Systems Administrator I

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) • Boulder, CO

2d • $63,290 - $79,120 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Systems Administrator I works within the Research Computing Facilitation group in NCAR Research IT, helping scientists, researchers, and staff overcome technical barriers to their work. The role provides hands-on facilitation, system administration, maintenance, and troubleshooting for Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh environments across NCAR labs. Customer service, empathy, interpersonal communication, and support for scientific workflows are central to the position.

The position serves as a primary liaison for NCAR labs and employees, providing in-person, online, and telephone assistance and resolving issues through NRIT workflows. It also supports workstation maintenance and automation, including scripting routine tasks, installing and upgrading operating systems and software, monitoring system performance, maintaining loaner equipment and supply closets, and helping ensure systems are current and backed up.

The successful candidate works with lab staff and researchers to understand computing needs, research tools, and define workstation setups. The role provides basic onboarding, usage guidance, and troubleshooting for organizational Claude and Gemini tools; creates user guides and technical documentation; participates in meetings and committees; and assists with workstation asset tracking and lifecycle management.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree in a computer-related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant customer-facing IT experience. The hiring range is $63,290–$79,120. The role is hybrid; UCAR states that hybrid staff work onsite three days per week or an equivalent arrangement. The position cannot be held by someone affiliated with the Chinese government or a Chinese-owned company.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a computer-related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant customer-facing IT experience, such as an associate degree and four years of hands-on technical support experience.
• Customer service skills and a responsive, helpful approach to supporting scientific, administrative, and technical staff.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including gathering issue details, writing clear technical documentation, and explaining technical concepts accessibly to non-technical users.
• Familiarity with enterprise AI tools such as Claude and Gemini for basic access assistance, everyday usage questions, and routine troubleshooting.
• Knowledge of workstation administration in a Windows and/or Apple Macintosh environment.
• Foundational understanding of operating systems, networking, storage, and system component interoperability.
• Basic understanding of PC and/or Apple hardware, peripherals, and local storage, including the ability to set up, test, and troubleshoot workstation equipment.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, manage work queues, and meet deadlines within project plans.
• Good problem-solving skills and a methodical approach to troubleshooting software and hardware issues.
• Ability to work effectively in a team and collaborate across functional areas.
• Cannot be affiliated with the Chinese government or a Chinese-owned company.

Nice To Haves

• A facilitation mindset that prioritizes user success, obstacle removal, and clear communication alongside technical problem resolution.
• Ability to work with moderate supervision while managing multiple support requests and tasks effectively.
• Ability to independently resolve individual software and hardware issues of moderate scope and complexity, escalating to senior team members when appropriate.
• Ability to propose enhancements to improve user experience, system efficiency, security, and performance, and to test and coordinate implementation with the team.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary liaison and direct point of contact for NCAR labs and employees, helping users overcome IT obstacles.
• Provide in-person, online, and telephone assistance using active listening, patience, and clear communication.
• Resolve issues reported through Service Desk and direct channels, following NRIT workflows.
• Collaborate with partner technical teams, including network engineers and multimedia support, to deliver user-focused solutions.
• Maintain and optimize NRIT-managed Windows and Mac workstation environments.
• Write utility scripts to automate routine tasks.
• Install and upgrade operating systems and software, and monitor system performance.
• Maintain loaner equipment pools and organize and maintain supply closets.
• View backend reports and work with end users to keep systems up to date and backed up.
• Work with lab staff and researchers to understand computing challenges, research hardware and software tools, and define custom workstation setups.
• Provide basic onboarding, usage guidance, and troubleshooting for organizational Claude and Gemini AI environments.
• Coach and guide users on NRIT-managed hardware, software, AI tools, and services.
• Create and maintain self-help guides, documentation, and internal technical knowledge bases.
• Attend check-ins, technology demonstrations, and internal NRIT meetings.
• Represent NRIT and the Research Computing Facilitation group on organization-wide focus groups and committees, bringing relevant user needs and insights to the team.
• Assist with workstation hardware and software lifecycle management.
• Maintain accurate inventory records and collaborate with property administrators on equipment tracking and lab personnel onboarding and offboarding.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and short- and long-term disability insurance.
• Retirement plan with UCAR contributing 10% of base salary.
• Time off plans, including a minimum of 20 days of annual PTO and 10 paid holidays.
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
• FAMLI Leave.
• Tuition Assistance Program.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer.
• Employee assistance programs.

What This Job Offers

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