Lead Systems Administrator

Responsibilities We are seeking an experienced and proactive Lead System Administrator to oversee and manage IT systems, infrastructure, and a team of system administrators for our USSF customer in CO Springs, Colorado. This leadership position is responsible for ensuring the performance, security, and scalability of critical systems while providing technical guidance and expertise. As the Lead System Administrator, you will lead system-related projects, handle escalated technical issues, and drive the strategic direction of the organization's IT infrastructure. The role requires both strong technical expertise and excellent leadership skills to guide the team and maintain a secure and resilient IT environment. Key Responsibilities: Leadership and Team Management Lead the System Administration Team: Supervise, mentor, and manage a team of system administrators, providing guidance and technical leadership. Prioritize and Delegate Work: Assign tasks, monitor progress, and ensure the timely and quality delivery of IT services. Act as a Technical Advisor: Serve as the escalation point for complex issues, providing technical expertise and troubleshooting. Provide Training and Support: Develop training programs and conduct knowledge-sharing sessions to improve team capabilities. System Management and Administration Maintain IT Infrastructure: Oversee the configuration, administration, and maintenance of servers, operating systems, networks, and storage systems to meet organizational needs. Perform System Audits: Regularly assess system performance, reliability, and capacity, implementing improvements or updates where necessary. Optimize Server and Application Performance: Identify bottlenecks and recommend technical solutions to improve system performance. Monitor System Health: Proactively manage system monitoring to minimize downtime and troubleshoot failures when systems become unavailable. Infrastructure Design and Development Analyze organizational requirements to design scalable and robust IT solutions. Plan and execute hardware/software upgrades, migrations, patch management, and decommissioning. Optimize virtualization platforms (VMware, Hyper-V, etc.) and ensure efficient use of resources. Collaborate closely with the Network and Security teams to ensure seamless integration of infrastructure. Security and Compliance Maintain a secure infrastructure environment by assessing vulnerabilities, implementing patches, and recommending solutions. Ensure compliance with security and data protection regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, or ISO 27001. Regularly test and review disaster recovery and business continuity plans, making updates as required. Monitor systems for unauthorized activities or potential threats and resolve security incidents quickly and effectively. Support and Collaboration Provide Tier 3 support for complex end-user and infrastructure issues, working collaboratively with Help Desk and IT support staff. Partner with other IT departments and business units to achieve alignment on technical solutions and organizational objectives. Track and troubleshoot IT performance, downtime, and user experience issues, ensuring a smooth-operating IT environment. Documentation and Reporting Maintain comprehensive documentation of server configurations, network diagrams, processes, and best practices. Track and report on system performance metrics, incidents, and overall IT operations to management. Prepare project status reports and budgets, ensuring alignment with business goals and identifying potential improvements. Qualifications Required Skills and Qualifications Bachelor’s degree with 8-10 years; Master's degree with 6-8 years or PhD with 3-5 years in Computer Science, Information Technology or equivalent field (or relevant experience). 5+ years of systems administration experience, with at least two years in a lead or team management role. Experience supporting enterprise-level IT environments with high availability and security requirements. Must possess and maintain an active TS/SCI Clearance Technical Expertise Expertise in system administration tasks, including installation, upgrades, and patch management for systems such as Windows Server and Linux/Unix. Proficiency with server hardware technologies, including virtualization platforms (VMware, Hyper-V, etc.). Strong networking knowledge—experience with DNS, DHCP, IP routing, VLANs, and related protocols. Hands-on experience managing enterprise storage platforms (SAN, NAS). In-depth understanding of IT security protocols, such as encryption, authentication, firewalls, and intrusion prevention/detection systems. Strong experience with monitoring and alerting tools (e.g., Nagios, SolarWinds, Zabbix). Problem Solving and Project Management Proven experience handling complex system failures and high-severity incidents with effective troubleshooting and disaster recovery plans. Track record of successfully managing IT infrastructure projects, including budget planning, task scheduling, and delivery. Leadership and Communication Strong ability to lead, coach, and mentor system administrators to enhance technical capability and team performance. Ability to effectively communicate with technical and non-technical stakeholders, including providing user support to leadership and business teams. Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, including software developers, DevOps, and network engineers. Preferred Qualifications Experience working in a hybrid cloud environments (AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud). Familiarity with IT service management practices such as ITIL. Advanced scripting capabilities using PowerShell, Bash, or Python to automate systems and tasks. Additional certifications (preferred but not required): Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate or MCSE Cisco Certifications (CCNA, CCNP) CompTIA Security+ or Server+ VMware Certified Professional (VCP) Equal Pay Act This is the projected compensation range for this position. There are differentiating factors that can impact a final salary/hourly rate, including, but not limited to, Contract Wage Determination, relevant work experience, skills and competencies that align to the specified role, geographic location (For Remote Opportunities), education and certifications as well as Federal Government Contract Labor categories. In addition, Arcfield invests in its employees beyond just compensation. Arcfield ’s benefits offerings include, dependent upon position, Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, Holiday Pay, Short Term and Long-Term Disability, Retirement and Savings, Learning and Development opportunities, wellness programs as well as other optional benefit elections. Min: $96,534.61 Max: $167,854.95 EEO Statement We are an equal opportunity employer and federal government contractor. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment as protected by law. We are seeking an experienced and proactive Lead System Administrator to oversee and manage IT systems, infrastructure, and a team of system administrators for our USSF customer in CO Springs, Colorado. This leadership position is responsible for ensuring the performance, security, and scalability of critical systems while providing technical guidance and expertise. As the Lead System Administrator, you will lead system-related projects, handle escalated technical issues, and drive the strategic direction of the organization's IT infrastructure. The role requires both strong technical expertise and excellent leadership skills to guide the team and maintain a secure and resilient IT environment. Key Responsibilities: Leadership and Team Management Lead the System Administration Team: Supervise, mentor, and manage a team of system administrators, providing guidance and technical leadership. Prioritize and Delegate Work: Assign tasks, monitor progress, and ensure the timely and quality delivery of IT services. Act as a Technical Advisor: Serve as the escalation point for complex issues, providing technical expertise and troubleshooting. Provide Training and Support: Develop training programs and conduct knowledge-sharing sessions to improve team capabilities. System Management and Administration Maintain IT Infrastructure: Oversee the configuration, administration, and maintenance of servers, operating systems, networks, and storage systems to meet organizational needs. Perform System Audits: Regularly assess system performance, reliability, and capacity, implementing improvements or updates where necessary. Optimize Server and Application Performance: Identify bottlenecks and recommend technical solutions to improve system performance. Monitor System Health: Proactively manage system monitoring to minimize downtime and troubleshoot failures when systems become unavailable. Infrastructure Design and Development Analyze organizational requirements to design scalable and robust IT solutions. Plan and execute hardware/software upgrades, migrations, patch management, and decommissioning. Optimize virtualization platforms (VMware, Hyper-V, etc.) and ensure efficient use of resources. Collaborate closely with the Network and Security teams to ensure seamless integration of infrastructure. Security and Compliance Maintain a secure infrastructure environment by assessing vulnerabilities, implementing patches, and recommending solutions. Ensure compliance with security and data protection regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, or ISO 27001. Regularly test and review disaster recovery and business continuity plans, making updates as required. Monitor systems for unauthorized activities or potential threats and resolve security incidents quickly and effectively. Support and Collaboration Provide Tier 3 support for complex end-user and infrastructure issues, working collaboratively with Help Desk and IT support staff. Partner with other IT departments and business units to achieve alignment on technical solutions and organizational objectives. Track and troubleshoot IT performance, downtime, and user experience issues, ensuring a smooth-operating IT environment. Documentation and Reporting Maintain comprehensive documentation of server configurations, network diagrams, processes, and best practices. Track and report on system performance metrics, incidents, and overall IT operations to management. Prepare project status reports and budgets, ensuring alignment with business goals and identifying potential improvements. Required Skills and Qualifications Bachelor's degree with 8-10 years; Master's degree with 6-8 years or PhD with 3-5 years in Computer Science, Information Technology or equivalent field (or relevant experience). 5+ years of systems administration experience, with at least two years in a lead or team management role. Experience supporting enterprise-level IT environments with high availability and security requirements. Must possess and maintain an active TS/SCI Clearance Technical Expertise Expertise in system administration tasks, including installation, upgrades, and patch management for systems such as Windows Server and Linux/Unix. Proficiency with server hardware technologies, including virtualization platforms (VMware, Hyper-V, etc.). Strong networking knowledge-experience with DNS, DHCP, IP routing, VLANs, and related protocols. Hands-on experience managing enterprise storage platforms (SAN, NAS). In-depth understanding of IT security protocols, such as encryption, authentication, firewalls, and intrusion prevention/detection systems. Strong experience with monitoring and alerting tools (e.g., Nagios, SolarWinds, Zabbix). Problem Solving and Project Management Proven experience handling complex system failures and high-severity incidents with effective troubleshooting and disaster recovery plans. Track record of successfully managing IT infrastructure projects, including budget planning, task scheduling, and delivery. Leadership and Communication Strong ability to lead, coach, and mentor system administrators to enhance technical capability and team performance. Ability to effectively communicate with technical and non-technical stakeholders, including providing user support to leadership and business teams. Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, including software developers, DevOps, and network engineers. Preferred Qualifications Experience working in a hybrid cloud environments (AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud). Familiarity with IT service management practices such as ITIL. Advanced scripting capabilities using PowerShell, Bash, or Python to automate systems and tasks. Additional certifications (preferred but not required): Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate or MCSE Cisco Certifications (CCNA, CCNP) CompTIA Security+ or Server+ VMware Certified Professional (VCP)