System Programmer/Administrator III (Splunk)

Rutgers University • Piscataway, NJ

66d • $104,442 - $110,000

About The Position

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is seeking a System Programmer/Administrator III (Splunk) for the Office of Information Technology. Reporting to the Manager of Platform Systems Engineering, this position is responsible for managing, maintaining, and enhancing Splunk infrastructure and services, as well as automating platform deployment, configuration management, and system maintenance using Ansible and scripting languages such as Python, Bash, or PowerShell. Among the key duties of this position are the following: Manages and maintains Splunk infrastructure and services, ensuring optimal performance and reliability. Deploys and updates Splunk components; automates administrative tasks; develops dashboards, custom Technology Add-ons (TAs), and alerting solutions. A strong understanding of Splunk Validated Architecture and its components is essential. Oversees system updates, deployments, and automation of administrative tasks. Leverages Splunk, Ansible, GitLab, and other tools to automate and streamline platform operations. Develops integration solutions that enhance system functionality, reliability, and efficiency across diverse environments. Supports system engineering projects from initial design through deployment, ensuring they meet technical requirements, budget constraints, and university standards. Works proactively to improve infrastructure stability and efficiency. Provides expertise and mentorship to system engineers and administrators, assisting with troubleshooting, performance optimization, and best practices for infrastructure management. Develops and maintains technical documentation, including architecture diagrams, deployment procedures, and operational best practices. Ensures systems adhere to security policies, compliance requirements, and internal standards. Carries out standard problem resolution and support procedures. Makes judgment of design and implementation activities and priorities in order to support the systems and services for which they are responsible for. Any non-standard resolutions to problem conditions are discussed with their manager or other senior technical staff before implementation. Keeps abreast of all pertinent federal, state, and Rutgers regulations, laws, and policies as they presently exist and as they change or are modified. Handles other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or a related discipline.
• A total of seven (7) years of hands-on IT experience, with two (2) years' experience with Splunk.
• Deep understanding of CI/CD principles and experience with scripting languages such as Python, Bash, or PowerShell.
• Deep understanding of Splunk architecture, processing/management components and data flow.
• Knowledge of data analysis concepts and techniques.
• Scripting/programming experience in developing automation to complete operations tasks.
• Experience with various server architectures, including blade, rack-mounted, and standalone servers from major vendors such as Dell, HP, and Cisco.
• Extensive knowledge of virtualization tools and platforms, such as VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, and open-source solutions like KVM and Xen.
• Proficiency in managing a variety of operating systems, including Windows Server, Linux distributions (e.g., CentOS, Red Hat), and Unix systems.
• Familiarity with SAN, NAS, and Object storage technologies.
• Knowledge of cloud services and infrastructure as a service (IaaS) platforms, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform.
• Proficiency in using system monitoring software and configuration management tools.
• Proficiency in using office productivity tools, project management software, and collaboration platforms.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field.
• Certifications related to systems administration, such as Splunk Enterprise Certified Administrator (SECA), Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA), VMware Certified Professional (VCP), or Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE).
• Experience with cloud services (e.g., AWS, Azure) and managing cloud-based infrastructure.
• Previous experience in higher education IT or a similar complex organizational structure.
• Experience with Ansible or other content management systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a track record of improving IT processes and systems.

Responsibilities

• Manages and maintains Splunk infrastructure and services, ensuring optimal performance and reliability.
• Deploys and updates Splunk components; automates administrative tasks; develops dashboards, custom Technology Add-ons (TAs), and alerting solutions.
• Oversees system updates, deployments, and automation of administrative tasks.
• Leverages Splunk, Ansible, GitLab, and other tools to automate and streamline platform operations.
• Develops integration solutions that enhance system functionality, reliability, and efficiency across diverse environments.
• Supports system engineering projects from initial design through deployment, ensuring they meet technical requirements, budget constraints, and university standards.
• Works proactively to improve infrastructure stability and efficiency.
• Provides expertise and mentorship to system engineers and administrators, assisting with troubleshooting, performance optimization, and best practices for infrastructure management.
• Develops and maintains technical documentation, including architecture diagrams, deployment procedures, and operational best practices.
• Ensures systems adhere to security policies, compliance requirements, and internal standards.
• Carries out standard problem resolution and support procedures.
• Makes judgment of design and implementation activities and priorities in order to support the systems and services for which they are responsible for.
• Keeps abreast of all pertinent federal, state, and Rutgers regulations, laws, and policies as they presently exist and as they change or are modified.
• Handles other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, prescription drug, and dental coverage
• Paid vacation, holidays, and various leave programs
• Competitive retirement benefits, including defined contribution plans and voluntary tax-deferred savings options
• Employee and dependent educational benefits
• Life insurance coverage
• Employee discounts programs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree