SENIOR SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR

McMaster University; Hamilton; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

McMaster University is seeking a Senior Systems Administrator to act as a technical consultant for complex IT systems across university departments. The role involves supporting production environments, participating in all project lifecycle phases, and delivering on-time, quality IT services on-site at McMaster.

The position requires a Bachelor’s degree and 4 years of relevant experience, with expertise in Ubuntu, PostgreSQL, and related technologies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Business, or a related field.
• Requires 4 years of relevant experience.
• Experience with Ubuntu Linux distributions is an asset.
• Experience with PostgreSQL, MariaDB (MySQL) is an asset.
• Experience with LAMP stack and Tomcat environments is an asset.
• Familiarity with virtualization, containerization, and cloud computing technologies is desirable.
• Experience automating system administration tasks with provisioning tools and scripting languages is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide design and support for technology in server and related environments, data network infrastructure and related environments, datacenter technology and facilities, storage area networks and other storage environments, voice network infrastructure and related environments, and information security infrastructure.
• Critically evaluate information from multiple sources, decompose high-level information into details, and distinguish user requests from underlying needs.
• Elicit requirements using interviews, document analysis, workshops, surveys, site visits, and use cases.
• Perform advanced analysis, problem solving and research to formulate solutions to complex business needs.
• Conduct gap analyses and develop strategies for implementing new services and upgrades on production systems.
• Troubleshoot computer system issues spanning multiple hosts and locations.
• Ensure availability and performance of production storage, information processing, and computing environments.
• Test system architecture to minimize risks.
• Investigate and evaluate new hardware and software products and computing techniques.
• Undertake pilot projects to assess commercial technology options.
• Provide technical assistance to user groups and operational staff.
• Publish policies and ensure adherence to information processing standards.
• Plan and coordinate technology refresh for large interconnected systems.
• Develop cost and time estimates for technical components of projects.
• Deliver workshops and demonstrate new technologies to campus staff.
• Prepare training for user support and staff.
• Prepare contingency plans for service recovery after incidents.
• Engage in capacity planning and performance monitoring to ensure reliability.
• Liaise with vendors and related institutions to coordinate projects.
• Design, implement, and document processes connecting heterogeneous systems.
• Create reports and graphs for capacity planning and performance metrics.
• Prepare specifications and RFQs from suppliers and proposals.
• Negotiate with suppliers for cost-effective technology options.
• Coordinate small/medium projects per PMO methodologies.
• Develop success criteria and risk assessments for projects.
• Develop, implement, and document best practices aligning with university strategies.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Business, or a related field of study

Tools

Ubuntu Linux distributions

PostgreSQL

MariaDB (MySQL)

LAMP stack

Tomcat

Proxmox

TrueNAS

Ansible

Chef

Puppet

Python

Bash

LDAP

Shibboleth

SAML

Open Journal Systems

Omeka S

Dspace

Islandora

WordPress

Drupal

Job description

Education Level

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Business or a related field of study

Career Level

Requires 4 years of relevant experience

Anticipated start date: November 16, 2026

Job Description

JD0635

This job is in the Unifor Local 5555, Unit 1 Bargaining Unit

General Description

The Senior Systems Administrator acts as a technical and consulting resource for complex issues related to various University departments and units with respect to the implementation and maintenance of information technology systems. Supports the University's academic and administration departments by acting in a technical capacity in all phases of the Project Life Cycle for small to medium projects and components of large projects, including post-production support and ongoing maintenance. Continuously gains an understanding of the University's operations and processes and how systems are used in support of those operations. Works under general direction within a clear framework of accountability and exercises substantial personal responsibility and accountability to deliver results to the University.

Representative Duties & Responsibilities

Provide design and support for technology in server and related environments, data network infrastructure and related environments, datacenter technology and facilities, storage area network and other storage related environments, voice network infrastructure and related environments, and information security infrastructure and other related environments.

Critically evaluate information gathered from multiple sources, reconcile conflicts, decompose high-level information into details, abstract up from low-level information to a general understanding, and distinguish user requests from the underlying true needs.

Elicit requirements using interviews, document analysis, requirement workshops, surveys, site visits, business process descriptions, use cases, scenarios, business analysis, and task and workflow analysis.

Perform advanced levels of analysis, problem solving and research skills to formulate solutions to complex business needs.

Conduct gap analyses.

Develop strategies for implementing new services and upgrades on production systems.

Troubleshoot computer system issues that may require an end-to-end evaluation of University wide systems often spanning multiple heterogeneous hosts and locations across the University and with external service providers.

Ensure the availability and performance of the current production storage, information processing, and computing environment in assigned and related areas of the organization.

Test system architecture in order to minimize risks to the production systems.

Investigate, evaluate, compare, and demonstrate new hardware and software products, and new computing techniques which could enhance the University’s computing, information processing, and network environment.

Undertake study and pilot projects to assess and select commercial technology alternatives.

Provide technical assistance to individual user groups, user support, and operational staff in the introduction and development of specialized systems and services.

Ensure individuals conform to organizational information processing, use of network, and computing standards through the proper publication and awareness of policies.

Plan and coordinate the technology refresh for large and complex interconnected systems.

Contribute to the development of cost and time estimates for the technical architecture components of project implementation.

Deliver workshops and demonstrate new technologies to campus staff as systems are being implemented.

Prepare and present training for user support and operational staff through technical seminars and documentation.

Prepare procedures for restoring systems to full operation after hardware and software component failures on both production and test systems.

Prepare contingency plans for recovering services and operations after incidents including, but not limited to, power blackouts, water damage, or structural building failures and contribute to the planning and development of disaster recovery scenarios.

Undertake projects such as performance monitoring and capacity planning to monitor the overall reliability and effectiveness of the computing systems and information processing architecture including storage area networks.

Liaise with computer vendors, other institutions, and associated computer user groups as a means to maintain communication between all parties involved in technical projects and day-to-day operations.

Design, implement, and document support processes, procedures, and mechanisms that inter-connect heterogeneous systems in support of the integration of processes and data flow.

Gather and compile information and create reports and graphs for capacity planning, and performance metrics.

Prepare technical specifications and requests for quotes from suppliers and requests for proposals.

Participate in negotiations with suppliers to discover options and acquire the most cost effective solutions for technology requirements.

Utilize the appropriate control tools to coordinate small and medium size projects according to Project Management Office methodologies.

Develop success criteria and risk assessments for small to medium size projects and changes.

Develop, implement, and document best practices to align with departmental and University strategies and processes.

Work independently with users to define concepts.

Ensure that projects meet specified functionality requirements.

Prepare and review recommendations and other project initiation documents.

Document system functionality, particularly related to new enhancements.

Develop and maintain information technology process flow, methodology, and control documentation.

Assist with the development of project proposals and estimates.

Resolve problems in the test, production implementation, and post-implementation phases in coordination with other technical and business groups.

Liaise between the technology and support teams.

Communicate project, issue, and system status to others.

Communicate testing results to other stakeholders.

Facilitate effective dialog between user community and technical staff.

Interact with and exchange information with colleagues.

Follow a test script and document defects.

Work with others to prioritize and schedule issues resolution.

Plan, schedule, and monitor own work within short time horizons.

Organize individual time, work and resources to accomplish objectives in the most effective and efficient way.

Understand and use appropriate methods, tools, and applications to complete work tasks.

Demonstrate a rational and organized approach to work and identify development opportunities.

Absorb technical information when it is presented systematically and apply it effectively.

Use measurement methods to monitor progress toward goal attainment, tenaciously working to meet or exceed those goals, while deriving satisfaction from the process of goal achievement and continuous improvement.

Ensure that the internal and external customer perspective is a driving force behind decisions and activities.

Follow service practices that meet customers’ and University needs.

Interact with others in a way that gives them confidence in one’s intentions and those of the University.

Work collaboratively with others to achieve departmental and institutional goals. Actively participate as a member of a team to move the team toward the completion of goals.

Perform a range of varied work activities in a variety of structured environments.

Successfully engage in multiple initiatives simultaneously.

Apply and enforce department change control policies and procedures.

Read and understand a complex project plan and develop simple project plans.

Remain current with relevant development and project methodologies.

Remain current with security policies and procedures and work with System Administrators to implement security changes.

Remain current with the different levels of testing and develop simple use cases and test scripts.

Supervision

Provide direction to others in how to carry out work tasks.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Business, or a related field of study.

Requires 4 years of relevant experience.

Assets

Experience and expertise with Ubuntu Linux distributions.

Experience and expertise with PostgreSQL, MariaDB (MySQL).

Experience with LAMP stack and Tomcat environments.

Knowledge of virtualization, containerization, and cloud computing technologies, such as Proxmox, TrueNAS.

Involved in building and maintaining backup strategies for virtualized and bare-metal infrastructure.

Experience automating system administration tasks with provisioning tools such as Ansible, Chef, Puppet, etc and/or scripting languages such as Python, PHP Bash, etc.

Experience with storage arrays NAS, ZFS, NFS, etc.

Experience with LDAP, Shibboleth, SAMLor other authentication services desirable.

Experience with maintaining VMs running LAMP (hosting applications, such as Open Journal Systems, Omeka S, Dspace, Islandora, WordPress, Drupal, EZProxy).

Familiarity with KVM, Networking, Power management desirable.

Employment Equity Statement

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.

The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

As part of McMaster’s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information.

Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:

To ensure an ongoing and vibrant University community that meets the needs of our students, staff and faculty and supports the University mission, ability to work on-site continues to be a requirement for most University positions. The University is supportive of exploring flexible work arrangements that effectively balance operational needs and employee interests.

Interview Experience

At McMaster University, we believe in a comprehensive and inclusive interview process. Our interview methods encompass a variety of approaches that allow our hiring teams to provide a flexible and accessible experience for engaging with our candidates. Throughout your recruitment process at McMaster, you may be requested to participate in a variety of formats, that may include in-person, virtual or recorded interviews. If you have any questions as you move through the hiring process, please reach out to [e-mail] or the HR contact associated with your position of interest.

AI Statement

McMaster and its third-party partners may use AI tools to screen, assess, or select applicants during the hiring process. Please note that currently our recruitment platform does not use AI nor is it part of our current recommended recruitment process.