Systems Engineer

Virginia Tech; Blacksburg (SC); On-site; USD 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA seeks a Systems Engineer to deploy, maintain, and optimize core IT infrastructure supporting library services. You will work closely with the Director of IT Operations and the resident engineer to manage the full system lifecycle from requirements to monitoring.

Ideal candidates have a strong Linux background, scripting skills, and experience with Git CI/CD workflows, plus collaborative, service‑oriented communication with staff and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, information science, related field, or equivalent experience in systems administration
• Proficiency with Linux-based operating systems, networking, security, and performance management
• Proficiency with Git in a collaborative environment, including PRs, code reviews, and CI/CD
• Scripting experience for automation and integration with APIs and data workflows

Responsibilities

• Deploy, maintain, and optimize core IT infrastructure for library services and initiatives
• Manage full system lifecycle from requirements analysis to provisioning, configuration, and monitoring
• Collaborate with the resident engineer and stakeholders including non-technical staff
• Apply security practices and virtualization approaches to the computing environments

Skills

Linux administration

Git workflows

Automation scripting

team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/CE/IS or related field

Tools

Git

CI/CD pipelines

Docker

Splunk

Job description

Job Description

Operating within a lean, agile IT team in the University Libraries, this role serves as a systems engineer responsible for the deployment, maintenance, and technical optimization of core IT infrastructure and computing environments in support of library services and initiatives. Reporting to the Director of IT Operations, the successful candidate will work directly alongside our resident engineer to manage the full system lifecycle, from initial requirements analysis and hardware/software provisioning to active configuration management and system monitoring. This role is well suited for an early career candidate or an academically trained graduate who wants immediate, hands‑on administration of network architecture, system virtualization, and security protocols.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, information science, related field, or a Bachelor's of an alternate discipline supplemented by equivalent professional experience directly relevant to systems administration
• Demonstrated working knowledge of administering Linux-based operating systems, including networking, security practices, and system performance management, as demonstrated through professional experience, academic coursework, or applied projects
• Proficiency with version control workflows using Git in a collaborative environment, including branching strategies, pull requests, code review, and integration with CI/CD pipelines in team-based projects
• Demonstrated experience with scripting in languages for automation and systems integration. Evidence may include development of scripts or small utilities that automate system administration tasks, interact with APIs, or support data or metadata processing workflows
• Must possess a collaborative approach to team operations, characterized by a willingness to share routine technical tasks, a receptive attitude toward constructive engineering feedback, and a patient demeanor when interfacing with project stakeholders and non-technical staff

Preferred Qualifications

• Conceptual or hands‑on familiarity with cloud storage services (e.g., AWS S3, Glacier)
• Working knowledge of automation concepts (such as CI/CD frameworks, GitLab CI, or Infrastructure as Code), as evidenced by academic coursework, open-source contributions, or hands‑on projects
• Foundational understanding of centralized logging and system monitoring platforms (e.g., Splunk or equivalent open‑source tooling) to support proactive troubleshooting
• Conceptual or hands‑on familiarity with network‑attached/distributed storage platforms (e.g., TrueNAS, Ceph)
• Exposure to deploying containerized workloads using Docker (Dockerfiles, Compose) validated through academic projects or personal home labs

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

$80,000 minimum dependent on qualifications and experience

Hours per week

40

Review Date

11/03/2026

Additional Information

Must be legally authorized to work in the United States on your first day of employment without sponsorship from Virginia Tech.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands‑on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem‑solvers. A comprehensive land‑grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Rebecca Osborne at [e-mail] during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.