IT Systems Administrator

cu; Colorado Springs (CO); Hybrid; USD 63,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Time Off

Health Coverage

Retirement plans

Tuition assistance

Wellness programs

Compensation calculator

Job summary

University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) seeks an IT Systems Administrator to manage VMware and Linux environments, assist with workstation issues, and maintain system integrity. The role supports senior admins, builds automation with Ansible, and helps with research-related systems.

The position emphasizes hybrid work in Colorado Springs, with growth opportunities in security, HPC, and cloud tooling, including Azure/AWS/GCP familiarity.

Qualifications

• Requires Bachelor’s degree in CS/IT/engineering or year-for-year experience substitution.
• Experience supporting Ansible, Chef, Salt, or Puppet.
• Familiarity with monitoring tools (Zabbix, Nagios, Grafana, Icinga, PRTG) and cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP).
• Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) or equivalent is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Configure Linux and Windows servers as part of the VMware/Linux environment.
• Collaborate with senior staff for systems management and AD integration.
• Manage VMware vSphere clusters and ESXi hosts; maintain Linux/VMware install base.
• Develop and run Ansible playbooks and bash scripts for maintenance.
• Provide second/third level support from IT Help Desk and document all work.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, engineering, or a related field

Tools

Ansible

Chef

Salt

Puppet

Zabbix

Nagios

Grafana

Icinga

PRTG

Active Directory

Azure

AWS

GCP

RHCSA

Job description

IT Professional/ IT Systems Administrator

The Office of Information Technology

Elevate Your Career at UCCS: Innovate, Inspire, and Impact in the Rockies!

Who We Are

University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is a premier educational institution that prides itself on academic excellence, research, and community engagement and is actively seeking an IT Systems Administrator to join our team! UCCS is committed to academic excellence, professional development, and fostering an environment that supports innovation and student success.

At the base of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs is captivated by its stunning landscapes, making it a paradise for nature lovers. This city is more than its scenery—a mosaic of history, arts, and a vibrant tech scene. We invite you to join a community that cherishes outdoor adventure as much as forward-thinking growth, an exceptional setting for both career and lifestyle.

Salary Range

$62,856 - $81,105 annually. Compensation will be commensurate upon experience and qualifications. This position is Exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime provisions.

Work Location

Hybrid

Benefits at a Glance

At UCCS, our employees are our most valued asset. We're proud to offer:

• Generous Time Off: Enjoy 22 vacation days, 10 sick days, paid parental leave, 13 recognized holidays, and provisions for bereavement, jury duty, and FAMLI Leave.
• Robust Health Coverage: Our comprehensive medical plans cover preventative care at no cost, including a yearly mental health visit. Plus, benefit from affordable dental, vision plans, and competitive prescription drug prices.
• Financial & Retirement Benefits: Take advantage of our health savings, flexible spending accounts, and life and disability insurance. Plan for your future with our retirement options.
• Further Your Education: Avail twelve (12) waived credits per academic year for courses at any CU campus. We invest in your educational and professional growth.
• Wellness & More: From wellness programs aimed at achieving your best self to various additional benefits through CU Advantage, we prioritize well-being and holistic development.
• Want to know your total compensation? Use our calculator to get the complete picture!

Summary

This position primarily supports the VMware and Linux server/workstation environment. This position is responsible for monitoring of systems and applications, assisting with client workstation issues, maintaining system and account integrity, and supporting senior system administrators with tasks related to system performance, network issues, and system configuration.

Essential Functions

The duties and responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

Systems Administration (50%)

• Configuring Linux and Windows servers.
• Collaborate with and support senior staff and administrators in overall systems management.
• Assist with configuration and integration of other technology into an Active Directory domain environment.
• Assist with administration of Red Hat (CentOS, Stream, Fedora, Alma, Rocky) servers on VMware, bare metal, and containers.
• Assist with administration of VMware vSphere clusters and ESXi hosts.
• Perform Maintenance and troubleshooting on existing Linux and VMware install base.
• Perform and assist with software installs using automation tools.
• Write Ansible playbooks and bash scripts for system maintenance.

Monitoring and Incident response (30%)

• Perform basic security auditing of system architecture.
• Support senior system administrators with security configuration and security incidents.
• Proactive monitor systems for performance issues using native and third party tools.
• Monitoring ticketing system for escalations.
• Provide second and third level support for ticket escalations from the IT Help Desk.
• Escalate support tickets when necessary and seek guidance from senior administrators/staff.

Research (10%)

• Work with senior administrators to manage and monitor slurm and HPC jobs.
• Help faculty and students use research related systems.
• Work on incidents related to research-based systems.

Administrative (10%)

• Document all work completed.
• Track project milestones, deliverables, and documentation to ensure timely completion.
• Train users on systems.

Tentative Search Timeline

• Priority will be given to applications submitted by: Sunday, October 11, 2026 at 11:59pm.
• Potential interview dates: October 19, 2026 - November 5, 2026.
• Potential start date: December 1, 2026.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

In accordance with the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, UCCS does not discriminate based on sex in our employment or compensation practices.

• To be considered for this role, you must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, engineering, or a related field or year-for-year experience will be considered as a substitution for the degree.
• We require experience supporting Ansible, Chef, Salt, or Puppet. You will be using Ansible for this position.
• Experience with or working knowledge of Zabbix, Nagios, Grafana, Icinga, PRTG is required.
• Expeirence learning and applying new skills in cloud technologies such as Azure, AWS, GCP, or other providers is preferred
• Network+, Security+, or Linux+ certifications are highly desirable
• The ideal candidate has a Red Hat Certified System Administrator RHCSA certificationetwork+, Security+, or Linux+ certifications are highly desirable

All employees of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) are required to complete training on policies and procedures administered by the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE), under the supervision of the Associate Vice Chancellor of Institutional Equity/Title IX Coordinator. Required training includes: understanding and reporting conduct prohibited by the sexual misconduct, protected class nondiscrimination, and conflicts of interest in cases of amorous relationships policies, related retaliation, and compliance with accommodations regarding disability, pregnancy or related conditions, and religion. All employees are also designated as responsible employees and are required to report conduct prohibited under these policies, and student disclosures of pregnancy or related conditions directly to the OIE and to provide OIE’s contact information to any student disclosing pregnancy or related conditions. More information is available at: Policies and Resolution Procedures | Office of Institutional Equity (uccs.edu).

Note: This job description outlines this role’s general responsibilities, qualifications, and physical requirements at UCCS. It is not an exhaustive list of all required duties, responsibilities, and qualifications. The university reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and responsibilities as needed to meet the university’s needs.

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs has implemented a misconduct history check program with respect to final candidates for specific appointments. The misconduct history check program is intended to allow UCCS to collect and review information about a candidate's conduct at their previous institutions, specifically conduct related to sexual misconduct, harassment, and/or discrimination – before making hiring decisions. All final candidates to these appointments are required to complete an Authorization to Release Information and provide contact information for their previous institutions.