Senior Systems Administrator/Task Lead

Empower AI is AI for government. Empower AI gives federal agency leaders the tools to elevate the potential of their workforce with a direct path for meaningful transformation. Headquartered in Reston, Va., Empower AI leverages three decades of experience solving complex challenges in Health, Defense, and Civilian missions. Our proven Empower AI Platform® provides a practical, sustainable path for clients to achieve transformation that is true to who they are, what they do, how they work, with the resources they have. The result is a government workforce that is exponentially more creative and productive. For more information, visit www.Empower.ai.

Empower AI is proud to be recognized as a 2024 Military Friendly Employer by Viqtory, the publisher of G.I. Jobs. This designation reflects the company’s commitment to hiring and supporting active-duty and veteran employees.

As the Senior Systems Administrator/Task Lead (NGSB), you will act as a model of customer service excellence to all organizational staff members in the Office of Military Commissions (OMC) as part of DISA’s Joint Service Provider (JSP) Service Delivery contract.  You will lead a team of up to four (4) System Administrator qualified professionals and interact daily with the OMC IT Support Team and the OMC customer to ensure productivity and resolve IT issues that the end-users may have with existing servers, desktops, laptops, software installation issues, and other critical needs. Further, you will participate in the planning and implementation of key OMC IT initiatives anticipated during this effort.  Although this position resides in Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB), there may be a requirement to travel to the National Capital Region (NCR) occasionally.   

Responsibilities:

• Lead the Systems Administration team to fulfill Engineering and Implementation (E&I) tasks and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) support for NIPR, SIPR, JWICS, and Special Access for National Program (SAP) - level system infrastructure for approximately 150-400 users. This user count fluctuates based on support for hearing operations ay NSGB.
• Lead the Systems Administrator tasks required for addressing ISSO ATO tasks, including (but not limited to) DISA STIG implementation, RMF security scan responses, and other requirements needed for ATO remediation with DISA and DIA.
• Lead O&M support for SQL Database infrastructure.
• Lead O&M support for OMC server and desktop-based software applications.
• Lead data backup and restoration capabilities for NIPR, SIPR, JWICS, and Special Access Systems.
• Lead replication of network file share volumes via Distributed Files System w/ Replication (DFS-R) between the NCR and NSGB locations. This includes leading the effort to request adjustments to DFS-R requirements with DISA/JSP.
• Support storage area network (SAN) and encrypted file storage capabilities.
• Provide systems recovery and repair operations employing industry best practices for Systems troubleshooting and fault isolation.
• Conduct the planning, implementation, validation, and verify all server system upgrades, patches, and STIGs to meet ATO requirements and provide system longevity or lifecycle refresh (LCR).
• Ascertain and repair all hardware and network connectivity issues with NIPR/SIPR/JWIS and SAP systems.
• Support for technical upgrading and maintaining of entire end-user systems.
• Assist in testing and deployment of new applications and systems.
• Develop performance measurements (goals/metrics/reports) utilizing the current and future service desk platforms and facilitate a feedback system for team members on customer service, communication, and technical skills to enhance the quality of support delivered.
• Utilize ITIL best practices to enhance and optimize the services provided to end users.
• Participate in implementing an enterprise knowledge base and knowledge management best practices.
• Coordinate with OMC and JSP/DISA IT support teams to resolve customer incidents/problems, fulfill service requests, and institute continuous improvement initiatives and methods.
• Resolve customer issues effectively or escalate them to appropriate support tiers.
• Work with management in assessing staff performance/reviews/changes.
• Assist in the professional and technical development of the team.

Requirements:

• TOP SECRET w/ SCI Eligible security clearance
• Strong customer service orientation.
• Proven analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment.
• Good written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to conduct research into PC and software issues and products as required.
• Ability to present ideas in business-friendly and user-friendly language.
• Highly self-motivated and directed.
• Keen attention to detail.
• Team-oriented and skilled in working within a collaborative environment.

Education and Experience: 

• Required Education: Bachelor’s degree, including consideration of vendor certification in the technology being applied.

• Required Experience:
  • 10 + years of professional experience supporting Microsoft Enterprise IT Systems.
  • 7+ years of experience with Microsoft System Administration in an Enterprise Environment, including Microsoft Active Directory, Group Policies, and Visual Basic Scripting. Day-to-day operational maintenance, support, and upgrades to hardware, software, and operating systems in a Microsoft Windows Server Environment; must be proficient with Microsoft’s Windows Server.
  • Administrative experience in SQL Server Database Administration; must be proficient with SQL Server.
  • 4+years of experience leading tasks of a similar size/scope
  • 4+years of experience with the following IT disciplines:
    • Security configuration of Windows Server/Windows 10
    • Microsoft SCCM or similar technologies
    • Maintaining PKI Infrastructure
    • Implementing and managing VDI Infrastructure
    • Server Virtualization Technologies

• Preferred Experience: 7+ years of SysAdmin experience with DOD or IC (DIA), especially with SAP solutions.

• Required Certification:
  • DoD 8570 IAT II certification (e.g., Security+, CND, CCNA-Security, CySA+, GICSP, GSEC, SSCP)

• Preferred Certification:
  • ITILv4 Foundation minimum certification
  • VPC Data Virtualization and/or End User Computing
  • Either MCSE Core Infrastructure or Azure Solutions Architect Expert Certification
  • HDI Desktop Support Manager or A+ related certifications relevant to personnel roles/responsibilities
  • 01M IAT Level III (one of the following)
    • CASP+ CE
    • CCNP Security
    • CISA
    • CISSP (or Associate)
    • GCED
    • GCIH

 Physical Requirements: 

This position requires the ability to perform the below essential functions:

• Sitting for long periods
• Standing for long periods
• Ambulate throughout an office
• Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl as required
• Repeatedly lift and carry weights up to 50 pounds

All hiring and promotion decisions at Empower AI are based on merit to bring the best talent available to contribute to our firm’s overall success. It is the policy of Empower AI not to discriminate against any applicant for employment, or employee because of age, color, sex, disability, national origin, race, religion, or veteran status. Empower AI is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.