Systems Programmer

Mount Allison University; Sackville; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university is seeking a System Programmer to manage and support computing infrastructure. Responsibilities include system automation, server management, and providing technical support. Ideal candidates will have a solid understanding of networking, programming skills, and a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science.

Qualifications

• At least two years of experience in an IT environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Installation and maintenance of Virtual Machine Infrastructure.
• Support of mission-critical university systems like Moodle.
• Development and support of system automation platforms.

Skills

Networking Fundamentals

Troubleshooting

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science

Tools

PowerShell

Python

AWS

GCP

Azure

MS Graph API

Job description

Position description

The System Programmer is a member of the Computing Services Operations team, operating, configuring, and managing computing infrastructure in a rapidly changing environment. Responsible for developing and operating system management automation tasks; assisting in the evaluation, selection, installation, and maintenance of systems software and hardware; installing and managing local and vendor-supplied software and management tools; monitoring resource utilization and reliability; providing system-level technical support to other Computing Services staff; contributing to system documentation and operating procedures; assisting in planning, developing, and implementing web projects/services; performing complex technical work involving support of enterprise systems and cloud services; and undertaking other related duties.

Key Responsibilities include:

1. Installation and maintenance of Virtual Machine Infrastructure server hardware and components.
2. Installation and maintenance of Virtual Machine Infrastructure software components.
3. Support of servers, relational database systems, applications, and developing new skills for projects involving virtualization, cloud platforms, and content management systems.
4. Managing mission-critical university systems such as Moodle, Web Servers, and Content Management Systems.
5. Maintenance and organization of the on-premises data centre.
6. Development and support of system automation, deployment, and orchestration platforms.
7. Requirements analysis by consulting with internal and end users to determine system and application needs.

Key Relationships and Contacts:

• Collaborate with staff on projects and provide support to Computing Services staff.
• Support faculty research projects with technology assistance.
• Coordinate with internal and external clients and partner institutions, possibly at their sites.
• Work with vendors and consultants for infrastructure systems and applications.
• Collaborate with Educational Technology staff on learning management software support.

Accountability, Decision-Making, and Problem Solving:

• Responsible for several mission-critical systems, with significant impact from errors.
• Manage administrative access to university and partner systems, with decisions affecting operations like registration, course access, and online services.
• Work objectives set collaboratively with supervisors; considerable autonomy in work methods.
• Handle sensitive information, ensuring security and data protection.
• Require planning, analysis, problem-solving, and creativity for most tasks.

Other Responsibilities:

• Work in highly controlled, secure environments, monitoring access by vendors and consultants.
• Typical schedule is Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, with occasional after-hours work for upgrades or emergencies.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development through training and self-study.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Solid understanding of computer systems and networking fundamentals.
• Ability to quickly learn new skills and adapt to changes.
• At least two years of experience in an IT environment.
• Programming or scripting skills in UNIX or Windows environments; experience with PowerShell and Python is advantageous.
• Experience with web service APIs.
• Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP, or Azure.
• Experience with Microsoft 365 administration and automation using MS Graph API is an asset.
• Strong troubleshooting skills for systems and applications.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field; equivalent education and experience considered.