IT System Administrator

University of South Carolina

Columbia, Northern (SC, KY)

Hybrid

USD 70,000 - 95,000

Full time

17 hours ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Paid Tuition

Paid Parental Leave

Annual Leave

13 Paid Holidays

Job summary

The University of South Carolina, Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing (MCEC), seeks an IT System Administrator to support teaching, research, administration, and outreach across the College. You will manage a diverse computing environment, work with faculty, staff, students, and researchers, and help develop secure, reliable, and scalable technology solutions.

You will handle Windows, Linux/UNIX, and macOS environments, enterprise endpoint management, scripting or automation, and

Qualifications

Requires bachelor’s degree in IT systems or related field and 4+ years of related experience.
Experience working with student IT staff, IT operations, and IT project management.
Higher Education IT experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Design, install, configure, maintain, monitor, troubleshoot, and upgrade hardware and system software in support of departmental missions.
Manage hardware and software lifecycles; negotiate pricing and purchasing.
Support secure research computing environments and ensure compliance with security regulations.
Supervise student technicians and coordinate with IT staff across College and University.

Skills

Broad technical expertise

Troubleshooting

Communication skills

Organized professional

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT Systems or related field

Tools

Windows

Linux/UNIX

macOS

MDM tools

GPO

Endpoint security

Job description

The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:

Health and Life Insurance
Retirement Programs
Paid Tuition
13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
Professional Development Opportunities

From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

The University of South Carolina is committed to equal opportunity and proudly values the skills and experience military veterans bring to our workforce. Across South Carolina, we are making veterans a priority for employment and recognize their vital contributions to our state and our communities.

The University of South Carolina (USC), through the State of SC and Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA), offers employees a valuable benefits package, including health and life insurance, generous paid leave and retirement programs. To learn more about USC benefits, access the "Working at USC" section on the Applicant Portal at https://uscjobs.sc.edu. Research Grant or Time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some, or no benefits, based on the grant or project funding.

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law.

Position Description Advertised Job Summary Join the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing at the University of South Carolina as an IT System Administrator supporting the technology that enables teaching, research, administration, and outreach across the College. In this role, you will manage and support a diverse computing environment, work directly with faculty, staff, students, and researchers, and help develop secure, reliable, and scalable technology solutions. This position offers the opportunity to work with a wide range of technologies—including Windows, Linux/ UNIX , macOS, enterprise endpoint management, scripting, networking, and secure research computing—while collaborating across the College and University to solve challenging technical problems and support the College’s mission.

The IT System Administrator manages and supports technology for academic departments within the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing. You will provide hands‑on technical support and systems administration for faculty, staff, students, and researchers; manage computer hardware, software, and network resources; support secure research computing environments; and help translate diverse technology needs into reliable, standardized, and scalable solutions. The role also includes supervising and training student IT employees and collaborating with IT professionals across the College and University.

Key Responsibilities

Manage and support departmental IT systems, including computers, hardware, software, network resources, and technology lifecycles supporting teaching, research, and administration.
Partner with faculty, staff, students, and researchers to troubleshoot issues, provide technical guidance, and develop solutions that meet current and future technology needs.
Support secure research computing environments while meeting applicable security, regulatory, University, and College requirements.
Coordinate IT operations and supervise student technicians, including workload management, documentation, inventories, procedures, training, and customer communication.

What You’ll Bring

Broad technical expertise supporting Windows, Linux/ UNIX , and macOS environments, with experience in endpoint management, security, networking, and scripting or automation.
Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills with the ability to develop practical solutions for diverse teaching, research, and administrative technology needs.
Excellent communication and customer-service skills with the ability to build trusted relationships with faculty, staff, students, researchers, and IT colleagues.
An organized, self-directed professional who can manage multiple priorities, maintain strong documentation, learn evolving technologies, and translate organizational needs into standardized and scalable solutions.

Why Join Us?

Make a direct impact on teaching and research by supporting the technology used by faculty, students, and researchers across the College.
Work with diverse and challenging technology, from enterprise endpoint management and automation to research computing and secure environments.
Collaborate across MCEC and USC with IT professionals, faculty, researchers, and other University partners to solve meaningful technology problems.
Continue developing professionally through training, certifications, self-directed learning, and participation in IT communities of practice.

Perks of the University of South Carolina

Downtown COLA Location: Enjoy working in the heart of Columbia, SC, with easy access to vibrant city life, dining, and cultural events.
Energetic Leadership: Thrive under the guidance of an energetic and innovative leadership team dedicated to transforming IT at USC , making your role impactful and exciting.
Competitive Compensation: Some of the BEST benefits you can find!
Paid Tuition
Paid Parental Leave
Dependent Scholarships
State Benefits
State Retirement
Work-Life-Balance: Full-time pay with a 37.5 work week

(15 Paid Vacation Days, 15 Paid Sick Days, 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)

Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience

Requires job related accreditation from a technical school or an applicable skilled trades program and 4 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.

Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology Systems or related field, or an applicable skilled trades program, or equivalent experience.
Four years of experience in computer systems development, management, and modifications; computer lab management, or equivalent.
Experience working with student IT staff, IT operations, and IT project management .
Higher Education IT experience.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

Ability to support diverse research computing needs with custom and creative hardware, software, networking, and instrumentation solutions.
Proficiency in Microsoft server and desktop operating systems, Linux/ UNIX variants, and Macintosh OS; experience with MDM tools, GPO , and enterprise end device security.
Programming or scripting skills; strong analytical abilities for project planning and supervision.
Excellent organizational and technical writing skills for thorough documentation
Effective collaboration and communication.
Ability to present data and maintain detailed records; relationship management with users vendors, and employees.
Self-training to keep pace with evolving technology; and the ability to translate organizational needs into standardized, efficient, and scalable technology solutions.

Job Duties

Job Duty Design, install, configure, maintain, monitor, troubleshoot, and upgrade hardware and system software configurations in support of CEC departmental administrative, academic, and research missions. Manage hardware and software lifecycles; negotiate pricing and purchasing. Manage, troubleshoot, and verify user workstation backups and network services to user workstations. Comply with all pertinent information security requirements and standards as mandated by federal and state laws and regulations, as well as University and College policies and procedures. Comply with all pertinent information security requirements and standards as mandated by federal and state laws and regulations, as well as University and College policies and procedures. Failure in compliance will result in failing this job duty.

Job Duty Proactively partner with faculty, staff, and students to further university goals by providing technical assistance, troubleshooting, training, and consulting related to information technology services and resources. Assist users with issues and seek solutions to solve users’ technology needs. Build and manage positive relationships with faculty, staff, and students to best understand their diverse technology needs and implement information technology best practices that fit the current and future anticipated needs. Develop trust by being knowledgeable, dependable, and responsive. Observe and analyze business processes and advise where additions or changes to technology may provide increased efficiency, accuracy, or otherwise provide value or improve the existing process. Comply with all pertinent information security requirements and standards as mandated by federal and state laws and regulations, as well as University and College policies and procedures. Failure in compliance will result in failing this job duty.

Job Duty Use the enterprise IT ticket system to manage workload. Coordinate with other staff as needed to complete goals. Train and supervise student employees. Clearly communicate task steps and goals. Monitor task progress. Regularly provide updates on progress to supported users. Note and update tickets in enterprise IT ticket system to keep all staff informed of work in progress. Maintain physical space, tools, and equipment in IT offices to a reasonable standard of neatness and efficiency. Create and maintain related documentation, inventories, standard operating procedures, and training documents.

Job Duty Manage computers and computing resources in secure research environments. Understand the required regulatory frameworks for secure computing. Complete required trainings for secure computing. Assist faculty, staff, students, and researchers, manage, deploy and troubleshoot computer and computing resources issues in compliance with secure research needs and regulations.

Job Duty Obtain and maintain job training and certifications as required by job responsibilities.Self-train and maintain pace with rapidly changing technology as required. Participate in communities of practice.

Job Duty Perform additional duties as required.

Position Attributes

Employees in Safety‑Sensitive or Security‑Sensitive positions will be subject to pre-employment and post-employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR 1.95 Drug and Alcohol Testing.

Desired Start Date 10/15/2026

Job Open Date 10/07/2026 Job Close Date 10/14/2026 Open Until Filled No Special Instructions to Applicant

The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to: