Systems Engineer I

Texas A&M Agrilife Research • College Station, TX

2d • 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