Sr IT Systems Administrator

Cognizant; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance

Paid holidays and PTO

401(k) plan

Disability insurance

Paid Parental Leave

Job summary

The Senior IT Systems Administrator role at Cognizant oversees administration, maintenance, and optimization of server, cloud, and end-user computing infrastructure to ensure security, stability, and availability of business-critical systems.

The position leads deployments, upgrades, and incident response, coordinating with cross-functional technology teams and guiding automation initiatives within Cognizant’s CIS Practice.

Qualifications

• Experience administering Windows Server environments.
• Experience with Active Directory and Group Policy.
• Microsoft 365 administration and services.
• Experience with DNS, DHCP, and TCP/IP.
• Virtualization experience (VMware/Hyper-V).
• Proficient in system monitoring and performance tuning.
• Familiar with ITIL processes and ITSM tooling.
• Experience with ServiceNow or similar ITSM platform.
• Advanced troubleshooting and incident escalation.

Responsibilities

• Administer and maintain Windows Server environments.
• Manage Active Directory, Group Policy, DNS, DHCP, and identity services.
• Configure, monitor, and troubleshoot enterprise infrastructure systems.
• Perform server provisioning, patching, upgrades, and decommissioning.
• Ensure system availability, reliability, and performance.
• Administer Microsoft 365 services including Exchange Online, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive.
• Support user provisioning and mailbox administration.
• Troubleshoot collaboration and messaging platform issues.
• Monitor infrastructure health with enterprise tools.
• Plan capacity and perform performance tuning.
• Support datacenter operations and hardware installations.
• Coordinate with network, security, and server teams on activities.

Skills

Windows Server

AD & Group Policy

Microsoft 365

DNS & DHCP

TCP/IP

VMware/Hyper-V

Monitoring/Performance

ITIL Processes

ServiceNow/ITSM

Advanced Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's Degree in IT/CS/Engineering

Azure Administrator

Microsoft 365 Administrator

ITIL Foundation

VMware VCP

CompTIA Server+ / Network+

Tools

Intune

SCCM

ServiceNow

Hyper-V

VMware

Job description

Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without sponsorship. Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future.

The Senior IT Systems Administrator is responsible for the administration, maintenance, optimization, and support of the organization's server, cloud, network, and end-user computing infrastructure. The role ensures the stability, security, and availability of business-critical systems while providing advanced technical support and leadership for infrastructure operations. This position will lead troubleshooting activities, manage system upgrades and deployments, support security and compliance initiatives, and collaborate with cross-functional technology teams. The Senior Systems Administrator serves as an escalation point for complex infrastructure issues and contributes to infrastructure modernization and automation initiatives.

About Cognizant’s CIS Practice:

Cognizant’s CIS (Cognizant Infrastructure Services) Practice is a global leader in providing IT infrastructure services. We deliver innovative solutions to optimize and transform IT infrastructure, ensuring business agility and operational efficiency. Our services include cloud computing, data center management, network services, and cybersecurity. We focus on understanding client needs and delivering customized solutions to drive business success.

What you’ll do in the role:

• Administer and maintain Windows Server environments
• Manage Active Directory, Group Policy, DNS, DHCP, and identity management services.
• Configure, monitor, and troubleshoot enterprise infrastructure systems.
• Perform server provisioning, patching, upgrades, and decommissioning activities.
• Ensure system availability, reliability, and performance.
• Administer Microsoft 365 services, incl Exchange Online, Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive.
• Support user provisioning, access management, and mailbox administration.
• Troubleshoot collaboration and messaging platform issues.
• Monitor infrastructure health using enterprise monitoring tools.
• Perform capacity planning and performance tuning.
• Support datacenter operations, hardware installations, and infrastructure maintenance.
• Coordinate with network, security, and server teams during planned and unplanned activities.

• Provide Level 3 support for desktops, laptops, mobile devices, printers, and workplace technologies.
• Administer endpoint management platforms such as Intune and SCCM.
• Support operating system deployments and patch management.
• Manage software packaging and distribution.

• Act as an escalation point for complex technical incidents.
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement permanent corrective actions.
• Participate in change management reviews and CAB meetings.
• Ensure infrastructure changes follow governance and compliance standards.

• Implement security hardening and vulnerability remediation activities.
• Support audit and compliance requirements.
• Manage privileged access, security groups, and access controls.

What you’ll need to succeed:

• Windows Server Administration
• Active Directory & Group Policy
• Microsoft 365 Administration
• DNS, DHCP, TCP/IP
• VMware / Hyper-V
• Server Monitoring & Performance Management
• ITIL Processes
• ServiceNow or equivalent ITSM platforms
• Advanced Troubleshooting Skills

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience in Systems Administration or Infrastructure Support roles.
• Relevant certifications preferred:
  • Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator
  • Microsoft 365 Administrator
  • ITIL Foundation
  • VMware VCP
  • CompTIA Server+ or Network+

Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
• Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off
• 401(k) plan and contributions
• Long-term/Short-term Disability
• Paid Parental Leave

Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.