Mac Systems Administrator

Carnegie Mellon SEI; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 95,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Carnegie Mellon SEI is seeking a Mac Systems Administrator to manage, secure, and improve our macOS environment with a focus on Jamf, automation, and device lifecycle management for researchers, developers, and technical users.

You will work independently and with IT teams to deploy, harden, and maintain macOS platforms, lead new services, and implement IaC and CI/CD practices while ensuring security governance and regulatory alignment.

Qualifications

• Experience administering macOS in an enterprise environment.
• Experience with Jamf Pro and Apple device management.
• Knowledge of macOS security: endpoint protection, encryption, patching.
• Experience integrating macOS in heterogeneous environments.
• Scripting with Bash, Python, or zsh to automate tasks.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving for hardware/software/auth/connectivity.
• Able to work independently and with IT teams and researchers.

Responsibilities

• Install, maintain, and configure macOS systems for reliability and security.
• Integrate macOS within a heterogeneous enterprise environment for developers.
• Provide tier 3 support for IT Services technologies.
• Lead projects on new services and deployments.
• Diagnose and resolve complex end-user hardware and software issues.
• Train, document, and provide consulting for applications and services.

Skills

macOS administration

Security practices

Troubleshooting

Scripting (Bash/Python/Zsh)

Documentation

Communication

Independent worker

Tools

Jamf Pro

Apple School Manager

Microsoft Intune

Ansible

Terraform

YAML/JSON

Job description

About the role

The Mac Systems Administrator is responsible for managing, securing, and improving our macOS and Apple environment, with a focus on Jamf, automation, and device lifecycle management. You'll help build and maintain a reliable, secure platform that integrates with our broader IT infrastructure and supports the needs of researchers, developers, and other technical users.

We're looking for a curious, motivated problem-solver who takes ownership of their work and enjoys learning new technologies. You'll work independently and collaborate with IT teams and researchers to solve technical challenges, improve how we manage our systems, and keep our macOS environment secure and running smoothly.

What You'll Do

Systems Administration

• Install, maintain, and configure macOS systems to ensure a reliable and secure platform.
• Integrate and support macOS systems within a heterogeneous enterprise environment while supporting developer-focused technologies and workflows.
• Provide tier 3 support for IT Services technologies, collaborating with systems administrators and engineers to resolve issues.
• Lead projects on new services and deployments.
• Diagnose and resolve complex end-user hardware and software issues.
• Train, document, and provide consulting for applications and services provided.

Automation & Infrastructure as Code

• Use automation concepts and experience with scripting languages to streamline tasks and improve operational efficiency.
• Leverage Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC), configuration management, and CI/CD practices.
• Manage configuration and deployment changes using Git-based workflows.
• Solve complex problems and drive automation using modern DevOps practices.

Security & Governance

• Implement and maintain macOS security controls, including system hardening, endpoint protection, encryption, vulnerability management, and configuration compliance.
• Ensure macOS systems comply with organizational security policies and applicable regulatory frameworks.
• Manage macOS identity and access controls, including integration with enterprise authentication.

Who You Are

You are committed to delivering a secure, reliable, and well-managed macOS environment. You take ownership of the platform throughout its lifecycle and are comfortable integrating macOS with enterprise technologies while supporting developers, researchers, and technical users.

You are a proactive problem-solver who values automation and operational efficiency. You work collaboratively across IT teams, communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences, and understand the importance of making technology work for the people who depend on it.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Experience administering, configuring, deploying, and supporting macOS systems in an enterprise environment.
• Experience with Apple device management platforms such as Jamf Pro, Apple School Manager, or Microsoft Intune.
• Working knowledge of macOS security practices, including endpoint protection, encryption, system hardening, patch management, and vulnerability remediation.
• Experience integrating and supporting macOS systems in heterogeneous environments.
• Experience using scripting languages such as Bash, Python, or zsh to automate administrative tasks and improve efficiency.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, including diagnosing complex hardware, software, authentication, and connectivity issues.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with IT teams, developers, researchers, and other technical users.
• Strong communication and documentation skills, with the ability to explain technical issues to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting macOS systems in development, research, or other technically demanding environments.
• Understanding of Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC), configuration management, and automation tools such as Ansible, Terraform, and APIs.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Entra ID and other Microsoft 365 technologies.
• Experience with cloud infrastructures like Azure and AWS
• Familiarity with Git-based workflows, CI/CD concepts, and configuration files using YAML and JSON.
• Understanding of security and compliance frameworks, including NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC.

Additional Requirements

• Participate in a rotating on-call schedule and occasionally work evenings or weekends to support critical services and scheduled maintenance.
• Respond remotely to service outages within 30 minutes and, when necessary, report on-site to the local SEI facility within 60 minutes, barring extreme adverse conditions.
• Travel between SEI and CMU facilities as required, with occasional travel to other SEI locations, conferences, and off-site meetings.

Who we are :

The SEI helps advance software engineering principles and practices and serves as a national resource in software engineering, computer security, and process improvement. The SEI works closely with defense and government organizations, industry