System Administrator

The System Administrator is responsible for the administration security and reliability of discrete infrastructure systems and services that support ASPIREs research engineering and datadriven activities. This role ensures the availability integrity and confidentiality of research computing environments while supporting specialized research systems experimental hardware and advanced computing workloads.

Working closely with the Director of Intelligent Systems & Security the System Administrator supports systemwide network security access control and data continuity efforts. The role serves as a key technical resource for information security compliance and research infrastructure operations and provides Tier 2/3 support beyond standard university IT services. The System Administrator also holds oncall and escalation responsibilities to maintain network and system functionality and to respond to security or infrastructure incidents.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. U.S. Work Authorization is required for the duration of employment.

1. Information Security & Compliance

• Security Architecture: Design and implement secure network segments for research labs ensuring isolation of sensitive equipment (e.g. servers testbeds) from public networks.
• Vulnerability Management: Perform regular vulnerability scans patch management and system hardening for all servers and workstations.
• Compliance: Lead efforts to align ASPIREs IT infrastructure with federal security frameworks (e.g. NIST 800-171 CMMC) where applicable for grant compliance.
• Access Control: Manage identity and access management (IAM) policies ensuring Least Privilege access to research data and shared storage.
• Incident Response: Serve as the primary point of contact for security incidents coordinating with the Universitys Central Information Security Office (ISO).

2. Research Computing & Infrastructure Operations

• Foundation Support: Provide specialized IT support for engineering laboratories including interfacing computers with experimental hardware data acquisition systems and GPU clusters for AI/ML workloads.
• Systems Administration: Manage Linux and Windows server environments virtualization platforms (e.g. VMware/Proxmox) and storage solutions (NAS/SAN) dedicated to research data.
• Data Lifecycle Management: Architect robust backup and disaster recovery solutions for critical data ensuring integrity and availability.
• Asset Management: Maintain an accurate inventory of IT assets software licenses and hardware lifecycles.

3. User Support & Liaison

• Technical Support: Provide Tier 2/3 support to faculty staff and graduate students for complex technical issues that go beyond standard helpdesk scope.
• Onboarding: Securely provision devices and accounts for new researchers and students; conduct offboarding to ensure data retention and access revocation.
• Liaison: Act as the technical liaison between ASPIRE and the Universitys Central IT department advocating for ASPIREs unique research needs.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree.
• 25 years of systems administration or infrastructure experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters Degree.
• CompTIA Security Linux or Microsoft/Linux administration certifications.
• Cloud platform certifications (AWS Azure GCP).
• Experience in systems administration infrastructure operations or information security in an enterprise research or regulated environment.
• Demonstrated experience administering Linux and Windows server environments including system hardening patching and performance monitoring.
• Handson experience with network security including segmentation firewalls access controls and secure lab or research environments.
• Experience supporting research or engineering computing systems including systems interfacing with experimental hardware data acquisition platforms or specialized workloads.
• Experience providing Tier 2/3 technical support troubleshooting complex infrastructure and security issues beyond standard helpdesk scope.
• Strong documentation and communication skills including the ability to prepare procedures inventories and compliancerelated materials.
• Experience implementing or maintaining security controls aligned with federal or industry frameworks such as NIST SP 800171 CMMC or similar compliance standards.
• Proven experience with vulnerability management including vulnerability scanning patch management and system hardening.
• Understanding of data lifecycle management including secure backups disaster recovery and data continuity planning.
• Experience administering virtualized environments (e.g. VMware Proxmox or similar).
• Experience managing storage solutions such as NAS/SAN systems used for research or highvalue data.
• Exposure to GPUenabled systems highperformance computing or AI/ML workloads is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in asset management including tracking hardware lifecycles licenses and configurations.
• Experience provisioning and deprovisioning systems and accounts while ensuring secure onboarding and offboarding.
• Experience working in a federally funded grantdriven or universityaffiliated research environment.
• Familiarity with research data protection requirements and handling of sensitive or exportcontrolled information.

Along with the online application please attach:

• Resume/CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under Resume/CV

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants but not necessarily occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms and may lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

The Utah State University ASPIRE Foundation is advancing the future of electrified transportation by translating worldclass research into realworld infrastructure planning and deployment solutions. Created out of a nationally recognized Utah State University research program ASPIRE builds on a strong foundation that includes a prestigious National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center award along with sustained engagement through federal grants state programs and privatesector partnerships. Since its formation ASPIRE has grown significantly in scale and scope supporting projects and collaborations internationally.

ASPIRE Foundation serves as the implementation and coordination hub for work that extends beyond academic research. The organization brings together professional staff university partners industry collaborators utilities and public agencies to address systemlevel challenges such as charging infrastructure development power and grid integration corridorscale planning and technology demonstration and deployments. ASPIRE is known for its ability to integrate technical analysis planning and realworld testing to move concepts to reality and tackle challenges for deployable solutions.

With an experienced professional team and deep university and industry relationships ASPIRE Foundation operates as a trusted technical partner within the intelligent electrified transportation ecosystem. Its work emphasizes rigor collaboration and practical outcomessupporting infrastructure readiness workforce development and longterm system resilience. Joining ASPIRE offers team members the opportunity to help shape infrastructure and energy systems and contribute to complex and interdisciplinary efforts that will shape the next generation of mobility.

Founded in 1888 Utah State University is Utahs premier land-grant public service university. As an R1 research institution Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local regional and global communities. USU prepares students to be active civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education USU remains a leader in research discovery and public impact.

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