Systems Engineer I

Texas A&M University System • College Station, TX

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Systems Engineer I supports the Center for Managed Technology Services (CMTS) by designing, deploying, and managing Linux and Windows research systems, virtual infrastructure, backups, and instrumentation environments. This position is part of a dedicated systems engineering vertical and contributes to secure, stable, and scalable infrastructure across institutional research environments, partnering with institutional governance teams, researchers, and vendors to implement secure, reliable solutions.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two years of experience supporting Linux/Windows servers in a professional environment.
• Familiarity with virtualization platforms, storage concepts, and core networking principles.
• Ability to document system configurations, processes, and procedures.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Basic familiarity with CI/CD and automation tooling (e.g., Ansible, GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps) sufficient to support shared DevOps functions.
• Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting research environments, HPC clusters, or mixed OS ecosystems.
• Exposure to cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, VMWare), infrastructure-as-code tools (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation), and automation frameworks.
• Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git) and scripting (e.g., Bash, Python).
• Experience with container orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes, Docker).
• Preferred certifications: CompTIA Linux+, Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA), Azure Administrator Associate, AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate, or VMware Certified Professional (VCP).

Responsibilities

• Build, configure, secure, and maintain Linux and Windows servers/endpoints supporting research and enterprise workflows.
• Implement hardening, patching, access controls, encryption, logging, and audit-readiness requirements in alignment with CMTS and institutional security guidance.
• Contribute to baseline standards and approved patterns; document deviations when required.
• Troubleshoot OS and application-level issues; perform performance tuning and operational fixes.
• Deploy, configure, and administer virtual infrastructure supporting research and enterprise environments (Azure, AWS, on-prem VMware as the footprint grows).
• Execute VM lifecycle tasks (provisioning, configuration, patch/hardening implementation, monitoring integration, compliance alignment, and decommissioning) following CMTS standards and approved maintenance windows.
• Partner with institutional governance teams and unit IT partners to implement routing/peering, IP/DNS, and firewall/VPN access needs, following institutional change controls and designated approval paths.
• Implement and monitor backup and recovery solutions across supported platforms (cloud storage, Synology C2, future on-prem storage, and researcher-provided storage as applicable).
• Configure backup cadence/retention based on project requirements and validate restoration readiness when required.
• Recommend storage approaches aligned to performance, cost, and data lifecycle needs and document decisions.
• Perform routine remote checks and scheduled on-site inspections for research workstations and instrument-attached systems.
• Conduct manual patching where automatic updates are constrained by experimental risk and approved change windows.
• Respond to hardware issues and instrument-computer failures; coordinate troubleshooting and resolution with appropriate partners.
• Support vendor access and maintenance activities and document exceptions when upgrades are not feasible.
• Participate in researcher consultations for compute, storage, security, and lifecycle planning; help translate needs into implementable technical options.
• Assist with onboarding and configuration for scientific workflows within CMTS-supported environments.
• Contribute technical inputs for infrastructure planning and cost estimates to support proposals and planning.
• Follow institutional governance requirements and document exceptions when researchers decline CMTS services and assume responsibility for compliance.
• Create and maintain operational documentation, support procedures, and technical references across OS, virtualization, storage/backup, monitoring, incident response, and vendor coordination.
• Contribute to service-level documents (SLDs) and intake workflows to support consistency, audit readiness, and operational continuity.
• Maintain audit-ready records that support repeatable execution and knowledge transfer.
• Support automation pipelines and CI/CD workflows shared across the Software & Applications and Technology & Engineering verticals, using tools such as Ansible, Python, and GitHub Actions, and Azure DevOps.
• Contribute to infrastructure-as-code practices that support the reliability of cloud and hybrid platforms.
• Collaborate with Software & Applications and Technology & Engineering staff on shared automation initiatives, providing systems engineering context and support as needed.
• Build capability across Linux/Windows administration, Azure/AWS/VMWare, on-prem infrastructure, monitoring/observability, and research instrumentation environments.
• Take on increasing responsibility for technical deliverables within projects over time in collaboration with the broader CMTS team.
• Performs other duties as assigned to support CMTS and departmental operations.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M AgriLife contributing to employee health and basic life premiums
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
• Employee Wellness Initiative for Texas A&M AgriLife

What This Job Offers

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