Systems Administrator I

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research; United States; Hybrid; USD 63,000 - 79,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Leave plans

Tuition assistance

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Paid holidays

Paid parental leave

Job summary

UCAR (University Corporation for Atmospheric Research) seeks a Research Computing Facilitation & User Support specialist to help scientists overcome IT obstacles and enable productive workflows. You will provide hands-on support across Windows and Mac environments and deliver high-touch user service.

You’ll collaborate with network and multimedia teams, automate routine tasks, assist with AI tools like Claude and Gemini, and develop self-help guides while ensuring accurate asset lifecycle

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a computer-related field or equivalent combination of education and relevant customer-facing IT experience.
• Hands-on technical support experience is required.
• Strong customer service and communication skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary liaison for NCAR labs, helping end users overcome IT obstacles.
• Maintain and optimize NRIT-managed Windows and Mac workstation environments.
• Provide minor AI onboarding and troubleshooting for Claude and Gemini.
• Create self-help guides and documentation for users.
• Attend NRIT meetings and represent the team in cross-functional groups.
• Assist with asset lifecycle management and inventory tracking.

Skills

Customer service

Windows administration

MacOS administration

AI tools (Claude, Gemini)

Technical support

Education

Bachelor’s degree in computer-related field

Equivalent combo of education & hands-on IT experience

Tools

Windows OS

Mac OS

Job description

Position Type: Regular Visa Sponsored Job: No Relocation Assistance Eligible: No Hiring Range: 63,290.00 USD - 79,120.00 USD *Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, and skills relevant to the role. Application Closes at 11:59 pm Mountain Time on: 2026-11-16

About The Role

Works as part of the Research Computing Facilitation group within NCAR Research IT, serving as a key partner dedicated to removing technical barriers so that scientists, researchers, and staff can focus on their research. This role provides hands‑on facilitation, system administration, maintenance, and troubleshooting for Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh environments across NCAR labs. While technical aptitude is essential, outstanding customer service, empathy, interpersonal communication, and a passion for enabling scientific workflows are paramount for this position—at times taking priority over purely technical depth. The position is also expected to assist end users with minor AI facilitation, providing foundational guidance and troubleshooting within enterprise AI tools like Claude and Gemini. The successful candidate will excel at building strong relationships with lab personnel, understanding their unique computing needs, and advocating for customer‑focused solutions that advance NCAR's scientific mission within a supportive team environment.

Job Description

Education Requirement: Bachelor’s degree in a computer‑related field; or equivalent combination of education and relevant customer‑facing IT experience (e.g., Associate’s degree and four years of hands‑on technical support experience).

Research Computing Facilitation & User Support

Serves as a primary liaison and direct point of contact for NCAR labs and employees, helping end users overcome IT obstacles to advance their scientific work. Delivers high‑touch in‑person, online, and telephone assistance using active listening, patience, and clear communication. Follows NRIT workflows to resolve issues reported through Service Desk and direct channels. Collaborates with partner technical teams (network engineers, multimedia support) to advocate for and deliver seamless user‑centric solutions.

Systems Maintenance & Automation

Assists in the ongoing maintenance and optimization of NRIT‑managed Windows and Mac workstation environments. Tasks include writing utility scripts to automate routine tasks, installing and upgrading operating systems and software, monitoring system performance to ensure dependable daily operations for lab personnel, maintaining pools of loaner equipment, organizing and maintaining our supply closets, viewing backend reports, and working with end users to ensure that our systems are up to date and backed up.

Scientific & AI Workflow Consultation

Partners directly with lab staff and researchers to understand their computing challenges, research new hardware/software tools, and define custom workstation setups tailored to their scientific requirements. Provides minor AI assistance to users, guiding them through basic onboarding, usage, and troubleshooting within organizational Claude and Gemini AI environments to support productivity and scientific tasks.

User Empowerment & Documentation

Empowers end users through ad‑hoc coaching and guidance on NRIT‑managed hardware, software, AI tools, and services. Creates and maintains accessible self‑help guides, documentation, and internal technical knowledge bases.

Meetings & Collaborative Committees

Attends check‑ins, technology demonstrations, and internal NRIT meetings. Represents NRIT and the Research Computing Facilitation group on org‑wide focus groups and committees, ensuring user needs are represented and bringing relevant insights back to the team.

Asset & Lifecycle Management

Assists with workstation hardware and software lifecycle management. Maintains accurate inventory records and collaborates with property administrators on equipment tracking to ensure smooth onboarding and offboarding for lab personnel.

Preferred Qualifications

Operates with a facilitation mindset, prioritizing user success, obstacle removal, and clear communication alongside technical problem resolution. Works with moderate supervision and manages multiple support requests and tasks effectively. Independently resolves individual software and hardware issues of moderate scope and complexity, escalating to senior team members when appropriate. Proposes enhancements to improve user experience, system efficiency, security, and performance across NRIT environments. Conducts testing and coordinates implementation steps with the team.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

Customer service skills in all areas of IT support, with a responsive and helpful attitude toward assisting scientific, administrative, and technical staff. Strong written and oral communication skills, including gathering details from issue reporters, creating clear technical documentation, and explaining technical concepts to non‑technical users in an accessible manner. Familiarity with enterprise AI tools (such as Claude and Gemini) to assist users with basic access, everyday usage questions, and routine troubleshooting. Knowledge of workstation administration in a Windows and/or Apple Macintosh environment. Foundational understanding of operating systems, networking, storage, and system component interoperability. Basic understanding of PC and/or Apple hardware, peripherals, and local storage, with the ability to set up, test, and troubleshoot workstation equipment. Ability to prioritize tasks, manage work queues, and meet deadlines within project plans. Good problem‑solving skills with a methodical approach to troubleshooting software and hardware issues. Ability to work effectively within a team environment, collaborating with colleagues across functional areas to support shared goals.

The successful candidate cannot be affiliated with the Chinese government or a Chinese‑owned company. For more information on this requirement, please see NASA PRC's FAQ for ROSES, appropriation law (Section 1340 of Public Law 112-10 and Section 539 of Public Law 112-55).

Application Requirements

Cover Letter, Questionnaire, Resume/CV.

Applicants selected for hire will complete background checks and/or federal screenings.

Benefits Overview

• health insurance
• dental
• retirement plan
• leave plans
• tuition assistance
• employee assistance programs: Medical, Dental, Vision, and Short & Long Term Disability Insurance
• Generous retirement plan - UCAR contributes of 10% of base salary
• Time Off Plans
• Minimum 20 days of annual PTO
• 10 paid holidays
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• FAMLI Leave
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer

Additional Information

UCAR is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes all applicants.

We do not discriminate based on race, age, sex, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

You don’t need to include age-related information, such as birth or graduation dates, in your initial application.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Colorado Anti‑Discrimination Act, or local laws.

A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on an employee.

Visa Sponsorship

UCAR can sponsor H-1B status only for candidates already in the U.S. who hold H-1B status or another status that allows a change to H-1B within the country. We cannot sponsor new H-1B visas that require consular processing abroad.

Compliance and Location

All roles must comply with U.S. export control regulations and work location requirements. Hybrid staff work on-site 3 days per week or equivalent, based on their flexible work arrangement. UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use

AI tools are permitted, but we strongly encourage candidates to submit primarily original work.

At NCAR - the National Center for Atmospheric Research - we study weather, water, climate, air quality, and space weather to help protect lives and livelihoods, grow the economy, and enhance our nation’s security and well‑being. We collaborate with research partners to advance the science that makes predictions better and with end users to develop applications for forecasters, farmers, resource managers, retailers, the military, and many other stakeholders. UCAR - the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research - manages NCAR on behalf of the National Science Foundation. We are a nonprofit consortium of more than 115 colleges and universities with research and training programs in Earth system science. We bring together the academic community and provide the operational management that are both essential to NCAR’s success. UCAR’s community programs, from educational resources to data delivery and other services, extend the reach and impact of NCAR’s world‑class research to the community and society. We seek talented people with diverse backgrounds, training, and skills to join us in our mission of science in service to society.

Want to learn more? Visit ucar.edu.