Systems Administrator (L3) - Rockford, IL

Valid8 Financial, Inc.; Rockford (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Valid8 Financial, Inc. is seeking a Technical Operations Specialist to administer Windows Server environments and manage Azure tenants. This role requires 4 to 6 years of systems administration in a multi-client environment, operating VMware or Microsoft Hyper-V clusters, and ensuring compliance with security standards.

Qualified candidates will possess strong technical skills, particularly in backup operations, network changes, and client communication. The position is full-time and onsite in Rockford, Illinois.

Qualifications

• 4 to 6 years of systems administration in a multi-client service delivery environment.
• Experience with Windows Server, VMware or Hyper-V, SAN technologies, and Veeam Backup.
• Ability to execute compliance controls like NIST standards.

Responsibilities

• Administer Windows Server environments and manage Azure tenants.
• Operate VMware or Microsoft Hyper-V clusters and backup operations.
• Communicate with clients and produce audit-ready documentation.

Skills

Windows Server operations

Virtualization operations

SAN / HCI storage operations

Backup operations

Network change at defined scope

Microsoft 365 and Azure administration

SQL Server operations

Compliance control execution

L2 escalation ownership

Multi-client service delivery

Education

4 to 6 years of systems administration experience

Tools

VMware vSphere

Microsoft Hyper-V

Veeam Backup and Replication

Active Directory

SQL Server

Job description

MSP4, LLC | Full-Time | Onsite (United States) | Up to 10% Regional Travel | 4 to 6 years experience

About the Role

This is a hands‑on operational role. You own the day‑to‑day administration of client infrastructure across a portfolio spanning professional services, manufacturing, distribution, legal, and government sectors. Environments range from roughly 50 to 1,500 users and carry real compliance weight: CMMC L2, NIST 800‑171, and SOC 2 are active requirements across this client base.

You implement, operate, and maintain within the framework set by the Principal Solutions Architect and the Senior Engineering team. Your work turns an approved design into a running, monitored, documented environment that passes audit: Windows Server, virtualization clusters, SAN and HCI storage, Veeam backup, Microsoft 365 and Azure tenants, and defined‑scope network change work. Design authority sits above your tier.

At the L3 tier, you sit between the L2 Field Support Technicians and Senior Infrastructure and Network Security Engineering. L2 escalations land with you; design questions and architecturally novel changes escape up from you. You own the outcome at the server and platform layer at your assigned locations and touch the client environment every day. This is a full onsite role at a client facility in your posted location, with regional coverage for nearby MSP4 clients where it applies.

What You Will Do

• Administer Windows Server environments: Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Group Policy, file and print services, and certificate services at an operational level.
• Operate VMware vSphere or Microsoft Hyper‑V clusters day to day: VM lifecycle, capacity monitoring, host patching, vMotion or Live Migration, HA and DRS behavior, and snapshot hygiene.
• Run SAN and HCI storage operations across NetApp, Pure Storage, Nutanix, or VMware vSAN: provisioning, volume and LUN changes, capacity monitoring, and health checks. Storage architecture sits with Senior Infrastructure Engineering.
• Operate Veeam Backup and Replication: job management, backup verification, restore execution, immutable repository and tape operations where applicable, and backup gap remediation.
• Execute network change at a defined scope: firewall rule adds and modifications against approved standards, VLAN configuration on managed switches, and switch port and access layer work. Routing, firewall architecture, and policy design sit with Senior Network Security Engineering.
• Administer Microsoft 365 and Azure tenants: identity, licensing, Intune policy application, Conditional Access within established standards, and baseline tenant hygiene.
• Perform operational SQL Server work in support of client ERP and line‑of‑business applications: installation, patching, version upgrades, backup coordination with Veeam, and baseline instance administration. DBA‑level query tuning, indexing, and application‑side schema sit with client DBAs or application vendors.
• Own L2 escalations: take the tickets that pass the endpoint and site layer, resolve within scope, or escalate cleanly to Senior Engineering.
• Apply STIG hardening and NIST 800‑171 control execution at the server layer in support of CMMC L2 and SOC 2.
• Communicate with clients on infrastructure work, change windows, and incident response, working with both technical contacts and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Produce documentation: change records, operational runbooks, and audit‑ready configuration records written so another engineer can operate the environment without asking you questions.
• Maintain ticketing discipline in a PSA or ITSM platform such as Jira Service Management, HaloPSA, ConnectWise, Autotask, or ServiceNow, keeping change records clean and audit‑ready.

Qualifications Matrix

• 1 – Windows Server operations (Technical): Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Group Policy, PKI basics, and file and print services with hands‑on operational fluency.
• 2 – Virtualization operations (Technical): Production VMware vSphere or Microsoft Hyper‑V host and cluster administration, VM lifecycle, patching, snapshot management, and HA/DRS behavior at an operator level.
• 3 – SAN / HCI storage operations (Technical): Provision, monitor, and resize across NetApp ONTAP, Pure Storage, Nutanix, or VMware vSAN, recognizing when a change exceeds scope.
• 4 – Backup operations (Technical): Veeam Backup and Replication job management, restores, repository management, and backup failure triage.
• 5 – Network change at defined scope (Technical): Firewall rule changes against an approved standard, VLAN configuration, and switch port and access layer work with clear escalation boundaries.
• 6 – Microsoft 365 and Azure administration (Technical): Production tenant administration including identity, licensing, Intune, and Conditional Access within established standards.
• 7 – SQL Server operations (Technical): Installation, patching, licensing awareness, backup coordination with Veeam, and baseline instance administration (not DBA‑level query tuning).
• 8 – Compliance control execution (Functional): STIG application and NIST 800‑171 control execution at the server layer to support CMMC L2 and SOC 2.
• 9 – L2 escalation ownership (Functional): Take tickets escalated from the endpoint and site layer, resolve within scope, and escalates cleanly to Senior Engineering when scope is exceeded.
• 10 – Multi‑client service delivery (Functional): Comfort context‑switching across clients and priorities throughout the day while holding to established standards.
• 11 – Ticketing discipline (Consulting): Clean, audit‑ready change records in a PSA or ITSM platform such as Jira Service Management, HaloPSA, ConnectWise, Autotask, or ServiceNow.
• 12 – Documentation discipline (Consulting): Change records, operational runbooks, and configuration records that another engineer can operate from without asking questions.
• 13 – Three‑way communication (Consulting): Works with non‑technical client stakeholders, L2 technicians below in the escalation path, and Senior Engineering above.
• 14 – Production experience (Credentials): 4 to 6 years of systems administration in a multi‑client service delivery environment.
• 15 – US‑person status (Credentials): US citizen, US national, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual (refugee or asylee) under US law. Required for CUI and export‑controlled system access under CMMC L2.
• 16 – Relevant certifications (Credentials): Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate (AZ‑104), Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate (AZ‑800/AZ‑801), VMware VCP, or Veeam VMCE. A plus, not a requirement.

Eligibility & Scoring

Required

• US‑based work location and US‑person status (matrix #15).
• 4 to 6 years of systems administration in a multi‑client service delivery environment (matrix #14).
• Production virtualization operations on VMware vSphere or Microsoft Hyper‑V (matrix #2).
• Working SAN or HCI storage operations on at least one named platform (matrix #3).
• Veeam Backup and Replication operational experience (matrix #4).
• Microsoft 365 and Azure tenant administration at a production level (matrix #6).
• Audit‑ready ticketing and documentation discipline (matrix #11, #12).

Preferred

• Defined‑scope network change experience: firewall rule changes, VLAN, and switch port work (matrix #5).
• Operational SQL Server experience in support of ERP and line‑of‑business applications (matrix #7).
• STIG and NIST 800‑171 control execution at the server layer (matrix #8).
• Prior L2‑to‑L3 escalation ownership in a tiered support model (matrix #9).
• Prior multi‑client or MSP service delivery experience (matrix #10).
• Certifications: AZ‑104, AZ‑800/AZ‑801, VMware VCP, or Veeam VMCE (matrix #16).

Core Competencies

• Executes within the framework: Operates against what exists, flags what does not, and proposes improvements within scope; pushes back when something is wrong without redesigning on personal preference.
• Knows the escalation boundary: Resolves L2 escalations within the L3 scope and escalates architecturally novel changes up cleanly, with the boundary stated rather than guessed.
• Operational reliability: Keeps assigned environments running, monitored, and patched, and closes the gap between a well‑designed system and a well‑run one.
• Documentation discipline: Leaves behind audit‑ready change records and runbooks that let another engineer operate the environment unaided.
• Three‑way communication: Communicates clearly with non‑technical client stakeholders, with L2 technicians below, and with Senior Engineering above, across same‑day context switches between clients.

How We Work

MSP4 does not operate like a traditional IT department or a ticket‑centric help desk. We function as embedded IT leadership for our clients, accountable to their outcomes.

Our Principal Solutions Architect owns the design framework. Engineers at every level, including senior, execute within that framework. The tier structure keeps a multi‑client portfolio consistent and audit‑ready. Candidates who need design authority to feel effective should pass on this role. Candidates who find satisfaction in high‑quality execution and in earning client trust through reliability will do well here.

We are building the operating model in real time. Some processes are documented; others are being written as we go. People here help shape what does not yet exist while executing reliably within what does.

About MSP4

MSP4, LLC provides infrastructure, security, and IT advisory services to mid‑market professional services, manufacturing, distribution, legal, and government clients across the United States. Our commercial practice and regulated practice serve organizations with serious compliance requirements including SOC 2 Type II and CMMC Level 2.

• Full onsite at a client facility in your posted location, within the United States, with regional coverage for nearby MSP4 clients where it applies.
• Up to 10% regional travel.
• US‑based work location and US‑person status required. Work authorization alone (work visa, OPT/CPT, or EAD) does not qualify; see Eligibility & Scoring for the full definition.
• Extended periods at a computer performing configuration, operations, and documentation work; regular hands‑on work in client server rooms and data closets.

Equal Opportunity Statement

MSP4, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.