Sr. IT Systems Engineer, Email & Collaboration

Grata•Minneapolis, MN

48d•$99,000 - $172,700•Remote

About The Position

The Sr. IT Systems Engineer, Email & Collaboration is a forward-thinking technical subject matter expert (SME) responsible for designing, implementing, modernizing, and continuously optimizing enterprise email and Microsoft 365 collaboration solutions. This includes on-premises Exchange, hybrid Exchange deployments, and Microsoft 365 cloud-native services. This engineer applies expertise in email routing, security, and enterprise policy enforcement to ensure reliability, availability, and security of corporate messaging and collaboration platforms. The role also plays a critical part in shaping how employees collaborate across M365; guiding the effective use of distribution lists, shared and group mailboxes, Microsoft Teams, and related services. Working hand-in-hand with a SharePoint Collaboration Engineer, this role contributes to a comprehensive enterprise collaboration strategy. This engineer will also support business growth through integration of acquired companies, federation with partner organizations, and secure enablement of guest access. A strong background in email security is required, including spam filtering, phishing and malware protections, and domain security through DMARC/DKIM/SPF/CAN-SPAM. This experienced, self-motivated engineer provides technical proficiency in efficiently completing initiatives and tasks for the rest of the business as a member of a technology support and services team. This role is a self-starter and collaborates within IT, with peer groups, and with vendors to provide world-class collaboration platforms. This role will participate in the on-call rotation providing 24/7 coverage. The successful engineer is an advanced technical subject matter expert who can apply knowledge and research to deliver innovative solutions, including automation wherever possible. Strong documentation skills are required as this role is an escalation path for lower support tiers. The engineer must be passionate, results-driven, and highly skilled in email and M365 collaboration technologies.

Requirements

5+ years of experience designing, implementing, and administering enterprise-level Exchange environments (on-premises and hybrid).
4+ years of hands-on experience with M365 Exchange Online, Teams, and related collaboration services.
2+ years documenting processes and procedures for support teams.
Proven expertise in email routing, mail flow troubleshooting, and policy enforcement.
Demonstrated experience integrating acquired companies, federating external partners, and enabling guest access.
Strong knowledge of email security practices, including spam/malware protections, phishing mitigation, and domain security (DMARC/DKIM/SPF/CAN-SPAM).
Experience guiding business units on best practices for shared mailboxes, group mailboxes, distribution lists, groups, and Teams collaboration.
Familiarity with compliance requirements related to enterprise email systems (e.g., retention, eDiscovery, legal holds).
Skilled in automation and scripting (PowerShell preferred) for administration and reporting.
Experience in business continuity and disaster recovery practices for messaging systems.
Excellent communication skills, customer service mindset, and ability to collaborate with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Minimal travel required.
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Computer Engineering, or equivalent experience (10+ years in IT discipline).

Nice To Haves

Microsoft certifications in Exchange, M365, or related technologies highly preferred.
Security-focused certifications (e.g., CISSP, GIAC, CISM) a plus.

Responsibilities

Provide expert-level design, implementation, and support for on-premises Exchange, hybrid Exchange, and M365 Exchange Online environments.
Configure and manage enterprise email routing, connectors, and transport rules to ensure reliable and secure mail delivery.
Develop, maintain, and enforce enterprise-level email and collaboration policies, including data protection and compliance requirements.
Guide effective use of distribution lists, shared and group mailboxes, M365 groups, and related services to enhance enterprise collaboration.
Partner with SharePoint Collaboration Engineer to deliver integrated, comprehensive M365 collaboration capabilities.
Support mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships by integrating new organizations, federating external directories, and enabling secure guest access.
Implement and maintain email security controls, including spam/malware filtering, phishing protection, and domain integrity (DMARC, DKIM, SPF, CAN-SPAM).
Provide advanced troubleshooting and serve as an escalation point for messaging and collaboration-related incidents.
Create and maintain detailed documentation, process guides, and knowledge-sharing materials for cross-functional IT teams.
Participate in disaster recovery and business continuity planning and testing for email and collaboration systems.
Continuously identify opportunities for automation and process improvement to reduce technical debt and improve service efficiency.
Collaborate with security and compliance teams to ensure alignment with governance, risk, and compliance requirements.