.
• Strong administration skills with Windows Server and Linux/RHEL environments; experience with Red Hat OpenShift is highly relevant.
• Experience with enterprise SAN/storage, backup, recovery, replication, and disaster-recovery technologies in mission-critical environments.
• Hands-on experience with Cohesity and/or Dell PowerProtect Data Manager or comparable enterprise backup platforms, including NFS/SMB and application-aware protection.
• Experience troubleshooting complex server, virtualization, storage, backup, and restoration issues and documenting repeatable technical procedures.
• Knowledge of high availability, redundancy, RPO/RTO, system recovery, patching, hardening, and operational monitoring practices.
• Ability to lead technical staff, coordinate maintenance windows, communicate risk, and support after-hours or on-call mission requirements when authorized.
• SECRET security clearance.
• Bachelor's degree in information technology, computer science, systems administration, engineering, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Senior systems administration experience supporting enterprise server, virtualization, storage, backup/recovery, and disaster-recovery operations, including technical leadership in a high-availability environment.

Nice To Haves

• VMware VCP/VCAP, Microsoft, Red Hat, Cohesity, Dell, or comparable infrastructure certifications.
• Experience with automation and configuration tools such as PowerShell, Red Hat Ansible, or equivalent.
• Experience supporting Army/DoD server infrastructure, STIG implementation, classified systems, and formal disaster-recovery/COOP exercises.
• Experience with VMware Aria for Logs, Dell iDRAC, HPE iLO, or similar infrastructure management and observability tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead systems administration and maintenance for environments that include ESXi hosts, virtual machines/appliances, Red Hat OpenShift, VDI desktops, Windows Server, Linux/RHEL, file systems, and system-level applications.
• Direct hardware installation, troubleshooting, maintenance, system updates, patching, backups, and operational support while maintaining highly secure and available systems on a 24/7 basis.
• Perform or oversee system analysis and design, establish and sustain virtual infrastructure, and provide technical input for system administration SOPs and user/administrator documentation.
• Operate and maintain enterprise backup and recovery capabilities supporting Linux NFS, Windows SMB, Enterprise SAN, Cohesity, Dell PowerProtect Data Manager, VMware Replication, and vSAN.
• Administer or support protection services and protocols such as vProxy, DD Boost, NDMP, REST APIs, S3-compatible object storage, VMware vCenter/vSphere integration, and application-aware backup agents for SQL Server and other enterprise applications.
• Regularly test and validate backup, recovery, replication, and restoration procedures; investigate backup failures; verify recoverability, system integrity, and achievement of defined RPO/RTO objectives.
• Support disaster-recovery and contingency planning by providing technical data on backup security, software, procedures, media/storage, schedules, audit records, trusted recovery, and restoration capabilities.
• Support COOP events and exercises, including reconstitution of IT infrastructure, recovery of systems/software/databases, and troubleshooting of restoration issues.
• Coordinate server, storage, backup, and recovery activities with the CIO, Government team leads, cybersecurity personnel, developers, network staff, and other designated stakeholders.

Benefits

• Eleven Federal Holidays
• Paid Time Off accrued each pay period
• Parental Leave
• Three medical plan choices with generous employer contribution
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Company paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• Company paid Life and AD&D Insurance
• 401k with competitive matching and vesting schedule
• Continuing education assistance
• Short Term / Long Term Disability & Life Insurance
• Medical, Dependent Care and Commuter Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellness benefits include Calm Health app and WellHub gym subsidy (formerly GymPass)
• 529 College Savings Plan
• Legal Insurance
• Pet Insurance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior