Systems Engineer/Dell Compute, Everpure Storage, Windows Server & VMware vSphere (IT Services)

Charles River Associates - Private; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) match

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Paid time off

Paid parental leave

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Charles River Associates (CRA) is seeking a Systems Engineer to design, build, and support CRA’s core infrastructure across on‑premises and public cloud. You will work with Dell PowerEdge, Everpure storage, Windows Server, and VMware vSphere, while integrating services into Azure and other cloud platforms in a hybrid environment.

The role partners with network, security, and application teams to ensure reliability, security, and disaster recovery readiness.

Qualifications

• Dell PowerEdge deployment and lifecycle experience (iDRAC/OpenManage)
• Everpure storage provisioning, snapshots, replication, performance troubleshooting
• Windows Server administration including AD/Entra, DNS, DHCP, GPO, patching and hardening
• Ability to translate technical and business requirements into design solutions
• VMware vSphere production experience; VCP preferred
• Public cloud deployment/support (Azure preferred; AWS a plus) with networking and identity
• PowerShell scripting (PowerCLI a plus) to automate tasks
• Familiarity with DR tools and testing (SRM/ASR)
• Strong cross-functional communication and teamwork
• Ability to document and standardize runbooks and handle multiple priorities

Responsibilities

• Deploy, configure, and maintain Dell PowerEdge servers across their lifecycle
• Administer Everpure storage arrays, including provisioning and replication
• Build, patch, and harden Windows Server; support AD/Entra, DNS, DHCP, GPO
• Manage VMware vCenter/ESXi clusters, capacity planning and upgrades
• Deploy workloads in public cloud (Azure preferred) with governance and security
• Maintain monitoring, incident response, and runbooks
• Support disaster recovery readiness and DR testing
• Collaborate with infrastructure, network, cloud, security, and application teams
• Participate in on-call rotations and escalation
• Own engineering-led evaluation of challenges

Skills

Dell PowerEdge

Windows Server Admin

PowerShell scripting

Public Cloud (Azure)

VMware vSphere

Cloud governance & security

DR/ASR/SRM tools

Cross-functional collaboration

Runbooks documentation

Requirements analysis

Education

VCP certification

Tools

Everpure Storage

Job description

About Charles River Associates

Charles River Associates is a leading global consulting firm that provides economic, financial, and business management expertise to major law firms, corporations and governments around the world. CRA advises clients on economic and financial matters pertaining to litigation and regulatory proceedings, and guides corporations through critical business strategy and performance-related issues. Since 1965, clients have engaged CRA for its combination of industry experience and rigorous, fact-based analysis that provide clients with clear, implementable solutions to complex business concerns.

Position Overview

The Information Technology (ITS) team at CRA is currently a Global team of 40 professionals dedicated to enhancing, maintaining, and developing the firm’s technology infrastructure and security. The team is comprised of four functions: Service Delivery & Telecom, Enterprise Application Solutions, Infrastructure, Networking and Cloud Services and Security. Information Technology staff are based in the Boston, Chicago, London, Munich, New York, Oakland, and Washington, DC offices. Mainly a Microsoft house, CRA is looking to maximize the performance of our on-premise systems and hybrid infrastructure, meaning experience with cloud technologies is essential for this role.

The Systems Engineer designs, builds, and supports CRA’s core infrastructure across on-premises and public cloud environments. This role focuses on Dell compute, Everpure storage, Windows Server, and VMware vSphere, and on extending and integrating services into public cloud. The Systems Engineer partners closely with network, security, application, and service delivery teams to keep systems reliable, secure, well-documented, and current, and supports disaster recovery readiness as part of broader operational resilience. The Systems Engineer is a broad and varied role which provides a fantastic opportunity to develop existing skillsets and get hands‑on experience with new technologies in a fast‑paced production environment. Typical Systems Engineer responsibilities include:

• Dell Compute: Deploy, configure, and maintain Dell PowerEdge servers across their lifecycle, including firmware, BIOS, and driver updates through iDRAC and OpenManage, hardware health monitoring, and vendor support coordination.
• Everpure Storage: Administer Everpure storage arrays, including volume and host provisioning, capacity and performance management, snapshot policies, replication, and upgrades.
• Windows Server: Build, configure, patch, and harden Windows Server systems; support Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Group Policy, and file services; automate routine tasks with PowerShell.
• VMware vSphere: Manage vCenter, ESXi hosts, clusters, HA/DRS, templates, and the virtual machine lifecycle; plan capacity and perform host upgrades and patching.
• Public Cloud: Deploy and support workloads in public cloud (Azure preferred), including compute, storage, networking, and identity integration, applying governance, security, and cost-management best practices across the hybrid environment.
• Monitoring & Operations: Maintain monitoring, alerting, and dashboards for infrastructure platforms; participate in incident response and root cause analysis; document and standardize runbooks and operational procedures.
• Disaster Recovery Support: Support DR readiness for infrastructure services by maintaining recovery runbooks and dependency information and participating in periodic tabletop and technical recovery tests.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work day-to-day with infrastructure, network, cloud, security, and application teams to improve operational excellence and shared ownership of production outcomes.
• On-call rotation as an escalation during service outages.
• Own the evaluation of challenges from an engineering perspective.

Desired Qualifications

• Hands-on experience deploying and maintaining Dell PowerEdge servers, including iDRAC, OpenManage, and firmware lifecycle management.
• Experience administering Everpure (or comparable enterprise all-flash) storage, including provisioning, snapshots, replication, and performance troubleshooting
• Strong Windows Server administration skills, including Active Directory/Entra, DNS, DHCP, Group Policy, patching, and server hardening.
• Ability to interpret technical and business requirements to build designs for providing solutions.
• Solid experience with VMware vSphere (vCenter, ESXi, clustering, HA/DRS) in a production enterprise environment. VCP certification is preferred.
• Experience deploying and supporting workloads in public cloud (Azure preferred; AWS a plus), including networking, identity, and hybrid connectivity.
• Scripting and automation experience with PowerShell (PowerCLI a plus) to reduce manual effort and improve consistency.
• Familiarity with disaster recovery tools and practices, including VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM) and Azure Site Recovery (ASR), and participation in recovery testing.
• Strong cross-functional communication and teamwork skills; comfortable partnering with engineering, security, and operations teams to drive shared outcomes.
• Ability to document and standardize operational procedures (runbooks), participate in on-call rotations, and manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment.

Career Growth and Benefits

• CRA’s robust skills development programs, encompassing both formal and informal programs, encourage you to thrive as an individual and team member. Beginning with research and analysis skill building, training continues with technical training, presentation skills, internal seminars, and career mentoring and performance coaching from an assigned senior colleague. Additional leadership and collaboration opportunities exist through internal firm development activities.
• We offer a comprehensive total rewards program including a superior benefits package,wellness programming to support physical, mental, emotional and financial well-being, and in-house immigration support for foreign nationals and international business travelers.

Work Location Flexibility

CRA creates a work environment that enables our colleagues to benefit from being together in the office to best deliver on our promise of career growth, mentorship and inclusivity. At the same time, we recognize that individuals realize a range of benefits when working from home periodically. We currently expect that individuals spend at least 3 to 4 days a week working in the office (which may include traveling to another CRA office), with specific days determined in coordination with your practice or team.

Our Commitment to Equal Employment Opportunity

Charles River Associates is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Salary and other compensation

A good-faith estimate of the annual base salary range for this position is $100,000 - $125,000. Stating pay within this range may vary based on factors such as education level, experience, skills, geographic location, market conditions, and other qualifications of the successful candidate. This position may be eligible for additional bonus incentive compensation.

CRA offers a comprehensive benefits package, subject to eligibility requirements, which may include: medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) retirement plan with employer match; life and disability insurance; paid time off (vacation, sick leave, holidays); paid parental leave; wellness programs and employee assistance resources; and commuter benefits.