Systems Engineer

About the role

Operating within a lean, agile IT team in the University Libraries, this role serves as a systems engineer responsible for the deployment, maintenance, and technical optimization of core IT infrastructure and computing environments in support of library services and initiatives. Reporting to the Director of IT Operations, the successful candidate will work directly alongside our resident engineer to manage the full system lifecycle, from initial requirements analysis and hardware/software provisioning to active configuration management and system monitoring. This role is well suited for an early career candidate or an academically trained graduate who wants immediate, hands-on administration of network architecture, system virtualization, and security protocols.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, information science, related field, or a Bachelor’s of an alternate discipline supplemented by equivalent professional experience directly relevant to systems administration
• Demonstrated working knowledge of administering Linux-based operating systems, including networking, security practices, and system performance management, as demonstrated through professional experience, academic coursework, or applied projects
• Proficiency with version control workflows using Git in a collaborative environment, including branching strategies, pull requests, code review, and integration with CI/CD pipelines in team-based projects
• Demonstrated experience with scripting in languages for automation and systems integration. Evidence may include development of scripts or small utilities that automate system administration tasks, interact with APIs, or support data or metadata processing workflows
• Must possess a collaborative approach to team operations, characterized by a willingness to share routine technical tasks, a receptive attitude toward constructive engineering feedback, and a patient demeanor when interfacing with project stakeholders and non-technical staff

Preferred qualifications

• Conceptual or hands-on familiarity with cloud storage services (e.g., AWS S3, Glacier)
• Working knowledge of automation concepts (such as CI/CD frameworks, GitLab CI, or Infrastructure as Code), as evidenced by academic coursework, open-source contributions, or hands-on projects
• Foundational understanding of centralized logging and system monitoring platforms (e.g., Splunk or equivalent open-source tooling) to support proactive troubleshooting
• Conceptual or hands-on familiarity with network-attached/distributed storage platforms (e.g., TrueNAS, Ceph)
• Exposure to deploying containerized workloads using Docker (Dockerfiles, Compose) validated through academic projects or personal home labs

Pay and schedule

• Salary: $80,000 minimum, dependent on qualifications and experience
• Hours per week: 40
• Overtime status: Exempt (not eligible for overtime)
• Appointment type: Regular

Additional information

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States on the first day of employment without sponsorship from Virginia Tech.
• Application package must include a resume, cover letter addressing the candidate’s experience with the responsibilities associated with the position and the required and preferred qualifications, and the names of three (3) references with their contact information.
• The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.
• Review date: 11/03/2026