System Administrator (VMS Administrator)

Black Fox; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Black Fox is seeking a Systems Administrator (VMS Administrator) to support the Wayne County Airport Authority’s security surveillance platform in Detroit, MI. The role focuses on Genetec Security Center administration, camera integration, and maintaining the VMS infrastructure on-site at DTW/YIP.

Responsibilities include configuring and troubleshooting the VMS and AXIS cameras, coordinating with cross-functional teams, and participating in after-hours support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level degree in CS/Eng/IT or related field.
• Alternate: Associate degree with 4+ years enterprise infra experience.
• Experience with enterprise VMS platforms (Genetec preferred).

Responsibilities

• Administer, configure, update, and troubleshoot Genetec Security Center VMS.
• Manage VMS architecture: Directory, Archiver, Media Gateway, database, recording.
• Monitor system health, storage, retention, and performance; address risks.
• Administer AXIS cameras and surveillance devices; integrate components.
• Maintain servers, SAN/NAS, SQL Server, and network connectivity.

Skills

Genetec Security Center

VMS Administration

Camera configuration

Troubleshooting

Security surveillance

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering/IT

Associate degree + 4+ years infra exp

Tools

AXIS cameras

Microsoft SQL Server

Windows Server

ServiceNow

Storage (SAN/NAS)

Job description

Position: Systems Administrator (VMS Administrator)

Employment Type: Full-Time Contract Position

Client: Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA) Technology Services

Work Location: On-site at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and/or Willow Run Airport (YIP), Michigan

Schedule: Five days per week, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; after-hours support and on-call rotation required

Engagement: Initial six-month assignment with the possibility of extension or hire

Scope of Work:

The Systems Administrator (VMS Administrator) provides on-site technical administration and engineering support for the Wayne County Airport Authority’s enterprise security surveillance platform serving Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and Willow Run Airport. The position is responsible for the implementation, configuration, operation, maintenance, performance, security, and troubleshooting of the Genetec Security Center video management system, connected AXIS cameras, and the physical and virtual server infrastructure that supports the environment. The Systems Administrator collaborates with WCAA Technology Services, cybersecurity, networking, server, public safety, facilities, project, and departmental stakeholders to maintain a secure, available, supportable, and well-documented surveillance capability.

Responsibilities:

• Administer, configure, update, maintain, and troubleshoot the Genetec Security Center enterprise video management system (VMS).
• Manage the VMS architecture, including Directory, Archiver, Media Gateway, failover, database, recording, and related application components.
• Monitor system availability, health, performance, event activity, video quality, storage capacity, recording status, and retention compliance. Identify emerging risks and take timely corrective action.
• Administer, configure, update, maintain, and troubleshoot AXIS cameras and other supported surveillance devices.
• Commission and integrate cameras, encoders, access-control devices, video analytics, and other security-system components into the VMS platform.
• Maintain and troubleshoot VMS infrastructure, including physical and virtual servers, storage area networks (SAN), network-attached storage (NAS), Microsoft SQL Server, operating systems, databases, and network connectivity.
• Diagnose and resolve video loss, degraded streams, recording failures, camera connectivity issues, authentication failures, storage constraints, and system-performance problems.
• Apply sound practices for video streaming, encryption, recording, retention, failover, resilience, and enterprise authentication.
• Maintain user accounts, roles, permissions, access controls, audit trails, and related records in accordance with WCAA policies and the principle of least privilege.
• Collaborate with server, network, cybersecurity, and application teams to define and satisfy infrastructure, connectivity, security, patching, backup, and recovery requirements.
• Provide technical assistance, implementation support, design input, and subject-matter expertise for security surveillance projects and system expansions.
• Review proposed designs and coverage plans; support camera placement, system sizing, storage planning, capacity analysis, and implementation readiness.
• Create and maintain current technical documentation, including architecture diagrams, configuration standards, operating procedures, troubleshooting guides, inventories, support records, and change documentation.
• Use the designated service-management or ticketing platform, such as ServiceNow, to record incidents, requests, changes, actions, resolutions, and knowledge articles.
• Provide VMS system training and technical guidance to WCAA departments, airport entities, administrators, operators, and other authorized users.
• Participate in after-hours support and an on-call rotation. Respond to incidents and operational needs within required service expectations.
• Coordinate with vendors and internal teams, communicate status and risks clearly, and perform related duties as directed.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field; or
• Associate degree in a related field plus at least four additional years of demonstrated enterprise infrastructure experience beyond the experience required under Minimum Experience.

Minimum Experience:

• At least two years of experience administering Genetec Security Center Enterprise or another enterprise VMS platform, such as Milestone, ExacqVision, or Intelli-Site/IntelliScene.
• At least two years of experience administering AXIS cameras or comparable enterprise camera platforms, such as Pelco or Bosch.
• At least two years of experience maintaining and troubleshooting VMS-related infrastructure, including physical and virtual servers, SAN, NAS, SQL Server, networking, and related components within a VMS environment.

Specific Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Advanced working knowledge of enterprise VMS administration, video-surveillance architecture, camera configuration, recording services, storage, failover, and system health monitoring.
• Strong understanding of video streaming, codecs, bandwidth, encryption, recording, retention, storage utilization, and performance optimization.
• Ability to troubleshoot VMS applications, camera and encoder connectivity, video loss, network communications, server services, databases, storage, authentication, and performance issues.
• Working knowledge of enterprise authentication and networking protocols used in VMS deployments, including directory services, role-based access, IP networking, and secure communications.
• Ability to administer user roles and permissions, maintain audit tracking, and protect security-sensitive information and systems.
• Ability to assess system architecture, analyze technical issues, isolate root causes, implement corrective actions, and document the resolution.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary infrastructure, networking, cybersecurity, engineering, facilities, public safety, and vendor teams.
• Ability to create clear technical documents and provide effective training to technical and nontechnical users.
• Familiarity with AutoCAD or comparable design and camera-coverage software is preferred.
• Experience using an enterprise ticketing or IT service-management platform, such as ServiceNow, is preferred.

Preferred Qualifications and Certifications:

• Experience commissioning and integrating cameras, encoders, access-control systems, analytics, and other security technologies into enterprise VMS platforms.
• Genetec Security Center 5.x Enterprise certification or equivalent current Genetec certification.
• AXIS Certified Professional credential or equivalent manufacturer certification.
• Experience supporting high-availability surveillance systems in airports, transportation facilities, public safety environments, or other mission-critical operations is highly valued.

Personal Attributes:

• Dependable and responsive professional who understands the operational importance of security-surveillance availability.
• Methodical troubleshooter who uses evidence, documentation, and disciplined testing to resolve technical issues.
• Able to work independently on-site while coordinating effectively with multiple technical and operational teams.
• Strong written, verbal, instructional, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage concurrent incidents, service requests, projects, and preventive-maintenance activities.
• Able to adapt to changing priorities, perform effectively under pressure, and support after-hours or on-call operational requirements.
• Committed to secure administration, accurate records, knowledge sharing, continuous learning, and high-quality client service.

Work Conditions and Availability:

• Must be available to work on-site five days per week during the established schedule.
• Must be available for after-hours support and participation in the on-call rotation.
• Must be able to work at DTW, YIP, and other WCAA locations as assignments require.

Compensation:

• Commensurate with education, certifications, experience, and the applicable contract labor category.