Job Description

Systems Engineer I

Agency

Texas A&M Agrilife Research

Department

AgriLife Center for Managed Technology Services (CMTS)

Commensurate

College Station, Texas

Staff

About Texas A&M AgriLife

Texas A&M AgriLife is comprised of the following Texas A&M University System members:

• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
• Texas A&M AgriLife Research
• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University
• Texas A&M Forest Service
• Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory

As the nation’s largest most comprehensive agriculture program, Texas A&M AgriLife brings together a college and four state agencies focused on agriculture and life sciences within The Texas A&M University System. With over 5,000 employees and a presence in every county across the state, Texas A&M AgriLife is uniquely positioned to improve lives, environments and the Texas economy through education, research, extension and service.

Click here to learn more about how you can be a part of AgriLife and make a difference in the world!

Position Information

The Systems Engineer I supports the Center for Managed Technology Services (CMTS) by designing, deploying, and managing Linux and Windows research systems, virtual infrastructure, backups, and instrumentation environments. This position is part of a dedicated systems engineering vertical and contributes to secure, stable, and scalable infrastructure across institutional research environments, partnering with institutional governance teams, researchers, and vendors to implement secure, reliable solutions.

Responsibilities:

Server & Endpoint Engineering (Linux/Windows) + Security Compliance

• Build, configure, secure, and maintain Linux and Windows servers/endpoints supporting research and enterprise workflows.
• Implement hardening, patching, access controls, encryption, logging, and audit-readiness requirements in alignment with CMTS and institutional security guidance.
• Contribute to baseline standards and approved patterns; document deviations when required.
• Troubleshoot OS and application-level issues; perform performance tuning and operational fixes.

Virtual Infrastructure & Cloud Networking

• Deploy, configure, and administer virtual infrastructure supporting research and enterprise environments (Azure, AWS, on-prem VMware as the footprint grows).
• Execute VM lifecycle tasks (provisioning, configuration, patch/hardening implementation, monitoring integration, compliance alignment, and decommissioning) following CMTS standards and approved maintenance windows.
• Partner with institutional governance teams and unit IT partners to implement routing/peering, IP/DNS, and firewall/VPN access needs, following institutional change controls and designated approval paths.

Storage, Backup, and Recovery Operations

• Implement and monitor backup and recovery solutions across supported platforms (cloud storage, Synology C2, future on-prem storage, and researcher-provided storage as applicable).
• Configure backup cadence/retention based on project requirements and validate restoration readiness when required.
• Recommend storage approaches aligned to performance, cost, and data lifecycle needs and document decisions.

Research Workstation, Instrumentation, and Field Support + Vendor Enablement

• Perform routine remote checks and scheduled on-site inspections for research workstations and instrument-attached systems.
• Conduct manual patching where automatic updates are constrained by experimental risk and approved change windows.
• Respond to hardware issues and instrument-computer failures; coordinate troubleshooting and resolution with appropriate partners.
• Support vendor access and maintenance activities and document exceptions when upgrades are not feasible.

Researcher Enablement, Intake, and Governance Alignment

• Participate in researcher consultations for compute, storage, security, and lifecycle planning; help translate needs into implementable technical options.
• Assist with onboarding and configuration for scientific workflows within CMTS-supported environments.
• Contribute technical inputs for infrastructure planning and cost estimates to support proposals and planning.
• Follow institutional governance requirements and document exceptions when researchers decline CMTS services and assume responsibility for compliance.

Documentation, Standards, and Service Design

• Create and maintain operational documentation, support procedures, and technical references across OS, virtualization, storage/backup, monitoring, incident response, and vendor coordination.
• Contribute to service-level documents (SLDs) and intake workflows to support consistency, audit readiness, and operational continuity.
• Maintain audit-ready records that support repeatable execution and knowledge transfer.

DevOps & Automation Support (Shared Function)

• Support automation pipelines and CI/CD workflows shared across the Software & Applications and Technology & Engineering verticals, using tools such as Ansible, Python, and GitHub Actions, and Azure DevOps.
• Contribute to infrastructure-as-code practices that support the reliability of cloud and hybrid platforms.
• Collaborate with Software & Applications and Technology & Engineering staff on shared automation initiatives, providing systems engineering context and support as needed.

Continuous Skill Development and Expanding Ownership

• Build capability across Linux/Windows administration, Azure/AWS/VMWare, on-prem infrastructure, monitoring/observability, and research instrumentation environments.
• Take on increasing responsibility for technical deliverables within projects over time in collaboration with the broader CMTS team.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Performs other duties as assigned to support CMTS and departmental operations.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two years of experience supporting Linux/Windows servers in a professional environment.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Familiarity with virtualization platforms, storage concepts, and core networking principles.
• Ability to document system configurations, processes, and procedures.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Basic familiarity with CI/CD and automation tooling (e.g., Ansible, GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps) sufficient to support shared DevOps functions.
• Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting research environments, HPC clusters, or mixed OS ecosystems.
• Exposure to cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, VMWare), infrastructure-as-code tools (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation), and automation frameworks.
• Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git) and scripting (e.g., Bash, Python).
• Experience with container orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes, Docker).
• Preferred certifications: CompTIA Linux+, Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA), Azure Administrator Associate, AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate, or VMware Certified Professional (VCP).

Other Requirements:

• May require work outside standard office hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, to support operations and scheduled maintenance windows.
• Requires periodic on-site visits to CMTS-supported lab locations.

What You Need to Know

Salary: Pay Grade 72. Compensation for this position is commensurate based on the selected candidate’s qualifications.

Full-time remote workis NOT available for this position. Position is based on-site in College Station, Texas. However, partially remote work may be available, pending employee eligibility requirements are met in accordance with AgriLife Alternate Work Location Procedures.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.