Sr IT Systems Administrator

Cognizant; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 63,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance

Paid holidays + PTO

401(k) plan and contributions

Disability insurance (Long-term/Short/

Parental Leave

Job summary

Cognizant is seeking a Senior IT Systems Administrator in Long Beach, CA to oversee server, cloud, network, and end-user computing infrastructure. You will lead upgrades, security, and automation efforts while ensuring uptime and performance.

The role requires 7+ years in systems administration, expertise in Windows Server, AD/GP, M365, and ITSM tooling like ServiceNow. Collaboration with cross-functional teams and strong incident escalation are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required or equivalent in IT/CS/Engineering.
• 7+ years of experience in Systems Administration or Infrastructure Support roles.
• Relevant certifications preferred: Microsoft Azure Administrator, Microsoft 365 Administrator, ITIL Foundation, VMware VCP, CompTIA Server+ or Network+

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Windows Server Administration

Active Directory & Group Policy

Microsoft 365 Administration

DNS, DHCP, TCP/IP

ITIL Processes

Advanced Troubleshooting Skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field

Tools

VMware

Hyper-V

ServiceNow

Job description

Job Role:

Senior IT Systems Administrator

Location: Long Beach,CA

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.

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+

Salary and Other Compensation

The annual salary for this position is between $63,000 to $74,000 yearly depending on experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant’s applicable plans.

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.