Job Description

The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) has an immediate career opening for a Lead Systems Engineer, Microsoft expert. This opening is located at IDA’s Center for Computing Sciences in Bowie, Maryland (CCS). IDA offers a competitive salary, an excellent benefits package and a superior professional working environment. To the right individual, IDA offers the opportunity to have a major impact on key national programs while working on fascinating technical issues.

With minimal to no supervision, this position envisions, designs, administers, and maintains multiple IT systems, servers and software. Applies advanced subject matter expertise to develop solutions to solve a full range of complex problems with little to no direction. Responsibilities include the oversight of multifaceted system deployments and upgrades. Contributes to and leads large program and project initiatives that integrate multiple technologies. Joins with senior management in the strategic planning and development of functional requirements. Promotes IT best practices and adherence to corporate IT practices and security policy. Due to the nature of this position, and the requirement for extended coverage, this position may be required to work hours outside of a regular schedule. No budgetary or supervisory responsibilities. #IDAjobs #ITatIDA

Candidate should be familiar with:

• Familiar with DNS, DHCP, FRS, NPS
• Device management
• Virtualization Architecture
• High Availability Architecture (Clustering)
• SharePoint maintenance/ best practice
  • Site creation
  • Site life cycle management
• WSUS, SCCM
• SCOM
• STIG Compliance
• PowerShell scripting
• VMware vSphere, vCenter
• Omnissa Horizon
• Thin clients (VDI)
• Backup solutions
• Trellix ePO
• Linux - Red Hat (basic understanding)
• Cisco IOS, and Cisco Nexus switches (basic understanding)

Responsibilities

1. Takes the primary role as project leader and designer of new IT technology initiatives. Provides formal project management documentation and partners with staff to ensure the successful deployment and transition of operational support to junior administrators.
2. Develops test and integration plans for new systems and software in order to ensure compatibility with current IT infrastructure. Builds new physical and virtual servers to design specifications as necessary.
3. Provides operational support and maintenance, when necessary, to ensure systems functionality, availability, security, and performance.
4. Ensures all systems meet or exceed the business and security requirements in accordance with IDA, DOW, DISA and DSS directives and guidelines.
5. Mentors junior staff and coordinates work assignments of junior administrators to ensure project schedules are maintained.
6. Prepares technical documentation, to include standard operating procedures and processes.
7. Develops resolutions to complex problems that require the frequent use of creativity. Coordinates resources to resolve problems when necessary.
8. Administers and maintains classified and unclassified systems and services to ensure optimum performance and availability.
9. Maintains technical proficiency in new IT technologies; keeps abreast of industry trends and makes recommendations to improve or advance services and system performance.
10. Communicates all computer network, system and service problems and outages immediately to the appropriate supervisors and/or managers.
11. Responds to critical after-hours support issues.
12. Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience in related field.
• Eight years minimum experience in Information Technology, which includes at least six in systems administration.
• Possess advanced, subject matter expertise in design, administration, and support of servers, systems, software, and Microsoft Products. Experience in 6 or more than one of the following areas is preferred.
  • Windows Server deployment both physical and virtual
  • Windows 11 deployment both physical and virtual
  • Exchange Server maintenance/best practice
    • Account life cycle management
  • Outlook and Office deployment/best practice
    • Maintenance and patching
  • Windows/Office Patch management
  • Active Directory domain management/best practice
    • Group policy publish/management
    • DNS management
    • User account life cycle management
  • MDT / Sysprep of primary images
  • Vulnerability mitigation
• Ability to communicate effectively in both written and verbal form and with all levels of employees; possess good interpersonal skills.
• Must be organized, self-motivated and able to work with minimal to no supervision.
• Project management experience.
• Must be willing to work hours outside of a regular schedule.
• Ability to obtain and maintain DOD 8570 IAT II certification.
• Successful completion of a criminal background check is required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain TS/SCI security clearance with polygraph. Current TS/SCI clearance with polygraph preferred (or within two years).

Why work at IDA?

Competitive salary and benefits, including diverse health insurance options, generous 10% contribution to retirement, 6 weeks 100% paid parental leave and 20 days paid time off. Mission-oriented work at a non-profit that supports and protects our Nation’s warfighters; as a non-profit, IDA employees are eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Professional development including tuition reimbursement, internal and external trainings.

Compensation

We support transparency, equity, and fairness in our compensation program and provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range based on data-driven market analysis for each position. While it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range, a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this role is $121,284-194,054. Individual salary within this range will be commensurate with the incumbent’s experience, unique skills and qualifications, and other relevant factors.