Systems Administrator/IT Infrastructure Engineer

Systems Administrator/IT Infrastructure Engineer

Location: Ithaca, NY (ONSITE DAILY)

Requirement: Must be located in or within driving distance of Ithaca, NY

About Our Client

Our client exists to help farms and members of the agricultural community succeed. Through the collection and analysis of critical operational data, they provide decision-making information that enables customers to make sound business decisions focused on enhancing profitability and operational efficiency. Their team works diligently to deliver leading-edge technology solutions, decision-support tools, and actionable insights to the agricultural community they serve. The organization prides itself on being a trusted, value-added business partner to its members and stakeholders.

Headquartered in Ithaca, NY, our client serves approximately 2,500 agricultural members and customers throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. With a dedicated workforce of more than 250 employees, they remain committed to supporting their customers through innovative services, technology, and operational expertise.

Responsibilities

Microsoft 365 & Cloud Administration

• Administer and maintain Microsoft 365 services, including Exchange Online, Teams, SharePoint Online, OneDrive, and related applications.
• Manage Microsoft Intune for endpoint management, mobile device management (MDM), application deployment, and device compliance.
• Administer Microsoft Entra ID, including user lifecycle management, group administration, multifactor authentication (MFA), Conditional Access, and identity security.
• Maintain Azure resources, virtual machines, storage, networking, and backup services.
• Monitor Microsoft licensing, usage, and cloud service health.

Infrastructure Administration

• Maintain physical and virtual server environments.
• Administer Windows Server, Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Group Policy, file services, and related technologies.
• Monitor system performance, availability, and capacity.
• Perform patch management, upgrades, and hardware lifecycle planning.
• Maintain backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity solutions.

Cybersecurity & Risk Management

• Implement and maintain security controls across cloud and on-premises environments.
• Manage endpoint protection, email security, vulnerability remediation, and system hardening.
• Monitor and respond to security alerts and incidents.
• Conduct periodic access reviews and security assessments.
• Assist with compliance initiatives and technology audits.

Application Administration

• Support and administer business-critical applications.
• Coordinate system integrations, upgrades, and troubleshooting activities.
• Work with vendors to resolve technical issues and maintain support relationships.
• Manage software licensing and subscription renewals.

IT Operations & Support

• Provide advanced technical support and escalation assistance for complex issues.
• Deploy and maintain workstations, laptops, mobile devices, and peripherals.
• Document systems, configurations, procedures, and technical standards.
• Participate in technology projects and infrastructure improvements.
• Deliver user training and technology guidance as needed.

Documentation & Reporting

• Maintain accurate documentation of systems, networks, configurations, and IT assets.
• Develop and update technical procedures, standards, and troubleshooting guides.
• Prepare reports on system performance, infrastructure health, security, and technology initiatives.
• Ensure documentation remains current and supports operational continuity.

Continuous Improvement

• Stay current with emerging technologies, industry trends, and best practices.
• Recommend infrastructure improvements that enhance performance, security, and scalability.
• Participate in technology projects, upgrades, and strategic IT initiatives.

Measuring Performance

Response Time

• Track time to respond to and resolve IT support tickets.
• Measure the average time taken to address critical issues versus routine tasks.

Uptime & Reliability

• Monitor network and system uptime to ensure minimal downtime.
• Evaluate the reliability of IT infrastructure and services.

User Satisfaction

• Conduct regular surveys to gather feedback from employees on the quality of IT support.
• Assess overall satisfaction with IT services provided.

Project Completion

• Complete IT projects within established deadlines and budgets.
• Evaluate the quality and effectiveness of implemented solutions.

Security Management

• Monitor the number of security incidents and their resolution.
• Assess the effectiveness of security measures and compliance with organizational policies.

Cost Management

• Evaluate efficiency in managing IT budgets and reducing operational costs.
• Monitor optimization of Azure resources and hardware procurement.

Documentation & Reporting

• Review the accuracy and completeness of IT documentation.
• Assess the quality and timeliness of reports provided to management.

Proactive Maintenance

• Measure the frequency and effectiveness of preventive maintenance tasks.
• Demonstrate the ability to anticipate and mitigate issues before they impact operations.

Professional Development

• Participate in training and certification programs.
• Apply new skills and knowledge to improve IT operations and support services.

Work Environment

• Office setting within a dedicated IT area, general office environment, or laboratory space.
• Occasional work in server rooms, network closets, and other technical areas that may be cooler and noisier due to equipment.
• Potential remote work flexibility for tasks that can be effectively managed online.
• Requires reliable internet connectivity and secure remote access capabilities.

Work Hours

• Standard business hours, typically 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
• Flexible scheduling may be available based on business needs and project requirements.
• Participation in an on-call rotation for emergencies or critical updates outside regular business hours.
• Occasional evening, weekend, or holiday work may be required during planned maintenance windows, upgrades, or system outages.

Required Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or equivalent experience.
• 3-5+ years of experience in systems administration, infrastructure support, or IT operations.
• Experience administering Microsoft 365, Intune, Azure, and Microsoft Entra ID.
• Experience supporting Windows Server environments and business applications.
• Strong troubleshooting, communication, and organizational skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing or administering NetSuite.
• Microsoft 365 Administrator Expert certification.
• Azure Administrator Associate certification.
• Endpoint Administrator Associate certification.
• CompTIA Security+ certification.
• Experience with virtualization platforms, networking technologies, and backup solutions.