Infrastructure & Automation Engineer

Description

The Folger Shakespeare Library, located on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, is seeking a dedicated Infrastructure and Automation Engineer to join the IT team. The Infrastructure and Automation Engineer, reporting to the Head of Information Technology, will support the Folger’s mission of preserving and providing access to one of the world’s premier collections of Shakespearean and early modern materials. This role is vital in maintaining and enhancing a robust, secure, and reliable IT infrastructure that spans both on-premises and cloud-based infrastructure- including servers, virtualization platforms, networking systems, and backup solutions. The administrator will also lead scripting and automation efforts, support key monitoring tools, and contribute to system reliability, security, and performance across the organization to ensure seamless operation of the Folger’s digital services.     

We are looking for someone who embraces both technical excellence and the unique context of a cultural institution.  They bring hands-on experience with broad technical expertise and a strong service mindset. They are equally comfortable managing Windows and Linux environments and have a strong background in automating routine tasks and solving complex infrastructure issues. They communicate effectively with colleagues across departments, showing initiative and ownership in addressing infrastructure challenges. They thrive in collaborative settings and prioritize stability, security, and user-centered service. A successful candidate brings initiative, curiosity, and a user-focused approach to infrastructure management. 

The standard schedule for this role is Monday-Friday, 8:45am-4:45pm, which is a 35-hour workweek. Infrequent evening and weekend hours may be scheduled in advance as projects arise, or in case of emergency. This position is entirely onsite for the first 3 months and can then move to a hybrid modality coming onsite 2-3 days/week. The selected candidate will need to be within a commutable distance to the D.C. office (DC, MD, VA) by their start date.   

 Health & safety: The health and well-being of all staff, contractors, and visitors is our top priority. While the Folger no longer requires masks or vaccinations (except for AEA spaces), we support and encourage individuals to take the safety precautions they are most comfortable with, and we ask that individual choices are respected. The Folger offers organization-funded healthcare plans for full-time staff and extensive leave options to all staff in the case of any health issues that arise.   

Compensation:  

• This is a monthly-paid salary position, with a pay range of $90k-100k annually.  

• Total compensation includes extensive benefits plan, including fully-covered health, dental, and vision insurance and a generous 403(b) match, outlined at https://www.folger.edu/employee-benefits. 

Duties:   

Core Infrastructure Management 

• Maintains the organization’s Windows and Linux servers across both on-premises and cloud environments. 

• Manages core infrastructure systems including domain controllers, file servers, application servers, backup systems, and cloud-hosted services. 

• Administers and maintains virtualization platforms and related VM lifecycle tasks. 

• Manages server-side backup systems and ensures regular testing and validation of backups. 

• Performs patch management, vulnerability remediation, and general system hardening. 

• Manages application servers that support internal and public-facing web services. 

• Handles physical infrastructure tasks as needed, including installing hardware, managing cable runs, and mounting equipment in racks or workspaces. 

Networking and Communications 

• Manages configuration, maintenance, and troubleshooting of network switches (mixed-vendor environment), VLANs, Wi-Fi infrastructure, and firewall systems. 

• Administers and supports the Allworx VoIP phone system. 

Automation, Monitoring, and Tooling 

• Develops and maintains scripts to automate infrastructure processes and operational tasks. 

• Designs, deploys, and maintains the organization’s logging and monitoring systems. 

• Supports mobile device and endpoint management tooling (e.g. Intune, Jamf) and hybrid identity environments. 

Collaboration and Teamwork 

• Provides Level 2 technical support for complex issues escalated by the helpdesk including deeper endpoint troubleshooting, system access issues, and infrastructure-related user problems. 

• Works collaboratively with IT team members to troubleshoot issues, improve processes, and support organizational goals. 

• Contributes to improving operational maturity by helping standardize and document repeatable infrastructure and support processes. 

• Supports Head of IT, who serves as primary on-call, by handling occasional after-hours or weekend escalation when critical issues arise. 

• Completes other duties as assigned by Head of IT. 

Education and Experience: 

• Demonstrated hands-on experience in infrastructure, automation, and systems administration. Certifications (e.g., Linux, AWS, Azure) are welcome but not required. No formal degree required. 

• At least 3+ years of experience in infrastructure or system administration roles.  

• Proficiency with both Windows and Linux operating systems in production environments required. 

• Experience managing virtualization platforms, backups, and network security required. 

• Experience working in environments that use Active Directory alongside cloud-based services like Azure or Office 365 required. 

• Experience with Proxmox, Veeam, Watchguard, LibreNMS. Familiarity with hybrid Azure AD, Intune (Windows), and Jamf (macOS) preferred.  

• Experience working with mixed-vendor switch environments preferred. 

Knowledge and Skills: 

• Ability to write and maintain scripts using PowerShell, Bash, or Python required. 

• Ability to produce documentation, share operational knowledge, and work effectively in a team environment required. 

• Works collaboratively across departments and communicates effectively with both technical and non-technical colleagues.  

• Demonstrates initiative and problem ownership.  

• Maintains a focus on stability, reliability, and maintainability.  

• Approaches infrastructure as a user-focused service.