Director of System Engineering (Higher Education)
Job Description
The Director of Systems Engineering leads the systems team, which includes Systems Engineers, a managed service provider that supports systems operations, DevOps engineers, the Campus Safety Services technical staff, and ascribes to the information technology teamwork spirit, customer service orientation, and best-in-class technology service focus. The position is responsible for managing, planning, and directing a modern, reliable, secure, and scalable systems environment, dividing its focus roughly equally between day-to-day operational oversight and the engineering of new projects and implementations. The Director of Systems Engineering will provide supervision and guidance to staff to ensure appropriate workload and assignment of operational tasks, provide leadership in the evaluation, implementation, and adoption of new technologies and services, and work in collaboration across other IT and academic departments.
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Key Responsibilities:
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Min/Preferred Education Level Description
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Preferred 4 Year / Bachelors Degree Information Technology, Computer Science,
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Engineering, Information Systems, or related.
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Education: 4-year bachelor's degree in computer science, Engineering, Information Systems, or Information Technology, or equivalent experience. Minimum of 7 years of experience.
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Preferred Certifications: Certifications are preferred, not required, and no candidate is expected to hold all of them. Credentials relevant to WPI's technology stack include:
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• Windows Server: Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Administrator Associate (Exam AZ-802), or the
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predecessor Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate (Exams AZ-800 and AZ-801).
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• Cloud platforms: Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) or Azure Solutions Architect
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Expert (AZ-305); AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate or AWS Certified Solutions Architect.
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• Red Hat Enterprise Linux: Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA, EX200) or Red Hat Certified
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Engineer (RHCE); the Red Hat Certified Specialist in Deployment and Systems Management (EX403)
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additionally covers Red Hat Satellite.
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• Nutanix: Nutanix Certified Professional - Multicloud Infrastructure (NCP-MCI), or Nutanix Certified Master -
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Multicloud Infrastructure (NCM-MCI).
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• NetApp: NetApp Certified Data Administrator, ONTAP (NCDA), or a NetApp Certified Implementation
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Engineer (NCIE) specialty such as Data Protection or SAN.
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• Rubrik: Rubrik Certified System Administrator (RCSA).
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Skills and Competencies:
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• Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to develop and retain technical staff.
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• Excellent strategic thinking and planning abilities.
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• Deep understanding of server, storage, virtualization, and cloud computing technologies across both
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Windows and Linux environments.
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• Working knowledge of the middleware layer supporting enterprise applications, including database platforms,
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web services, and load balancing.
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• Ability to direct DevOps and automation resources against strategic requirements set by the Assistant CTO.
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• Knowledge of physical access control, video surveillance, and emergency communications systems.
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• Strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities, including the ability to serve as a senior escalation
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point during major incidents.
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• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
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• Experience developing and managing operating and capital budgets and negotiating with vendors.