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Job Description Summary: UCAR is excited to announce the job opening for the role of COSMIC Systems Administrator II. This position will support the COSMIC Program through the administration of Linux-based systems, primarily Red Hat, running on local server cluster hardware and will be responsible for the specification, installation, maintenance, and security of servers, storage, and desktop systems, as well as ensuring compliance with U.S. government and sponsor computer security standards. The COSMIC Systems Administrator II assists users with networking and system configuration issues—primarily on Linux, with occasional support for macOS and Windows—and maintaining high-availability systems for the COSMIC-2 mission. Lastly, this role includes preparing security documentation for government review and participating in a rotating schedule that includes daily and periodic weekend operational support.

The COSMIC Program provides innovative and cost-effective remote sensing observations, data products, and data utilization support, focusing primarily on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), to benefit scientific research, research to operations, and education and training in the atmospheric and related sciences.

Position Details:

Visa Sponsored Job:

No

Relocation Assistance Eligible:

No

Job Location:

Boulder, Colorado

Position Type & Term:

Full time, Term - 6 months or more (Fixed Term)

Compensation Range:

$81,690 - $102,115

*Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, and skills relevant to the role.*

Application Notes

Application Deadline: This position will be posted until 11:59:59 pm MT on Friday, July 18. Applications will not be accepted past this date.

Required application materials (preferably in PDF Format) :

+ Resume

+ Questionnaire - ( to be completed when submitting your application) In lieu of a traditional cover letter, the hiring team wants to learn more about your skills/experiences regarding very specific questions related to the critical skills needed to be successful in this position. Your responses to these questions will be read and weighed equally to your resume, so please ensure you're providing detailed, yet informative, responses based on your previous work experiences. That being said, we encourage you to keep responses to 1 - 3 paragraphs.

+ This role involves significant responsibilities in both Linux systems administration (primarily Red Hat) and U.S. Government security compliance. Describe a specific project or experience where you had to configure, secure, and maintain a Linux-based system, ensuring it met stringent security requirements.

+ Automation and efficient system management are critical for this position. Using concrete personal examples, discuss your experience with configuration management and orchestration tools (e.g. Ansible, Satellite, Git) and your proficiency in BASH/Shell scripting.

Background checks are conducted for candidates selected for hire. Learn more. (https://www.ucar.edu/opportunities/careers/faqs)

Work Location Expectations: This position is open to candidates seeking in-person and/or hybrid (combination of 3 days in-person and 2 days of remote) opportunities.

Position Type & Term : This is a full-time, 2 year term position with the possibility of extension.

What You Will Do

Here is a summary of what one would expect to be generally responsible for in this role.

Key Responsibilities

Systems Engineering & Administration

+ Define system architecture and contribute to the development of standards and guides for engineering activities, in partnership with the senior system administrator and CDAAC Manager.

+ Develop technical specifications, obtain vendor quotes, and coordinate procurement of systems with administrative staff.

+ Install, test, and maintain Linux-based systems (primarily Red Hat), ensuring requirements are met in collaboration with software engineering and scientific teams.

+ Troubleshoot and resolve system issues across servers, storage systems, and desktop environments.

+ Administer large data storage appliances and distributed computing environments in support of science projects.

+ Write and maintain scripts (primarily BASH/Shell) to automate tasks and simplify administration.

+ Use tools such as Ansible, Satellite, and Git for configuration management, monitoring, and system notifications.

+ Thoroughly document system configurations, procedures, inventories, and administrative processes.

Security & Compliance

+ Implement and maintain operational systems that meet U.S. Government security requirements, including for the COSMIC-2 mission.

+ Manage network security infrastructure, including firewalls and monitoring tools.

+ Maintain all servers and workstations at required patch levels and ensure overall system hardening.

+ Formulate and implement secure automation strategies involving interactions across multiple systems.

+ Prepare and maintain documentation required for government security audits and compliance reviews.

+ Represent COSMIC in UCAR-wide IT committees and ensure alignment with institutional IT and security policies.

Collaboration & Operational Support

+ Collaborate with internal teams and peers in other divisions to support cross-program IT needs and improve communication around systems and policies.

+ Support CDAAC operational monitoring through rotating daily and weekend shifts, including monitoring of satellite and data processing performance.

+ Assist users with hardware and software issues related to networking, printing, file sharing, email, and web services (with less emphasis on direct end-user support).

+ Coordinate with UCAR’s NETS team to ensure proper network connectivity for user workstations and servers.

+ Maintain accurate equipment records and physical inventory in coordination with the Division Property Administrator, including oversight of software licensing.

Who We'd Love To Join Our Team

Successful candidates will ensure their application materials speak to the following criteria:

Education & Experience

+ Bachelor’s degree in computer-related field;

+ 4-8 years of progressive, relevant experience;

+ Or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

Desired, but not required:

+ Knowledge of U.S. Government computer security standards and related certifications.

+ Experience with system monitoring tools such as Grafana, and configuration management tools such as Ansible.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Systems Administration & Infrastructure

+ Proficiency in Linux/Unix systems administration, with specific experience in Red Hat environments.

+ Knowledge of multi-user operating systems and components such as mail, printer services, file systems, and security.

+ Experience managing and maintaining complex, clustered, and redundant server environments, including RAID and file servers.

+ Familiarity with local server clusters, network switch management, and hardware/software integration in data center environments.

+ Understanding of system and network performance tuning and troubleshooting for heterogeneous networks.

Security & Configuration Management

+ Demonstrated knowledge of computer and network security principles and practices.

+ Experience with configuration management and orchestration tools (e.g., Ansible, Satellite, Git).

+ Skill in installing, configuring, maintaining, and securing networked systems from multiple vendors.

Scripting, Automation & Problem Solving

+ Complete understanding of BASH/Shell scripting for task automation and system integration.

+ Ability to develop solutions for a wide range of complex system problems with minimal supervision.

+ Basic mathematical literacy at the college level for analyzing performance metrics and scripting logic.

+ Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

Desired, but not required:

+ Knowledge of Python scripting/programming.

Benefits Overview

UCAR affirms its commitment to employees through competitive benefits (https://www.ucar.edu/opportunities/careers/benefits) . In addition to medical, dental, vision, retirement, and life insurance, UCAR offers a variety of programs focused on work-life balance and professional, and personal development. These include:

+ Tuition Assistance, time off allowance to attend classes, and other professional development opportunities

+ UCAR contributes 10% of your eligible pay into your retirement account; 100% fully vested on day one

+ Starting minimum accrual of 20 days of personal time off each year (prorated for less than full-time positions)

+ 10 paid holidays

+ 10 days of sick leave each year

+ 12 weeks of paid parental leave

+ Short-term medical leave paid at 100% of your regular salary

+ EcoPass for local Colorado residents to use the Denver and Boulder-area transit system at no cost

Commitment to Job Application Fairness

Applicants are not required to provide age or age-related information and may redact information related to age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution from any submissions during the initial application process.

Some Final Considerations

At UCAR|NCAR|UCP, you will work alongside a dedicated team of professionals conducting critical research and community outreach to solve complex Earth system science problems including climate change, air pollution, extreme weather, floods, drought, wildfires, and space weather, all with the goal of improving human life and reducing economic loss. Each of us, from scientists to the professionals who support their work, serves the public and a collaborative community of scientists in our mission to understand the complex processes that make up the Earth system, from the ocean floor to the Sun’s core.

Flexible Work

At UCAR, we are committed to supporting our mission by giving staff the flexibility to find the schedule and location that works best to maintain their own work-life circumstances and reach their full potential as professionals. Many positions within our organization are eligible for fully on-site, hybrid (three days per week) and/or flexible work hours.

Equal Opportunity Employer

UCAR is committed to providing equal opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or pregnancy. Whatever your intersection of identities, you are welcome at UCAR.

Export Control

All positions are required to comply with U.S. export compliance regulations work location requirements regarding access to facilities and research systems.

Visa Wait Times

Please consider the length of visa procurement when applying for this posting, understanding that you will not be able to begin employment until you are able to get a visa and enter the U.S.

Work Location

UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.

AI Software

ChatGPT and similar AI software are powerful tools that are changing the way society receives, processes, and leverages information promptly. While we acknowledge its benefits and do not restrict leveraging it with job applications, we highly encourage a majority of the applicant material to be original work.