Systems Administrator I
About The Position
The Systems Administrator I works within the Research Computing Facilitation group in NCAR Research IT, helping remove technical barriers so scientists, researchers, and staff can focus on their work. The position provides hands-on user support, facilitation, system administration, maintenance, and troubleshooting for Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh environments across NCAR labs. Customer service, empathy, communication, and enabling scientific workflows are central to the role. The successful candidate builds relationships with lab personnel, learns their computing needs, and advocates for customer-focused solutions. The role also provides basic facilitation and troubleshooting for enterprise AI tools such as Claude and Gemini. The position works with moderate supervision, manages support tasks, resolves issues of moderate scope, and escalates when appropriate. The position requires a 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. The successful candidate cannot be 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; an associate degree and four years of hands-on technical support experience is given as an example.
- Customer-service skills and a responsive, helpful attitude when assisting scientific, administrative, and technical staff.
- Strong written and oral communication skills, including gathering issue details, documenting technical information, and explaining technical concepts accessibly to non-technical users.
- Knowledge of workstation administration in a Windows and/or Apple Macintosh environment.
- Foundational understanding of operating systems, networking, storage, and system component interoperability.
- Basic knowledge of PC and/or Apple hardware, peripherals, and local storage, and ability to set up, test, and troubleshoot workstation equipment.
- Ability to prioritize tasks, manage work queues, and meet deadlines within project plans.
- Methodical problem-solving and troubleshooting skills for software and hardware issues.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues across functional areas.
- Ability to operate with moderate supervision, manage multiple support requests, resolve moderate-scope issues independently, and escalate to senior team members when appropriate.
- Cannot be affiliated with the Chinese government or a Chinese-owned company.
Nice To Haves
- Familiarity with enterprise AI tools such as Claude and Gemini, including assisting users with basic access, everyday usage, and routine troubleshooting.
- A facilitation mindset that prioritizes user success, obstacle removal, and clear communication alongside technical problem resolution.
- Ability to propose and help implement enhancements to user experience, system efficiency, security, and performance.
Responsibilities
- Serve as a primary liaison and direct point of contact for NCAR labs and employees, helping users overcome IT obstacles to advance their scientific work.
- Provide in-person, online, and telephone assistance using active listening, patience, and clear communication.
- Follow NRIT workflows to resolve issues reported through the Service Desk and direct channels.
- Collaborate with technical teams, including network engineers and multimedia support, to deliver user-centered 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 supply closets, review backend reports, and work with end users to keep systems updated and backed up.
- Work with lab staff and researchers to understand computing challenges, research hardware and software tools, and define workstation setups suited to scientific needs.
- Guide users through basic onboarding, usage, and troubleshooting in organizational Claude and Gemini environments.
- Coach 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, and represent the group on organization-wide focus groups and committees.
- Assist with hardware and software lifecycle management, maintain inventory records, and coordinate equipment tracking with property administrators to support onboarding and offboarding.
- Propose improvements to user experience, system efficiency, security, and performance; conduct testing and coordinate implementation with the team.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, vision, and short- and long-term disability insurance.
- Retirement plan with UCAR contributions of 10% of base salary.
- At least 20 days of annual paid time off.
- 10 paid holidays.
- 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
- FAMLI leave.
- Tuition assistance program.
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligible employer.
- Employee assistance programs.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
