Systems Engineer II

State of South Carolina • Columbia, SC

39d

About The Position

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is seeking a highly skilled Senior Systems Engineer to provide advanced-level design, implementation, and support of the agency's enterprise IT infrastructure. This position is responsible for ensuring the security, performance, and high availability of SLED's critical technology systems across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is a premier statewide law enforcement agency dedicated to serving and protecting the citizens of South Carolina. With a proud history rooted in integrity, professionalism, and public service, SLED is committed to providing high-quality investigative, intelligence, and forensic services to support law enforcement agencies across the state. At SLED, we value dedication, ethical conduct, accountability, and a strong commitment to justice. Our agency plays a vital role in maintaining public safety and supporting criminal justice efforts at the local, state, and federal levels. From advanced forensic science to homeland security, criminal investigations, and criminal justice information systems, SLED's diverse responsibilities make it one of the most dynamic law enforcement agencies in the state. We foster a professional work environment where teamwork, respect, and continuous improvement are fundamental. Our employees are held to the highest standards and are given opportunities to grow within a mission-driven organization that makes a meaningful difference in South Carolina communities. Learn more about why you should join our team at www.sled.sc.gov.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or a related field and a minimum of five (5) years of experience supporting enterprise-class virtual and physical Windows server environments. Related experience may be substituted for the bachelor's degree on a year-for-year basis.
• Advanced, hands-on experience with the following technologies is required: Windows Server OS, Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Group Policy - VMware vSphere / ESXi or Hyper-V Microsoft 365 / Exchange Online, Azure AD / Entra ID, Intune SQL Server, SAN / NAS storage, and enterprise backup solutions Hybrid or cloud environments (Azure preferred)
• Must have a strong understanding of IT security best practices, including patching, hardening, compliance, disaster recovery, and data protection.
• A demonstrated ability to lead complex infrastructure projects, evaluate new technologies, and provide technical mentorship.
• Excellent communication and documentation skills with the ability to work effectively across technical and non-technical teams is required.
• Must be able to lift 50 pounds.
• Must successfully complete a fingerprint background check.
• Position requires participation in a rotating 24/7 on-call schedule and may involve occasional overnight travel.

Nice To Haves

• Professional certifications such as VMware VCP, Azure Administrator/Architect, other Microsoft certificates, or equivalent.
• Experience with PowerShell, Terraform, or Ansible for automation and infrastructure-as-code.
• Familiarity with container technologies (Docker / Kubernetes) and modern cloud architectures.
• Experience in a law enforcement or public safety IT environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced-level direction to SLED in the use of information technology.
• Design, configure, install, monitor, and support the agency's server, storage, and cloud environments on an advanced level.
• Ensures high availability, security, and performance of IT systems by implementing best practices, optimizing resources, and leading infrastructure projects.
• Oversee the security, integrity, and safety of critical IT systems.
• Lead the architecture, configuration, installation, monitoring, and maintenance of SLED's server, storage, virtualization, and cloud environments.
• Manage and optimize Active Directory, Exchange / M365, Azure AD / Entra ID, Intune, DNS, DHCP, SQL, storage, and backup platforms to ensure maximum performance and reliability.
• Serve as the technical lead for infrastructure modernization projects, coordinating with vendors, evaluating technologies, providing quotes, and implementing enterprise solutions.
• Administer and enhance system security by enforcing patching, hardening, backup, and recovery strategies in alignment with agency and state cybersecurity policies.
• Conduct research and make recommendations on emerging technologies to improve infrastructure scalability, automation, and cost efficiency.
• Mentor and train the systems engineering team by providing technical guidance and leadership on troubleshooting, design, and best practices.
• Develop and maintain system documentation, including configuration standards, procedures, and disaster-recovery plans.
• Respond to critical incidents, lead incident resolution, and post-incident reviews.
• Perform other related duties as assigned to support SLED's mission and IT infrastructure operations.

Benefits

• Health, Dental, Vision, Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse, and Children
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• State Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation Programs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support