Enterprise Backup Specialist - ITS3

Minnesota IT Services (MNIT) connects Minnesotans to services that improve their lives. This position supports MNIT’s hybrid cloud backup services through technical analysis, configuration, testing, troubleshooting, and operational delivery across on-premises and cloud environments. The role ensures the protection and recoverability of mission-critical data for statewide government customers by implementing and maintaining reliable backup solutions, monitoring platform health, addressing system alerts, conducting security and access audits, and assisting with disaster recovery exercises.

About the role

This position will be part of the Enterprise Services team, delivering a full suite of services to state agencies, boards, councils, and commissions, and many central services to local government partners. The Enterprise Backup Specialist collaborates with technical teams, vendors, and agency partners, maintains clear documentation and customer communication, and applies strong analytical and problem-solving skills to support business continuity, compliance, and secure data recovery for the State of Minnesota.

This position requires onsite work at 600 Robert St. N., Saint Paul, Minnesota at least 50% of the time, with limited telework available. Telework eligibility depends on residence: candidates living in Minnesota or within 50 miles of the worksite in a bordering state (Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin) may telework up to 50%. Minnesota residents living more than 50 miles from the worksite may be eligible to telework more than 50%. Candidates living 50 miles or more from the worksite in a bordering state may work onsite 100% or may be telework eligible if relocating within 50 miles.

Responsibilities

• Implement, configure, and test hybrid cloud backup solutions (e.g., Commvault, Azure Backup), including backup job creation, validation, and secure configuration.
• Troubleshoot complex backup or recovery issues across on-premises and cloud platforms, including analysis of performance, capacity, and utilization trends.
• Conduct security and access audits for backup systems, apply established security controls, and validate remediation actions.
• Monitor backup platform health, respond to system alerts, document issues, and recommend operational improvements.
• Use Infrastructure-as-Code tools (e.g., Git, Azure Bicep, Terraform, YAML/JSON/HCL) to support repeatable deployment of backup-related cloud resources.
• Participate in disaster recovery exercises, such as technical validation of backup and restoration workflows.
• Develop or maintain technical documentation, diagrams, operational runbooks, and training materials for backup systems within large, diverse customer environments.
• Analyze system performance, utilization, and capacity trends in complex enterprise environments, including early detection of degradations and data-driven recommendations for optimization.
• Communicate clearly and effectively to facilitate mutual understanding, interpret and explain complex backup concepts to varied audiences, evaluate customer needs, and ensure enterprise backup offerings meet business requirements.

Requirements

• Minimum of three (3) years of IT-related experience in hybrid cloud backup administration, configuration, monitoring, and operational support within enterprise environments.
• Experience with implementing, configuring, and testing hybrid cloud backup solutions (e.g., Commvault, Azure Backup).
• Experience troubleshooting complex backup or recovery issues across on-premises and cloud platforms.
• Experience conducting security and access audits for backup systems, applying security controls, and validating remediation actions.
• Experience monitoring backup platform health, responding to system alerts, documenting issues, and recommending operational improvements.
• Experience using Infrastructure-as-Code tools (e.g., Git, Azure Bicep, Terraform, YAML/JSON/HCL) to support repeatable deployment of backup-related cloud resources.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively in a manner that facilitates mutual understanding.
• Customer-focused approach grounded in active listening, empathy, and solution-oriented problem-solving to deliver positive user experiences.

Education in Information Technology (IT) or a related field may substitute for experience as follows: a master's degree for eighteen (18) months of experience; a bachelor's degree for one (1) year; and an associate's degree for six (6) months.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Commvault or other enterprise backup platforms, including advanced configuration, troubleshooting, and optimization of hybrid backup environments.
• Experience with Azure Backup and cloud-based backup architecture within Azure environment, including testing, security controls, and performance/capacity evaluation.
• Experience using Infrastructure-as-Code tools (Azure Bicep, Terraform, YAML/JSON/HCL) and Git for version control to support automated deployment and change management for backup-related cloud resources.
• Ability to analyze system performance, utilization, and capacity trends in complex enterprise environments, including early detection of degradations and data-driven recommendations for optimization.
• Experience developing or maintaining technical documentation, diagrams, operational runbooks, and training materials for backup systems within large, diverse customer environments.
• Ability to interpret and explain complex backup concepts to varied audiences, evaluate customer needs, and ensure enterprise backup offerings meet business requirements.

Additional Requirements

A successful candidate must pass all legally required checks prior to employment, which may include: SEMA4 Records Check, Criminal History Check, Reference Check, Social Security and Address Verification, Education Verification, CJIS Background Check, and other legally required checks. Minnesota IT Services does not participate in the federal E-Verify program and is unable to sponsor applicants for work visas.

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application.

Pay

$33.96 - $55.83 hourly; $70,908 - $116,573 annually.

Schedule

• Full-time, unlimited (permanent) position.
• Day shift, Monday - Friday.
• No travel required.

Benefits

• Paid vacation and sick leave.
• 12 paid holidays each year.
• Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans.
• Fertility care, including IVF.
• Diabetes care.
• Dental and orthodontic care for adults and children.
• 6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children.
• Pension plan that provides income when you retire (after working at least three years).
• Employer-paid life insurance to provide support for your family in the event of death.
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance that can provide income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury.
• Tax-free expense accounts for health and dental.