System Administrator - SSRL

Abundance Network; Menlo Park (CA); On-site; USD 128,000 - 147,000; Full time

Job summary

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is seeking a Systems Administrator to join the SSRL Computer Operations group. The role centers on storage, virtualization, and server administration across Linux, Windows, and hybrid environments.

Responsibilities include implementing security controls, managing backups, and supporting VM provisioning while coordinating with cross‑division teams. A BA/BS plus 5 years of experience is required for this regular position at a premier national laboratory.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 5 years of relevant system administration experience.
• Experience with multi-system platforms and multiple vendors.
• Proficiency in Windows and Linux operating systems.
• Solid networking knowledge: TCP/IP, DNS, LAN/WAN, firewalls.
• LDAP/Active Directory administration and remote access tools.

Responsibilities

• Configure and maintain NAS and SAN storage systems.
• Provision physical and virtual systems across Linux and Windows.
• Perform hypervisor administration for VM management.
• Configure storage, datastores, and network settings for virtual systems.
• Apply patches and firmware updates; monitor performance and optimize resources.
• Implement cyber security and compliance measures.
• Manage user accounts, security groups, and access permissions.
• Maintain backup and disaster recovery systems for data integrity.
• Capacity planning by analyzing data usage trends.
• Troubleshoot hardware/software failures and document configurations.
• Participate in cross-division operations meetings.

Skills

Windows OS

Linux distributions

TCP/IP networking

LDAP/Active Directory

Shell/command line

Security best practices

VM/hypervisor management

Storage management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science / related field

Tools

VMware

NAS/SAN

Windows Server

Linux virtualization

Job description

Position overview:

Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) is a national scientific user facility and a Directorate of the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.SSRL operates an electron accelerator servicing approximately 30 x-ray and ultraviolet beamlines to support research in microelectronics, energy storage, biological and medical sciences, Earth science, and materials science. Each beamline is tailored to specific experimental techniques that probe the structure and function of matter from atomic to millimeter scales and across time scales spanning many orders of magnitude. This diversity requires a wide range of instrumentation, sample environment controls, and data acquisition approaches.

SSRL is seeking a skilled Systems Administrator to be part of this dynamic scientific research environment. This position is within the SSRL Computer Operations group.The team manages IT and OT infrastructure for accelerator operations and beamline data acquisition and control systems.This position will support system administration efforts across a complex environment spanning multiple platforms.Key focus areas include storage, virtualization, and server administration for both standalone and unified computing environments.

Your specific roles and responsibilities include:

• Configure and maintain Network-Attached Storage (NAS) and Storage Area Networks (SAN) systems.
• Provision physical and virtual systems for various Linux distributions and Windows operating systems.
• Perform hypervisor administration to support virtual machine (VM) management.
• Configure storage, datastores, and network settings for virtual systems.
• Maintain systems by applying necessary patches and firmware updates accordingly.
• Monitor and optimize performance for storage systems, virtualized environments and physical servers to ensure availability, reliability and resource efficiency.
• Implement cyber security and compliance measures.
• Create and manage user accounts, security groups, and access permissions.
• Maintain and optimize backup and disaster recovery systems to ensure data integrity for operational continuity.
• Assist with storage capacity planning by analyzing data usage trends.
• Troubleshoot and resolve hardware and software failures.
• Document system architecture, configurations and procedures.
• Participate in cross-division operations meetings to coordinate support and maintenance efforts.

To be successful in this position you will bring:

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer information systems, computer engineering, or related field and 5 years of relevant experience in system administration.
• Experience with complex multi-system platforms and vendors.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Windows operating systems and various Linux distributions.
• Sufficient networking knowledge of TCP/IP, DNS, LAN switching, WAN routing, and firewalls.
• Ability to take initiative independently while maintaining broad communication with team members.
• Advanced knowledge of security trends, best practices, and security protocols.
• Knowledge and understanding of remote access tools and applications.
• Shell/command line capabilities via Windows and Linux distributions.
• Experience with LDAP and Active Directory
• Ability to identify and manage priorities.
• Demonstrate strong conceptual, logical, and critical thinking skills.
• In-depth understanding of data center infrastructure that includes HVAC and electrical systems.

SLAC employee competencies:

• Effective Decisions: Uses job knowledge and solid judgment to make quality decisions in a timely manner.
• Self-Development: Pursues a variety of avenues and opportunities to continue learning and developing.
• Dependability: Demonstrates dependability by consistently delivering results and taking personal responsibility for outcomes.
• Initiative: Pursues work and interactions proactively with optimism, positive energy, and motivation to move things forward.
• Adaptability: Flexes as needed when change occurs, maintains an open outlook while adjusting and accommodating changes.
• Communication: Ensures effective communication across diverse audiences through clear, concise written, verbal and presentation delivery.
• Relationships: Builds relationships to foster trust, collaboration, and a positive climate to achieve common goals.

Physical requirements and Working conditions:

• Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.

Work standards:

• Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
• Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for environment, safety, and security; communicates related concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned. Meets the applicable roles and responsibilities as described in the ESH Manual, Chapter 1 General Policy and Responsibilities: http://www-group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/eshmanual/pdfs/ESHch01.pdf
• Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, https://adminguide.stanford.edu
• As a national laboratory, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is responsible for adhering to the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which require employees to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Credential. To obtain this credential, employees must successfully complete the applicable tier of federal background investigation post hire and receive a favorable federal adjudication. The tier of federal background investigation will be determined by job duties and national security or public trust responsibilities associated with the job. All tiers of investigation include a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last 1 to 7 years (depending on the applicable tier of investigation). Illegal drug activities include marijuana and cannabis derivatives

• Classification Title: System Administrator 2
• Job code: 4832 Grade: I
• Duration: Regular continuing

The expected pay range for this position is $127,716 - $147,437 per annum.

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory/Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the university reasonably expects to pay for a position upon hire. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

At SLAC/Stanford, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package.