University of Wisconsin - Madison

Position Vacancy Listing

PVL # 228360

Position Summary:

We are looking for a detail-oriented, innovative system administrator who is driven to explore new technologies. This position is primarily responsible for the design and administration of Linux infrastructure and high-level network administration to support research and instruction for members of the Social Science Computing Cooperative (SSCC) at UW-Madison. The ideal candidate likes to try new things and considers failure part of the process. They are able to estimate work required and then deliver on those estimates while working with multiple competing priorities. Additionally, they possess excellent oral and written communication skills, and a commitment to quality customer service. It will be essential that they collaborate closely with other SSCC staff.

Principal duties:

A. Linux Administration (60%)
1. Develop system architecture and make recommendations based on needs and industry developments
2. Configure, patch, and maintain servers based on configuration management (Ansible) and change management best practices
3. Create and maintain basic system scripts (Python, Ruby, Bash, etc.) to facilitate automation and scalability
4. Provide secondary support for virtual infrastructure (VMWare ESXi), databases (PostgreSQL, MariaDB), and web servers (Apache)
5. Develop and follow plan for equipment lifecycle
B. Research Cyberinfrastructure Support (15%)
1. Innovate by investigating, testing, and implementing technological solutions and processes to support research (e.g. Apache Spark, GPU compute, containers)
2. Collaborate with statistical consultants to ensure our systems are optimally configured for meeting evolving research needs
3. Create, update, and review technical documentation
C. Network Administration (15%)
1. Create, document, and maintain network firewall policies
2. Assist in shaping IP address management plan (IPv4 and IPv6) including allocations, and configuration.
3. Engage in campus networking community so that SSCC's voice is represented and ensure our initiatives are aligned with those of central campus
4. Assist staff and users in troubleshooting network related issues
D. Additional Duties (10%)
1. Stay current on industry trends and evaluate usefulness to support our mission
2. Participate in professional development opportunities
3. Using a ticketing system, provide tier-two support to SSCC members who encounter problems in areas of responsibility
4. Other duties as assigned