Associate System Engineer

The Associate Systems Engineer is a technical role responsible for supporting monitoring documenting troubleshooting and improving systems used by the Philadelphia Department of Prisons. This position is intended for a motivated IT professional who wants to grow in systems engineering scripting task automation application support infrastructure operations monitoring and process improvement.

The successful candidate should have strong troubleshooting instincts curiosity professionalism and the ability to learn new systems quickly. The Associate Systems Engineer will work with senior technical staff to support Microsoft Windows Server environments application platforms scheduled jobs automation scripts monitoring systems system integrations and escalated technical support needs.

This role may benefit from the thoughtful use of AI tools to support research assist in reading or writing code explore solution options draft technical notes and improve workflow efficiency. When used these tools should complement existing engineering skills and judgment not replace them.

This position is a strong fit for someone with experience in IT support systems administration scripting help desk escalation application support infrastructure support or technical troubleshooting who has experience with or is willing to learn Python PowerShell task automation and system scripting.

Essential Functions

The Associate Systems Engineer will:

Monitor and support departmental systems applications scheduled jobs reports interfaces file transfers automation processes and integrations.

Troubleshoot technical issues related to Windows servers applications user access reports network connectivity file permissions scheduled tasks scripts and automated processes.

Review system health job status log files alerts dashboards scheduled tasks and error messages to identify issues and recommend next steps.

Assist with reporting exports data review and operational support tasks using approved City tools and platforms.

Support scheduled scripts task automation data imports data exports file transfers and integrations between internal and external systems.

Assist with the development maintenance testing and documentation of automation scripts using tools such as PowerShell Python batch scripting Windows Task Scheduler or similar automation platforms.

Support routine system administration tasks in Windows Server environments including service checks scheduled tasks event logs application configuration file shares and permissions.

Assist with account access group membership permissions reviews and role-based access control in coordination with Active Directory and established data access procedures.

Assist with report updates dashboard support operational validation recurring support tasks and process improvement efforts.

Create update and maintain technical documentation standard operating procedures troubleshooting guides job schedules system inventories and support notes.

Assist with testing system changes patches application updates report updates database changes and process improvements prior to implementation.

Support vendor coordination including issue research log collection testing documentation and communication of technical findings.

Provide technical support to MIS staff help desk staff business users vendors and other City technology teams.

Participate in troubleshooting calls vendor meetings system reviews project discussions and operational planning as needed.

Escalate complex issues to senior staff while clearly documenting symptoms troubleshooting steps business impact and recommended next actions.

Learn the operations data reporting needs policies procedures and business processes of the Philadelphia Department of Prisons.

Maintain a professional and service-oriented approach when supporting public safety operations staff and technology stakeholders.

Utilize AI tools to support troubleshooting research code exploration or documentation while checking any output as part of normal technical validation.

Qualifications :

Recent graduates in STEM technical certificate/s military technical training or equivalent experience in information technology computer science information systems cybersecurity data analytics or a related field.

Professional experience in IT support systems administration desktop support help desk escalation application support scripting task automation infrastructure support or a similar technical role.

Experience troubleshooting technical issues in a professional academic military internship lab homelab or self-directed learning environment.

Demonstrated interest in systems engineering scripting task automation infrastructure support cloud DevOps monitoring cybersecurity or application support.

Experience or interest in using AIassisted tools to support scripting documentation or problemsolving is a plus but not required.

Competencies Knowledge Skills and Abilities

Candidates should have knowledge experience or demonstrated ability in several of the following areas:

Microsoft Windows operating systems and Windows Server administration.

PowerShell Python batch scripting or similar automation tools.

Task automation using Windows Task Scheduler scheduled scripts service checks file transfers monitoring jobs or recurring operational processes.

Willingness and ability to learn Python PowerShell scripting logic task automation and system administration workflows.

Windows Server administration concepts including services scheduled tasks event logs file shares permissions IIS and system configuration.

Microsoft Active Directory concepts including users groups permissions group membership and role-based access.

Basic networking concepts including IP addressing DNS DHCP ports firewalls routing VPNs remote access and connectivity troubleshooting.

Application support including configuration review log analysis vendor coordination testing and escalation.

Monitoring and alerting tools dashboards system logs and operational health checks.

Technical documentation standard operating procedures process documentation and troubleshooting guides.

Data handling concepts including file imports file exports validation checks access control sensitive data handling and compliance awareness.

Source control concepts using Git or similar tools.

Containerization concepts using Docker or similar platforms.

Ability to read interpret and apply technical documentation.

Ability to analyze technical problems document findings and communicate recommendations clearly.

Ability to communicate with technical staff non-technical users vendors supervisors and operational stakeholders.

Ability to work independently on assigned tasks while knowing when to escalate.

Strong attention to detail accountability judgment and willingness to learn new systems.

Professional judgment when working with sensitive systems public safety data and operational technology.

Familiarity with modern AIassisted development or support tools and an interest in using them to improve troubleshooting documentation or workflow efficiency.

Ability to evaluate AIgenerated responses critically and incorporate them into solutions when appropriate.

Additional Information :

Salary Range: $70000-$79438

Salary cannot exceed $79438

All applications must include a cover letter. Applications without a cover letter will be considered incomplete. 

Did you know
We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program qualified employer : 25% tuition discount program for City employees (and sometimes spouses and dependents as well) in partnership with area colleges and universities

We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents
Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
Employees receive paid vacation sick leave and holidays
Generous retirement savings options are available

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire
Effective May 22 2023 vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses doctors emergency medical personnel) must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race
ethnicity color sex sexual orientation gender identity religion national origin ancestry age disability marital status source of income familial status genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at or send an email to faqpchr @. For more information go to: Human Relations Website:
Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time