Windows System Administrator

UW-Madison College of Engineering; Madison (WI); Hybrid; USD 77,000 - 104,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Engineering is seeking a Systems Engineer II to support Windows deployments, endpoints, and core CAE tooling. You will work with the Windows system administrator and DSPs to enable enterprise deployments across instruction and research, maintaining reliability for teaching and outreach.

Responsibilities include operating Windows services, gathering data for service improvements, and collaborating in CAE teams to deliver secure, scalable IT

Qualifications

• Strong Windows 11 and Windows Server administration, including AD, GPOs and domain-joined systems.
• Experience managing Windows endpoint lifecycle: imaging, provisioning, patching, deployment, and retirement.
• Proficient with Configuration Manager infrastructure and OS deployment task sequences.
• PowerShell scripting and automation skills for desktop computing improvements.

Responsibilities

• Identify strategic tech and architectural needs and suggest improvements.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues on Windows systems, networks, and apps per policies.
• Design, install, and maintain automation, hardware, and related equipment per specs.
• Plan system logistics, upgrades, and security procedures.
• Document deployments, upgrades, and changes for stakeholders.
• Install and manage firewall rules, access controls, and user accounts.
• Act as SME and main liaison for clients, staff, and vendors.

Skills

Windows administration

Active Directory

Configuration Manager

PowerShell scripting

Endpoint lifecycle

OS deployment

Security & policy enforcement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science / IT or related field

Tools

Microsoft Configuration Manager (MCM)

Azure

Intune

Citrix XenApp / XenDesktop

Papercut (printing)

Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Job Category:

Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

System Engineer II

Job Summary:

Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) is the primary team supporting information technology in the College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. We are responsible for college-wide networks and systems that support all teaching, learning, research, and outreach for the college. This is a technical support specialist position in the CAE working with the primary Windows system administrator and College of Engineering Departmental Support staff (DSPs) to implement the core tooling to enable Windows deployments in a variety of areas, including administration, instruction, and research.

Principle Duties include:

• Support infrastructure for Endpoint Management
• Help operate and maintain Windows systems and services to support instruction
• Gather data, analyze, and make plans to improve Windows support services
• Participate in peer groups and seek professional development

Remote Work Eligibility:

• This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location. The anticipated hybrid work schedule will be up to two days remote, with 3 days onsite after an initial training period which will require working 5 days on site.

Additional Information:

• Applicants for this position will be considered for the Systems Engineer II, Systems Engineer III, and Systems Engineer IV titles. The title and compensation is determined by the experience and qualifications of the finalist
• Additional information regarding this position can be found here: https://www.cae.wisc.edu/about/college-of-engineering-windows-system-administrator-position/
• Please be aware that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their continuous eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. This position is an ongoing position that will require continuous work eligibility. If you are selected for this position you would have to provide proof of work authorization and eligibility to work.
• The College of Engineering is not an E-Verify employer and therefore we cannot accept F-1 OPT STEM Extensions for employment eligibility.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Identifies strategic technological and architectural needs and makes recommendations for improvement
• Identifies, troubleshoots, researches, and resolves issues on unique systems, platforms, networks, and applications to ensure system security, confidentiality compatibility, and functionality according to policies, procedures, and regulations
• Designs, installs, configures tests, and maintains strategically significant and unprecedented automation, hardware, and associated equipment according to customer specifications to meet unit objectives
• Plans and coordinates system logistics, workflows, upgrades, and system security and affiliated procedures
• Documents and disseminates deployed systems, system upgrades, or changes to the appropriate entities according to established policies and procedures
• Installs firewalls, host and client access mechanisms, permissions, and user accounts
• Serves as a subject matter expert, unit liaison, and main point of contact for clients, staff, leadership, and vendors

Department:

College of Engineering, Computer Aided Engineering

Compensation:

The starting salary for the position is $90,000, but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.

Required Qualifications:

• Strong knowledge of Windows 11 and Windows Server administration, including operating system architecture, configuration, security, troubleshooting, and enterprise deployment. Strong understanding of Active Directory, including organizational units, security groups, Group Policy, computer accounts, authentication, and domain-joined Windows systems.
• Experience managing Windows endpoint lifecycle operations, including imaging, provisioning, configuration, software deployment, patching, security configuration, troubleshooting, and retirement.
• Microsoft Configuration Manager (MCM) skills:
  • configuring, and maintaining Configuration Manager infrastructure - understand site architecture, distribution points, boundaries, boundary groups, management points, and content distribution.
  • Creating and managing device collections, user collections, queries, and deployments.
  • Developing and maintaining Windows operating system deployment (OSD) task sequences.
  • Managing Windows feature updates and operating system upgrades.
  • Creating and maintaining application packages, applications, deployment types, requirements, dependencies, and detection methods.
  • Troubleshooting issues using logs and diagnostic tools.
  • Strong PowerShell scripting and automation skills,
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively on a team of CAE staff to improve desktop computing
  • Ability to analyze and prioritize requests for support

Preferred Qualifications:

• Extensive years of professional experience administering Microsoft Windows desktop and endpoint environments, preferably in a large, complex, or higher education
• Experience with managed printing services, such as Papercut
• Familiarity with Citrix Virtual Apps (XenApp) and Citrix Virtual Desktops (XenDesktop) or similar products
• Experience with Azure and Intune
• Experience in a large, complex, or higher education environment

Education:

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field (or equivalent experience) preferred

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.