Systems and Network Administrator

The Lamplighter School; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Lamplighter School is seeking a Systems and Network Administrator to manage the school’s core technology infrastructure, including servers, networks, backups, and endpoint management. You will work closely with the CIO to support projects, lifecycle planning, and infrastructure improvements for the Pre‑K–4 environment.

Ideal candidates have 5+ years of hands-on IT experience in education or similar environments, strong knowledge of Windows/Linux, virtualization, and security practices, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field is preferred.
• Minimum of five years of hands-on systems, network, or infrastructure administration experience in a production environment.
• Demonstrated experience administering Windows 11 endpoints, Windows Server, Active Directory, and Linux systems.
• Experience with enterprise virtualization platforms, such as XenServer, Hyper‑V, or VMware vSphere.
• Experience administering enterprise storage, backup, and recovery systems.

Responsibilities

• Administers Windows and Linux servers, hypervisors, and virtual machines, including patching, monitoring, configuration, troubleshooting, and routine maintenance.
• Monitors systems and services for availability, performance, and security; diagnoses outages and coordinates escalation with vendors.
• Administers and maintains the School's network infrastructure, including Cisco switches, wireless networking, VLANs, and firewall configuration.
• Provisions, configures, secures, and manages faculty, staff, and student endpoints (Macs and iPads) using MDM.
• Provides advanced technical support for faculty and staff and supports classroom and event audiovisual systems.
• Maintains backup and recovery procedures and participates in disaster recovery planning.

Skills

System administration

Networking

Security practices

Scripting with PowerShell

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT/CS/IS

Tools

Windows Server

Linux

VMware vSphere

Active Directory

Google Workspace

SonicWall firewall

MDM platforms

Job description

All Jobs > Systems and Network Administrator

The Systems and Network Administrator is responsible for the administration, maintenance, security, and reliability of the School's core technology infrastructure, endpoints, and technology services. This position administers server and virtualization systems, backup and storage solutions, network and firewall infrastructure, endpoint management and security, and audiovisual systems. The role also provides advanced technical support and backup Help Desk coverage and serves as a backup administrator for cloud, disaster recovery, and communications systems. Working closely with the Chief Information Officer (CIO), the Systems and Network Administrator supports technology projects, lifecycle planning, and infrastructure improvements in alignment with the School's mission.

Job Responsibilities:

Systems Administration and Infrastructure

• Administers Windows and Linux servers, hypervisors, and virtual machines, including patching, monitoring, configuration, troubleshooting, and routine maintenance.
• Administers enterprise backup and storage systems, including backup jobs, schedules, retention policies, monitoring, troubleshooting, restoration operations, and regular verification and testing of recoverability.
• Monitors systems and services for availability, performance, and security; diagnoses and resolves outages and complex technical issues; and coordinates escalation with vendors and service providers as needed.

Network Administration and Security

• Administers and maintains the School's network infrastructure, including Cisco switches, wireless networking, VLANs, core network services, Internet connectivity, and SonicWall firewall configuration and security.
• Maintains and strengthens infrastructure security through secure configuration, patching, access controls, vulnerability remediation, and logging, in coordination with the CIO on cybersecurity priorities and incident response.
• Administers endpoint detection and response (EDR) and related endpoint security tools, including monitoring and responding to alerts, performing remediation, and maintaining appropriate security policies and exclusions.

Endpoint and Device Management

• Provisions, configures, secures, and manages faculty, staff, and student endpoints, primarily Macs and iPads, using mobile device management (MDM) platforms.
• Manages device enrollment, configuration profiles, applications, operating system updates, security software, inventory, and device lifecycle processes.

Technical Support and Audiovisual Services

• Provides advanced Tier 2 and Tier 3 technical support for faculty and staff and serves as an escalation resource for the Help Desk. Provides Tier 1 support coverage as needed and delivers responsive, courteous, and effective technical support to faculty, staff, and students.
• Administers and supports classroom, meeting, and event audiovisual systems, including technology setup, operation, and troubleshooting for meetings, presentations, and School events as needed.

Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity

• Supports disaster recovery and business continuity readiness, including maintaining backup and recovery procedures, documenting processes, testing recovery capabilities, and restoring critical systems and services as needed.
• Assists with disaster recovery planning and testing to support the availability and recoverability of essential technology services.

Cloud, Identity, and Communications Administration

• Serves as a backup administrator for Active Directory, Google Workspace, and telephony systems, assisting with account management, access controls, configuration, troubleshooting, and service administration as needed.

Documentation and Technology Lifecycle Management

• Maintains accurate technical documentation, inventories, configuration records, operating procedures, and diagrams for systems, network infrastructure, backups, and disaster recovery.
• Works with the CIO to evaluate infrastructure and endpoint needs, plan upgrades and replacements, coordinate vendors, and implement technology projects that support the School's Pre‑K–4 environment and mission.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field is preferred.
• An equivalent combination of education, technical training, and relevant professional experience will be considered.

Required Experience

• Minimum of five years of hands‑on systems, network, or infrastructure administration experience in a production environment.
• Demonstrated experience administering Windows 11 endpoints, Windows Server, Active Directory, and Linux systems.
• Experience with enterprise virtualization platforms, such as XenServer, Hyper‑V, or VMware vSphere.
• Experience administering enterprise storage, backup, and recovery systems.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with Cisco enterprise switching and wireless networking and SonicWall firewalls. Equivalent experience with comparable enterprise networking and firewall platforms will be considered.
• Experience managing Apple endpoints through an enterprise Mobile Device Management (MDM) platform.
• Experience administering endpoint security and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools.
• Experience working in a school or other educational environment.

Job Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Strong practical knowledge of enterprise networking, including VLANs, switching, routing, DNS, DHCP, wireless networking, firewalls, and network troubleshooting.
• Strong systems administration and troubleshooting skills across Windows 11, Windows Server, Linux, virtualization, storage, backup and recovery, networking, and endpoint environments.
• Working knowledge of cybersecurity best practices, including secure configuration, least privilege, patch and vulnerability management, endpoint protection, logging, and incident response.
• Scripting and automation experience, particularly with PowerShell, shell scripting, and other administrative automation tools, is preferred.

Problem‑Solving and Operational Skills

• Ability to diagnose complex technical issues methodically, identify root causes, and restore services efficiently while minimizing disruption to school operations.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, routine operational responsibilities, and projects through effective planning, documentation, and follow‑through.
• Ability to work independently, take ownership of systems and technical issues, and determine when escalation or external expertise is necessary.

Communication and Customer Service

• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical issues to users, colleagues, and vendors with varying levels of technical knowledge.
• Strong customer‑service orientation, discretion, sound judgment, and patience when supporting faculty and staff with varying levels of technical experience.

Teamwork and Institutional Commitment

• Commitment to supporting the School's mission and working collaboratively within a small technology team and the broader Pre‑K–4 community.

Work Schedule Requirements

• Availability to work some evenings and weekends to support maintenance, upgrades, emergencies, and projects that cannot be completed during the school day.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, grasp, push, pull, move, lift, and/or carry technology equipment weighing up to 50 pounds to waist height.