Systems Administrator Lead

Diamondback Energy, Inc.; Dallas, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Diamondback Energy in Dallas, TX seeks a Lead Systems Administrator to guide the enterprise infrastructure architecture, design, and lifecycle management across on‑premises and cloud environments.

You will drive security, governance, and modernization initiatives, mentor IT staff, and partner with stakeholders to evaluate emerging technologies while ensuring SOX compliance, disaster recovery readiness, and scalable operations.

Qualifications

• Minimum of ten years IT infrastructure and systems administration experience or eight years plus a Bachelor's degree.
• Experience leading enterprise infrastructure initiatives and technical teams.
• Advanced knowledge of virtualization, storage, cloud, identity, backup, and disaster recovery technologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, architecture, and lifecycle management of enterprise infrastructure solutions across on-premises and cloud environments.
• Develop infrastructure standards, governance frameworks, roadmaps, and best practices that support business and technology objectives.
• Serve as the senior technical escalation point for complex infrastructure, cloud, virtualization, storage, and identity-related issues.
• Lead infrastructure modernization initiatives, including cloud adoption, automation, security enhancements, and platform optimization.
• Ensure infrastructure systems are secure, scalable, resilient, and aligned with cybersecurity, compliance, and operational requirements.
• Partner with IT leadership and business stakeholders to evaluate emerging technologies and recommend strategic investments.
• Oversee major infrastructure projects, upgrades, migrations, and vendor-delivered solutions from planning through implementation.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to Systems Administrators, Engineers, Help Desk personnel, and other IT team members.
• Manage vendor relationships, technology evaluations, service performance, and infrastructure-related contractual engagements.
• Maintain infrastructure documentation, architecture standards, operational procedures, and compliance evidence, including SOX requirements.

Skills

Virtualization

Cloud architectures

Azure

Microsoft 365

Zero Trust

Security governance

SOX compliance

ITIL

Disaster recovery

Networking

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

VMware

Terraform

PowerShell

Azure AD

Job description

The Lead Systems Administrator serves as a technical leader responsible for the architecture, design, implementation, security, and lifecycle management of Diamondback's enterprise infrastructure environment. This role provides strategic direction for on-premises and cloud technologies while ensuring infrastructure platforms remain secure, scalable, reliable, and aligned with business objectives.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead the design, architecture, and lifecycle management of enterprise infrastructure solutions across on-premises and cloud environments
• Develop infrastructure standards, governance frameworks, roadmaps, and best practices that support business and technology objectives
• Serve as the senior technical escalation point for complex infrastructure, cloud, virtualization, storage, and identity-related issues
• Lead infrastructure modernization initiatives, including cloud adoption, automation, security enhancements, and platform optimization
• Ensure infrastructure systems are secure, scalable, resilient, and aligned with cybersecurity, compliance, and operational requirements
• Partner with IT leadership and business stakeholders to evaluate emerging technologies and recommend strategic investments
• Oversee major infrastructure projects, upgrades, migrations, and vendor-delivered solutions from planning through implementation
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to Systems Administrators, Engineers, Help Desk personnel, and other IT team members
• Manage vendor relationships, technology evaluations, service performance, and infrastructure-related contractual engagements
• Maintain infrastructure documentation, architecture standards, operational procedures, and compliance evidence, including SOX requirements

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of ten (10) years of IT infrastructure and systems administration experience or eight (8) years plus a Bachelor's degree
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise infrastructure initiatives and technical teams.
• Advanced knowledge of virtualization, storage, cloud, identity, backup, and disaster recovery technologies
• Strong experience with Azure, Microsoft 365, hybrid cloud architecture, and infrastructure security
• Experience developing infrastructure standards, roadmaps, and governance processes
• Familiarity with SOX compliance, ITIL frameworks, and service management best practices
• Strong understanding of Zero Trust principles and enterprise cybersecurity controls
• Working knowledge of networking, systems integration, and infrastructure architecture best practices

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the oil and gas industry
• Demonstrated experience mentoring or leading technical teams without direct supervisory authority
• Experience developing infrastructure strategy and multi-year technology roadmaps
• Experience leading cloud transformation, automation, or data center modernization initiatives
• Relevant certifications such as Azure Administrator, Azure Solutions Architect, VMware, CISSP, or similar

Diamondback is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Diamondback provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, veteran or disability status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other status protected by law.

Diamondback participates in E-Verify.

Diamondback Energy is an independent oil and natural gas company headquartered in Midland, Texas focused on the acquisition, development, exploration, and exploitation of unconventional, onshore oil and natural gas reserves in the Permian Basin in West Texas.