Systems Engineer

Job Description

SUMMARY

This is a mid-level position that performs advanced, complex technical work in the public sector. It involves a broad range of professional activities supporting a highly automated, multi-site enterprise computing environment for government and business applications. There is an emphasis on team-oriented system architecture and planning within an ITIL framework. Work is performed remotely and on-site across multiple data center facilities in a secure, regulated, and audited environment.

Work requires broad information technology skills with specialization in system administration, including server infrastructure, data center design and operations, public cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP), virtualization, automation, and security. The position supports the organization's cloud-first strategy while maintaining physical data center facilities, working closely with Managed Service Providers (MSPs), vendors, and cloud environments.

Incumbents in this classification report to a designated supervisor and work under general supervision. Work in this class is distinguished from higher classes by its lack of supervisory responsibility, and from other infrastructure positions by its specialized focus on system administration, data center operations, and cloud infrastructure.

EXAMPLES OF WORK

• This section of the job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of duties and responsibilities of the position. The omission of a specific job function does not absolve an employee from being required to perform additional tasks incidental to or inherent in the job. Performance of lower-level duties may be required.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Data Center Management

Design, implement, administer, and monitor the efficient operation of multiple small data center facilities across the city and a long-distance remote data center facility, including data center floor space, rack space, power distribution systems, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, cooling and HVAC systems, environmental monitoring and alarms, fire suppression and containment systems, physical security and access control systems, and cable management in conformance with established practices for an auditable enterprise-level IT environment.

Coordinate and work effectively with vendors and contractors to maintain, troubleshoot, and upgrade data center infrastructure, including UPS systems, cooling systems, power distribution units (PDUs), environmental monitoring systems, fire suppression systems, and physical security systems.

Conduct or participate in regular data center assessments, disaster prevention planning, safety inspections, and disaster response training to ensure operational continuity across all facility locations.

Monitor and maintain optimal data center environmental conditions, including temperature, humidity, airflow, and power consumption; respond to environmental alarms and incidents in a timely manner.

Cloud Infrastructure

Implement, configure, administer, monitor, and troubleshoot cloud infrastructure across public cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP) including compute, storage, identity, and management services; work effectively with Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to support the organization's cloud-first strategy in conformance with established practices for an auditable enterprise-level IT environment for such activities as change management, preventative maintenance, and access control.

Implement and maintain Infrastructure as Code (IaC) solutions using tools such as Terraform, ARM templates, or CloudFormation to ensure consistent, repeatable deployments and configuration management.

Servers and Virtualization

Implement, configure, administer, monitor, and troubleshoot a complex enterprise-level hybrid cloud and on-premise physical and virtual server environment consisting of hardware, operating systems (Windows Server, Linux), hypervisors (Hyper-V, VMware, Azure Virtual Desktop), and back-office / middleware applications in multiple tiers from development to production in conformance with established practices for an auditable enterprise-level IT environment for such activities as change management, preventative maintenance, and access control.

Manage server lifecycle, including capacity planning, performance monitoring, patch management, and decommissioning activities.

Identity and Access Management

Implement, configure, administer, and monitor identity and access management solutions, including Active Directory, Azure Active Directory (Entra ID), group policies, federation services, and single sign-on (SSO) solutions, in conformance with established security practices and access control requirements.

Create, maintain, remove, and audit system and end-user accounts, permissions, and access rights across hybrid cloud and on-premises environments.

Automation and Scripting

Develop, implement, and maintain automation scripts and tools using PowerShell, Azure CLI, Python, or other scripting languages to improve operational efficiency, reduce manual tasks, and ensure consistency across the infrastructure.

Implement and maintain configuration management and automation platforms such as PowerShell DSC, Azure Automation, or Ansible.

Storage and Backup

Implement, administer, monitor, and troubleshoot enterprise storage solutions, including cloud storage services (Azure Files, Azure Blob Storage, AWS S3), on-premise storage systems, and hybrid storage solutions in conformance with established practices for data protection, storage allocation, change management, and access control.

Implement and manage backup and recovery solutions across cloud and on-premise environments, including regular testing of recovery procedures to ensure business continuity.

Security

Implement, maintain, and oversee enforcement of security policies, procedures, and technologies for system infrastructure, including endpoint protection, vulnerability management, security patching, and hardening standards.

Assess the need for any security reconfigurations and execute them if required. Keep current with emerging security alerts and issues.

Perform security assessments and vulnerability scanning of systems; recommend, schedule, and apply fixes, security patches, and any other measures required to maintain security posture.

Implement and maintain security monitoring and logging solutions to support incident detection, investigation, and response activities.

Disaster Recovery And Business Continuity

Implement redundant systems, policies, and procedures for disaster recovery to ensure adequate protection and integrity of system and data assets, including operating systems, cloud services, and software applications. Modify plans based on test or incident results.

Participate in simulations to test system disruptions and disaster recovery plans and procedures, as well as disaster avoidance and impact-reduction strategies, for the security and restoration of mission-critical business applications in the event of natural disasters, technical failures, power outages, and human or cyber interference.

Participate in all aspects of the recovery plan, including initial emergency response, recovery procedures, and business resumption processes.

Monitoring and Performance

Implement and maintain infrastructure monitoring solutions to track system performance, availability, and capacity across hybrid cloud and on-premise environments.

Analyze system performance data and logs to identify trends, optimize resource utilization, and proactively address potential issues before they impact operations.

Microsoft 365 Administration

Implement, configure, and support core Microsoft 365 services, including Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, Microsoft Teams, and Entra ID.

Manage user identities, licensing, and access policies across hybrid environments.

Monitor service health, troubleshoot issues, and coordinate with vendor support as needed.

Support integration of M365 services with on-premises infrastructure and third-party applications.

General

Participate in various IT work activities such as feasibility studies, capacity planning, performance analysis and fine-tuning, cloud migration planning, new technology evaluation, new systems and applications technical requirements specifications and review, and act as a project team member on technical IT infrastructure projects.

Provide business-hour technical support for escalated server-side hardware, software, security, and cloud infrastructure issues in a timely and customer-friendly manner.

Provide after-hours, on-call technical support for all server-side hardware, software, security, cloud infrastructure, and related systems issues, promptly and usually on a rotating schedule.

Provide after-hours and weekend work for changes that must be made outside business hours.

Support other IT teams throughout project, system, and application lifecycles.

Work within an ITIL framework for service delivery and continuous improvement.

Write and maintain technical documentation, including system configurations, standard operating procedures, runbooks, and architecture diagrams.

Attends work regularly and consistently.

NON-ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Research emerging products, services, protocols, and standards in support of infrastructure procurement, cloud service selection, enhancements, and development efforts.

Perform cost-benefit and return-on-investment analyses for proposed infrastructure components and cloud services to aid management in making implementation decisions.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. Below are the required education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in computer science, information systems, systems engineering, or related field, and four (4) years information technology experience (must include two (2) years as a systems administrator, systems engineer, cloud engineer, or equivalent with experience in data center operations and management), or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Relevant industry certifications such as Microsoft Certified : Azure Administrator Associate, AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate, CompTIA Security+, or similar cloud and systems administration certifications may be substituted for up to two (2) years of education; one (1) year per certification.

CERTIFICATIONS OR LICENSES

Licenses

A valid State of Florida Driver's License is required at all times while employed in this classification.

Certifications

Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Foundation certification is preferred and should be obtained within twelve (12) months of the assignment date.

One or more of the following certifications is highly desirable :

Microsoft Certified : Azure Administrator Associate

Microsoft Certified : Azure Solutions Architect Expert

AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate or Professional

AWS Certified SysOps Administrator

CompTIA Linux+

Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA)

CompTIA Security+

VMware Certified Professional (VCP)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Ability, experience, and willingness to provide leadership and guidance to less experienced co-workers as well as provide adequate training to new employees and end users.

Ability, experience, and willingness to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with customers, coworkers, supervisors, and managers.

Ability and willingness to write technical documentation, including system configurations, procedures, and architecture diagrams.

Ability and willingness to self-learn and stay current with rapidly evolving cloud technologies and best practices.

Ability, experience, and willingness to effectively plan and organize work to ensure the highest quality performance of self and others.

Ability and experience to lead, coordinate, and participate in key process improvements as they relate to the organizational computing environment.

Ability, experience, and willingness to work without direct supervision and to creatively and effectively solve system, hardware, cloud infrastructure, and interpersonal issues.

Ability, experience, and willingness to work effectively with coworkers, managed service providers, cloud vendors, and the general public.

Ability and experience to maintain a high level of integrity when dealing with customers and systems to instill trust and to maintain security.

Ability, experience, and willingness to make sound decisions to effectively solve problems related to systems and infrastructure, as well as to maintain strong interpersonal relations that promote a team-oriented environment.

Ability, experience, and willingness to stay current on cloud platforms, system software, and hardware to ensure the ability to maintain system integrity and security, as well as resolve issues.

Ability, experience, and willingness to follow all safety procedures to ensure the safety of systems, hardware, yourself, and others.

Extensive knowledge of principles, practices, and methodologies related to server computer hardware, operating system functions (Windows Server, Linux), virtualization technologies, cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP), system management and administration, data center design and operations, physical infrastructure systems (UPS, cooling, power distribution, environmental monitoring, fire suppression), security, storage management, disaster recovery techniques, automation and scripting, Infrastructure as Code, and problem-solving.

Knowledge of data center best practices, including power and cooling optimization, rack space planning, cable management, environmental monitoring, and physical security controls.

Knowledge of data center infrastructure components, including UPS systems, PDUs, HVAC systems, fire suppression systems, environmental monitoring systems, and access control systems.

Knowledge of cloud computing concepts, including IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, hybrid cloud architectures, cloud security, and cloud cost optimization.

Knowledge of automation and scripting languages like PowerShell, Python, Bash, and tools such as Azure CLI or AWS CLI.

Knowledge of configuration management and automation tools such as PowerShell DSC, Ansible, Terraform, or ARM templates.

Knowledge of business and management principles related to strategic planning, resource allocation, leadership techniques, and coordination of people and resources.

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer service, including assessing customer needs, meeting quality standards, and evaluating customer satisfaction.

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to ensure effective security operations for protecting people, data, and property.

Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems, such as managing files and records, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Working knowledge of the ITIL framework and best practices in IT service management.

Working knowledge of cybersecurity principles, frameworks (such as NIST), and best practices for securing hybrid cloud environments.

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must possess particular physical abilities and be able to withstand work-related environmental conditions.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Must be able to perform sedentary work on an uninterrupted basis.

May be required to lift and move equipment up to 50 pounds occasionally.

May be required to work in data center environments with specific physical demands, including standing for extended periods, bending, reaching, and working with rack-mounted equipment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in an office environment with moderate noise levels and in data center environments with elevated noise levels, varying temperatures, and industrial equipment.

May be required to work and attend meetings outside regular business hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, for maintenance windows and emergency response.

Regular local travel to multiple data center facilities across the City of Gainesville and occasional long-distance travel to the remote data center facility (over 100 miles) is required.

Note :

May Require Assessment(s).

May fill multiple positions.

May establish an eligibility list.

Come join our team! The City of Gainesville offers a competitive benefits package and opportunities to grow both professionally and personally.

All ‘regular’ employees are eligible for traditional benefits such as health insurance, life insurance, paid leave, 11 paid a holidays a year, a pension plan and a deferred compensation plan, but we also o ff er great things like on-site fi tness centers, tuition reimbursement, on-site medical sta ff and a wellness program to keep you healthy and happy. Please note; benefits are not available for temporary employees.

Equal Opportunity

The City of Gainesville is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer and does not discriminate in hiring. Minorities, women and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Individuals with a disability, who require special accommodations during the selection process, should notify the Human Resources Department at 352-334-5077 or TDD / TTY at 352-334-2292.

Veterans' Preference

Veterans are encouraged to apply. Veterans’ Preference ensures that veterans and eligible persons are given consideration at each step of the selection process. However, preference does not guarantee that a veteran or other eligible person will be the candidate selected to fill the position. Section 295.07, Florida Statutes (F.S.) specifies who is eligible for Veterans’ Preference. State of Florida residency is not required for Veterans’ Preference.

If you are unable to apply online due to a disability, contact recruiting at or by calling 352-334-5077.