Systems Engineer – Virtualization & Storage

Columbia College•Columbia, MO

7d•$54,121 - $75,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Systems Engineer – Virtualization & Storage position contributes to the reliability, security, and performance of the College’s enterprise data center infrastructure. Working within a collaborative engineering team, this role supports the lifecycle of server and desktop virtualization, storage, and backup systems. The successful candidate will apply technical expertise to maintain high system availability while partnering with vendors and campus stakeholders to meet evolving institutional needs.

Requirements

Ability to fluently read, write, and understand the English language.
Proficiency with the following but not limited to: active listening; speaking; writing; critical thinking; judgment and decision making; monitoring; reading comprehension; time management; coordination; and management of personnel resources.
Proficiency in using a variety of computer and technology-related software and equipment, including Microsoft 365 products and database systems.
Proficiency in using web-based technologies, including database systems.
Ability to work independently and in a team environment, with and without direct supervision.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, customer service, and organizational skills.
Ability to successfully pass clerical speed and accuracy aptitude tests.
At least one year of experience supporting Windows Server in virtualized environments.
Foundational knowledge of VMWare ESXi or similar virtualization platforms.
Foundational knowledge of enterprise storage technologies (SAN/NAS).
Understanding of data center operations, business continuity, disaster recovery and cyber incident response principles.
Effective technology troubleshooting, collaboration and resolution skills.
Associate Degree In: IT or related field or equivalent combination of education & experience.
Ability to satisfy, within the parameters set by the College and consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, a criminal background check as a condition of employment.

Nice To Haves

3-5 years of experience administering virtualized Windows Server environments.
Strong working knowledge of VMWare ESXi and enterprise storage platforms.
Experience supporting multi-site data center architectures that provide business continuity and disaster recovery resilience.
Familiarity with cloud computing architectures.
Familiarity with VDI platforms like Omnissa Horizon or similar.
Bachelor’s Degree In: IT or related field or equivalent combination of education & experience.
VMware, Microsoft, or other relevant infrastructure certifications

Responsibilities

Systems Management: Support the full lifecycle—including administration, monitoring, and optimization—of enterprise virtualization and storage platforms like VMware vSphere, VDI, and SAN/NAS solutions.
Infrastructure Health: Execute critical maintenance tasks such as system patching, upgrades, and performance tuning to ensure optimal capacity and system reliability.
Data Protection: Facilitate backup and disaster recovery operations, ensuring institutional data integrity through routine testing and validated recovery procedures.
Project Lifecycle: Contribute to infrastructure initiatives, including platform migrations, hardware refreshes, and technology upgrades, from planning through execution.
Documentation & Standards: Develop and maintain high-quality technical documentation and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistent operational excellence.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with networking, cybersecurity, and application teams to deliver integrated and secure institutional services.
Incident Response: Support organizational resilience by participating in on-call rotations and resolving critical system incidents.
Ensure the stability of production workloads by monitoring and supporting data center environmental systems, including power distribution and climate control.
Serve as a technical point of contact for Facilities teams and external vendors during scheduled maintenance, capacity expansions, or emergency repairs.
Respond to environmental alerts (thermal, power, or leak detection) and execute corrective actions to prevent downtime and protect physical hardware.
Maintain comprehensive records of physical and logical architectures, including rack elevations, cable management, and system dependencies.
Perform job duties in alignment with Columbia College’s vision, mission, and values, actively contributing to the development and success of the Technology Services department.
Deliver superior customer service, building strong relationships with all college constituencies.
Fulfill additional responsibilities as assigned, demonstrating flexibility and a commitment to the college’s needs.
Display respect and civility in all communications, fostering a positive and inclusive campus environment.
Maintain regular and punctual attendance during established hours of operation, with the flexibility to work additional hours as needed.