Systems Administrator - IT Infrastructure & Operations

FirstEnergy•Akron, OH

About The Position

This position is part of FirstEnergy Service Co.’s Messaging and Collaboration team, which supports and governs enterprise communications platforms. The Systems Administrator is a key administrator and technical resource for FirstEnergy’s messaging ecosystem, supporting platforms that underpin critical business operations across the enterprise. The role works with Exchange Online, Exchange Server Edition (SE), Outlook, Cisco Email Gateway, Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense, xMatters, and Kofax, and partners with Cyber Security, Compliance, Legal, Human Resources, and business stakeholders to keep communications platforms secure, reliable, and aligned with business needs. The role administers messaging and communications services, email security controls, automated communications, and Microsoft 365 license allocations. It also performs platform lifecycle and operational work, develops PowerShell automation and documentation, and participates in incident, request, change management, and on-call support processes. The position may be filled at System Administrator II, III, or IV levels, with experience and technical expectations varying by level.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field; equivalent experience is considered.
Familiarity with Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft 365, or email administration.
Basic PowerShell scripting and automation skills.
Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and customer service skills.
Ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders and work independently in a remote environment.
System Administrator II: 2–4 years of IT experience supporting enterprise applications, infrastructure, collaboration, or messaging technologies.
System Administrator III: 4–7 years of relevant IT experience with enterprise messaging, collaboration, or system administration; intermediate Exchange Online administration and enterprise messaging experience; intermediate PowerShell scripting and automation experience.
System Administrator IV: 7+ years of relevant IT experience with enterprise messaging and collaboration platforms; advanced Exchange Online administration and PowerShell automation experience; experience leading major platform upgrades, migrations, or modernization efforts; demonstrated technical leadership, mentoring, and continuous improvement experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Exchange Online, Outlook, Cisco Email Gateway, Proofpoint, xMatters, Kofax, or similar messaging and communications platforms.
Experience supporting email security, compliance, automation, or reporting solutions.
Experience with SharePoint configuration, Power BI design, or operational reporting tools.
Experience with Power Platform and Power Automate development, and working knowledge of other Microsoft 365 applications.

Responsibilities

Administer and support enterprise messaging and communications platforms, including Exchange Online, Exchange Server Edition (SE), Outlook, Cisco Email Gateway, Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense, xMatters, and Kofax.
Manage email services, mail flow, mailbox administration, distribution groups, shared mailboxes, platform availability, and system performance.
Administer and enhance email security controls, including threat protection, email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), data loss prevention (DLP), and compliance-related configurations.
Support automated communications, notifications, and enterprise email campaigns in partnership with business and IT stakeholders.
Perform system administration activities, including upgrades, patching, lifecycle management, vendor coordination, troubleshooting, and incident resolution.
Partner with Cyber Security, Compliance, Legal, Human Resources, and other business units on messaging, governance, retention, and communication requirements.
Develop and maintain PowerShell automation, operational documentation, reporting, and knowledge management materials.
Manage Microsoft 365 license allocations, configuration, and reporting.
Participate in incident, request, change management, and on-call support processes, serving as an escalation point for complex issues as needed.
At higher levels, independently manage production systems, lead technical initiatives, serve as an escalation resource, and lead platform upgrades, migrations, modernization, mentoring, and continuous improvement efforts.