Systems Administrator

Description

Job Description Summary:

GW Libraries and Academic Innovation (GWLAI) is a catalyst, a spark to generate new ideas and new possibilities. Responsive to the changing landscape of information and education, being sensitive both to traditional and emergent modes of communication, we bring together diverse constituents of faculty, students, and staff in a highly collaborative, dynamic, and deeply engaged intellectual community to support research, teaching and learning. As part of the larger George Washington University, we are a nexus where exciting things happen, where change happens, where growth happens.

The George Washington University Libraries & Academic Innovation (GWLAI) is seeking applications for a Systems Administrator. The successful candidate will combine a strong service orientation and experience in systems administrator to ensure that GWLAI maintains and builds upon its commitment to excellence supporting researchers and facilitating information discovery for the George Washington University (GWU) community.

The Systems Administrator takes an innovative, service-centric approach to the management of GWLAI’s virtual server environment. S/he will be responsible for managing the Linux servers, primarily Ubuntu based in the Washington Research Library Consortiums (WRLC) Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) environment. The Systems Administrator will perform server deployments, application installation and configuration, and system monitoring in support of GWLAI web presences, software development and digital collection environments. A successful candidate will be able to work collaboratively with different departments to thoughtfully integration open source tools and enterprise systems to advance the work of GWLAI. The Systems Administrator will serve as part of GWLAI’s Scholarly Technology Group which is composed of software developers, Librarians, IT professionals, and GIS specialists working on projects that include software development, digital collections, and research support initiatives. The position will collaborate and cross train with other systems administrators within GWLAI.

Reporting the Director of Scholarly Technology, the Systems Administrator will:

• Establish and maintain a patching schedule and operating system upgrades as appropriate for Linux virtual machines
• Maintain current knowledge of security related trends, industry standards, and IT infrastructure best practices
• Install and support third party applications
• Perform advanced configuration and automation of routine tasks
• Prepare technical documentation, conducting training for users, and monitor the operations of the GWLAI server environment
• Serve as a technical representative relating to library systems software, standards, and infrastructure at the WRLC. WRLC is a consortium of research Libraries in the Washington DC which supports and enhances the library and information services of its constituent members
• Configure single-sign-on for web applications using SAML
  Manages SSL certificates for GWLAI servers
• Work with other GWU and WRLC IT professionals to improve processes, evolve systems, and think strategically to advance our IT infrastructure.

The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning additional responsibilities that are logically related to the position.

Minimum Qualifications:

Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 2 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant area of study. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience administering Ubuntu Linux hosts
• Previous experience working with Apache or Ngnix web servers
• Demonstrated experience managing systems in a IaaS environment, including but not limited to Amazon Web Service or hosted VMware environments
• Knowledge of one or more coding languages such as Python or Ruby,  and/or UNIX shells/scripting languages such as sh/bash, csh/tsch, or Perl.
• Demonstrated experience with open source software, and willingness to use proprietary tools when appropriate