System Administrator

University of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 79,000 - 103,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Toronto is seeking a Systems Administrator for its Electrical and Computer Engineering Teaching Lab. This full-time role involves supporting over 400 computers, ensuring smooth operations, and delivering exceptional technical support for ECE students while aligning with institutional best practices and policies.

Qualifications

• Minimum four years of demonstrated experience supporting complex systems.
• Experience designing and maintaining server operating systems.

Responsibilities

• Plan and implement IT projects.
• Respond to end-user service requests.
• Provide consultative advice on technical solutions.

Skills

Technical Support

Problem Solving

Customer Service

Communication

Analytical Skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or Computer Engineering

Tools

Microsoft SharePoint

MATLAB

Altium

MS 365

Job description

Date Posted: 07/02/2025
Req ID: 43925
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Department: Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Campus:St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00058198

About us:

The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering is Canada’s top-ranked ECE department, and one of the largest. We are home to 100 active and Emeritus professors, more than 1,400 undergraduate and 800 graduate students. Many of our faculty members are world leaders in their field and have been recognized as the brightest and most promising scientists and engineers across the country. ECE is a hotbed of research commercialization. In our department, you will work at the heart of the most rapidly developing technology humankind has ever seen.

Your opportunity:

The Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Teaching Lab group is responsible for the procurement, setup, security, maintenance, and daily operation of over 400 computers, which are vital for the hands-on learning experience of all ECE students. Under the general supervision of the Director, Teaching Labs, the Systems Administrator plays a critical role in addressing technical issues and responding to end-user inquiries. This position requires the ability to diagnose problems, assess user needs, and provide effective solutions. The Systems Administrator is expected to deliver exceptional customer service, ensuring prompt and efficient resolution of client requests.

This role involves providing consultative advice on technical solutions, risks, and the potential impact of decisions on educational processes and system architecture. The Systems Administrator will also contribute to the development and maintenance of standard operating procedures, as well as assist in planning and executing IT-related projects and documentation needed for the Teaching Labs' operation.

The incumbent will stay up-to-date with emerging technologies, industry best practices, and standards. They will be responsible for training end-users on system procedures, usage, and ensuring alignment with institutional best practices, policies, and guidelines. As the primary point of contact for laboratory technology support, the position will assist ECE students with a variety of technical issues.

Support services encompass, but are not limited to, the specification, acquisition, installation, troubleshooting, maintenance, and deployment of servers, desktops, laptops, printers, software, network connections, and peripherals. The role also includes providing consultations to facilitate the adoption of new technologies and ensuring the effective integration of these tools across the ECE Teaching Labs.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Planning and implementing components of IT related projects
• Applying established standards when deploying software and hardware
• Responding to end-user service requests
• Probing for information from end-users to identify problems and establish needs
• Introducing variations to established practices to resolve end-user issues
• Providing detailed explanation on computing procedures
• Recommending the purchase of equipment and supplies
• Serving as a technical resource on hardware and software related issues

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering or related discipline, or acceptable combination of equivalent experience.
• Minimum four years demonstrated experience supporting complex systems in large user communities.
• Experience designing and maintaining server operation systems for Linux and MS Windows.
• Web server & Microsoft SharePoint administration experience.
• In depth knowledge in deployment and support of a wide range of computer software and hardware and associated peripheral devices, both wired and wireless.
• Experience with the installation and maintenance of application scientific software such as MATLAB, and Altium, as well as MS 365.
• Demonstrated experience troubleshooting PC hardware and software for repair and warranty claims purposes.
• Demonstrated experience with application software such as email clients, web browsers, and MS 365.
• Knowledge and experience supporting VDI / Virtual application delivery.
• Demonstrated extensive experience writing and disseminating technical or procedural specifications and client facing documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain close working relationships with all levels of staff and internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to automate and streamline management and maintenance tasks and processes.
• Effective and strong written and verbal communication skills, comfortable documenting and speaking to system features, technical changes, etc.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, a demonstrated ability to continually learn on-the-job, and on own initiative, to keep abreast of rapid changes in a highly dynamic environment.
• Strong commitment to high quality customer service and service delivery.
• Strong time management and organizational skills to permit simultaneous action on many tasks, many of which will demand timely completion.
• Excellent interpersonal skills. Ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical clients and to build and foster a relationship with a variety of diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to exercise good judgment, discretion, and tact, remaining calm under pressure.

Assets (Nonessential):

• Experience with iOS and Android mobile Devices, and MacOS knowledge.
• ITIL foundations level (or higher) certification.
• Experience with scripting / programming in a systems management and software deployment / maintenance automation.
• Experience with web application languages (e.g. .Net, PHP, AJAX, XML, HTML, CSS & XHTML, Java, Python and Visual Basic, PERL, VBScript, JavaScript, Unix Shell Scripts, and Windows PowerShell), web server technologies (e.g. Apache, WebLogic) and database applications (e.g. Oracle, MSSQL, DB2, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Cognos, and Essbase).
• Previous experience working in an academic environment.

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Communicator
• Efficient
• Meticulous
• Motivated self-learner
• Problem solver
• Resourceful
• Team player

Work Location: This role is not currently eligible for a hybrid work arrangement, pursuant to University policies and guidelines, including but not limited to the University of Toronto’s Alternative Work Arrangements Guideline .

Closing Date: 07/15/2025, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:
USW Pay Band 12 -- $79,874. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $102,147. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Information Technology (IT)

Lived Experience Statement
Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.