Senior Windows Administrator

Manages the efficient flow of electricity on more than 11,000 circuit-miles of high-voltage transmission lines, dispatching power from hundreds of generating units across New York State. Applies cutting-edge technology to operate a reliable electricity system, manage competitive wholesale electricity markets, and plan for the state’s energy future.

About the role

The Senior Windows Administrator architects, manages, and administers large, multi-site, and cloud-based Microsoft server and client environments. Responsibilities include system architecture, design, implementation, operating system and firmware management, software package creation and installation, upgrades, patching, system integrity, security, disaster recovery, and performance. The role involves creating and maintaining Windows team administration standards and procedures, leading or participating in project teams, collaborating with application developers and infrastructure peers, performing backup and restoration procedures, supporting audit efforts, ensuring compliance with corporate and regulatory standards, mentoring and training associate administrators, and providing strategic IT planning expertise.

Responsibilities

• Performs advanced and/or highly complex work with minimal or no supervision.
• Establishes work plans based on organizational goals; sets independent objectives to accomplish specific tasks supporting the larger plan.
• Leads functional or virtual departmental or inter-departmental teams and demonstrates accountability for team-wide objectives.
• Acts as a key contributor and represents the team for larger organizational initiatives; interacts regularly with peer departments, business partners, market participants, vendors, and other external constituents.
• Demonstrates the highest proficiency with assigned technology platforms and disciplines; possesses broad knowledge of ancillary information technologies, methodologies, and platforms.
• Has broad knowledge of IT service management, governance, continuity, financial, project, and lifecycle management.
• Has a basic understanding of the energy vertical, energy markets, the electric industry, and the NYISO’s business and operations.
• Represents the organization to external entities; may present at conferences, seminars, or write papers and formal correspondence on behalf of the NYISO.
• Creates, installs, patches, and upgrades Microsoft and VMware operating systems, hardware platforms, and server/client software packages.
• Performs ongoing performance tuning, system infrastructure assessment (hardware, software), and resource optimization.
• Architects, tests, implements, and supports system architectures and configurations, including physical and virtual technologies.
• Architects, tests, implements, and supports automation of infrastructure provisioning and management.
• Leads and participates in capacity planning and system lifecycle management.
• Designs, tests, and implements complex solutions supporting high availability and inter-site/intra-site failover capabilities in partnership with Business Continuity; includes monthly recovery plan reviews and yearly testing for cyber infrastructure protection (CIP) assets.
• Provisions and controls user permissions and privileges with strict adherence to access guidelines following SOC1 and CIP standards.
• Adheres to a rigorous change management process to minimize risks to the computing environment; champions changes from initiation through deployment.
• Provides technical support to software development, infrastructure, IT operations, and inter-departmental teams.
• Communicates regularly with software development, infrastructure, and operational staff to ensure system integrity and security.
• Designs and maintains Microsoft systems (Azure Active Directory, Windows OS, Exchange, SharePoint, M365, Azure Virtual Desktop) and ancillary applications, adhering to NYISO and regulatory (NERC CIP, SOC1) standards.
• Interprets and follows complex policies and procedures; maintains up-to-date written documentation, performs recovery tests, and completes required paperwork and attestations.
• Manages data and information requests to support internal and external audit requests from auditors and regulatory agencies (NERC, FERC); investigates and resolves compliance issues with zero tolerance for errors.
• Provides 24x7 technical support on a rotational basis; requires advanced troubleshooting skills and analytics to restore production services within strict timeframes (e.g., 30 minutes).
• Mentors and trains associate and Windows administrators.
• Establishes and communicates NYISO Microsoft and VMware system standards, policies, and procedures.
• Participates in ongoing IT strategic planning with a focus on Microsoft and VMware system technologies.
• Establishes and maintains working relationships with key strategic vendors to understand the technical direction of server technologies.
• Develops and champions innovative solutions to improve operational efficiency through automation of administrative tasks.
• Participates in procurement activities and supports contract management.
• Leads and/or participates in license management and compliance.
• Understands networking and storage technologies; participates in planning and troubleshooting network and storage services for Microsoft and VMware infrastructure.
• Creates and maintains detailed documentation of Microsoft and VMware system configurations and functions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a similar technical program; Master’s Degree preferred.
• Minimum seven years of experience as a Windows System Administrator.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents.
• Ability to respond to inquiries or complaints from business community members.
• Ability to speak effectively before technical staff and stakeholders.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with abstract and concrete variables.
• Intermediate competency in the Windows operating environment using MS Office applications, email, and internet programs.
• Advanced, hands-on experience with Microsoft administration (Group Policy, Active Directory, Exchange, SharePoint, Microsoft distributed file systems), Cisco Systems, server virtualization, server automation, and server clustering technologies.
• Thorough understanding of advanced networking concepts, storage area networking concepts, system backup concepts, and hardware administration/support.
• Desirable competencies: Scripting languages (Batch, PowerShell, Python).

Qualifications

• MSP, MCSE, Azure Certified Administrator, or VMware Certified Professional (VCP) certification preferred.

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to talk or hear.
• Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, and use hands to perform routine office tasks.
• Occasionally required to reach with hands and arms.
• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Work Environment

• Moderate noise level; contact with staff and public will occur.
• Travel may be required to attend or conduct meetings, conferences, and training.
• May require work on nights, weekends, or holidays.
• Hybrid work arrangement: required to work onsite from the Rensselaer, NY location several days per week, with the option to work remotely on remaining days; may require increased onsite presence as needed.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package and innovative reward programs.

Pay

$92,300 - $153,900 USD