Systems Administrator - T1

Acuity INC•, DC

2d•$60,000 - $80,000

About The Position

Acuity is hiring an early-career Tier 1 Systems Administrator to support a mission-focused federal technology environment. The role provides hands-on support for enterprise systems and users and is suited to candidates interested in developing a career in systems administration, cloud, infrastructure, or cybersecurity. Acuity values technical aptitude, curiosity, logical troubleshooting, professional communication, customer service, initiative, and a willingness to learn; candidates are not expected to know every technology on day one. The role supports Windows-based systems and applications and includes assisting with account and access administration, troubleshooting, routine maintenance, configuration, and user incidents. The administrator documents work, escalates complex issues with useful troubleshooting details, follows established security and operational procedures, and works with technical teams and government customers. The posted shifts are front-end days, 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. local time, Sunday through Tuesday and every other Wednesday; or back-end nights, 6 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. local time, Thursday through Saturday and every other Wednesday. The position requires a bachelor's degree in a related technical discipline, foundational knowledge of computer systems or related technical areas, and eligibility to obtain and maintain the U.S. Government security clearance required for the program. Acuity is willing to sponsor the required clearance for qualified candidates. The stated salary range is USD $60,000 to $80,000 per year.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Information Systems, Engineering, or another related technical discipline.
Foundational knowledge of computer systems, operating systems, networking, or systems administration gained through coursework, internships, military experience, certifications, labs, help desk experience, or other hands-on technical experience.
Familiarity with Microsoft Windows operating systems.
Basic understanding of one or more of the following: Windows Server, Active Directory, Group Policy, Microsoft 365, Azure, SharePoint, networking concepts, virtualization, or PowerShell or other scripting languages.
Demonstrated technical aptitude and ability to learn new technologies quickly.
Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Professional, customer-service-oriented approach when working with users and teammates.
Ability to explain technical information clearly to technical and nontechnical users.
Self-motivated, with willingness to ask questions, seek answers, and take initiative.
Ability to work effectively independently and as part of a technical team.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to completing tasks accurately.
Reliability, accountability, and willingness to take ownership of assigned work.
Ability and willingness to continuously learn and develop technical skills.
U.S. citizenship and eligibility to obtain and maintain the U.S. Government security clearance required for the program.

Nice To Haves

Internship, military, help desk, technical support, systems administration, networking, cloud, or cybersecurity experience.
Hands-on experience through a university lab, home lab, certification program, or personal technical projects.
Exposure to Windows Server administration.
Experience with Active Directory, Group Policy, DNS, DHCP, or user-account administration.
Exposure to Microsoft Azure or Microsoft 365.
Familiarity with SharePoint, SQL Server, SCCM/Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager, or Intune.
Basic PowerShell, Python, Bash, or other scripting experience.
Familiarity with VMware, Hyper-V, Proxmox, or other virtualization technologies.
Experience using ServiceNow, Remedy, Jira, or another ticketing or ITSM platform.
Exposure to system patching, vulnerability scanning, endpoint security, or cybersecurity practices.
CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, Microsoft, Azure, or similar certifications.
Currently holding or previously having held a U.S. Government security clearance.

Responsibilities

Provide Tier 1 technical and systems administration support in a federal enterprise environment.
Assist with administration, monitoring, maintenance, and troubleshooting of Windows-based systems and applications.
Support user accounts, permissions, password resets, and access management using Active Directory and related tools.
Assist with Windows Server, Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Azure, and other Microsoft enterprise technologies.
Troubleshoot basic hardware, software, operating system, network connectivity, and application issues.
Respond to user incidents and service requests in a timely, professional, customer-focused manner.
Document issues, troubleshooting steps, and resolutions in the program's ticketing or IT service management system.
Escalate complex technical issues to senior administrators or engineering teams with complete and accurate troubleshooting information.
Assist with system patching, software installation, configuration, vulnerability remediation, and routine maintenance.
Support workstation, server, and application configuration activities as assigned.
Follow established security, configuration management, change management, and operational procedures.
Develop familiarity with enterprise technologies, including Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Azure, SCCM or endpoint management tools, virtualization, and scripting.
Participate in technical training and develop systems administration skills.
Collaborate with engineers, administrators, cybersecurity personnel, service desk teams, and government customers.
Identify opportunities to improve processes, documentation, and customer support.
Take ownership of assigned tasks and follow them through completion.