Systems Engineer I

Texas A&M AgriLife is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive agriculture program, uniting Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M Forest Service, and Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. With over 5,000 employees statewide, AgriLife improves lives, environments, and the Texas economy through education, research, extension, and service.

About the role

The Systems Engineer I supports the Center for Managed Technology Services (CMTS) by designing, deploying, and managing Linux and Windows research systems, virtual infrastructure, backups, and instrumentation environments. This position is part of a dedicated systems engineering vertical and contributes to secure, stable, and scalable infrastructure across institutional research environments, partnering with governance teams, researchers, and vendors to implement secure, reliable solutions.

Responsibilities

• Server & Endpoint Engineering (Linux/Windows) + Security Compliance
  • Build, configure, secure, and maintain Linux and Windows servers/endpoints supporting research and enterprise workflows.
  • Implement hardening, patching, access controls, encryption, logging, and audit-readiness requirements in alignment with CMTS and institutional security guidance.
  • Contribute to baseline standards and approved patterns; document deviations when required.
  • Troubleshoot OS and application-level issues; perform performance tuning and operational fixes.
• Virtual Infrastructure & Cloud Networking
  • Deploy, configure, and administer virtual infrastructure supporting research and enterprise environments (Azure, AWS, on-prem VMware).
  • Execute VM lifecycle tasks (provisioning, configuration, patch/hardening implementation, monitoring integration, compliance alignment, and decommissioning) following CMTS standards and approved maintenance windows.
  • Partner with institutional governance teams and unit IT partners to implement routing/peering, IP/DNS, and firewall/VPN access needs, following institutional change controls and designated approval paths.
• Storage, Backup, and Recovery Operations
  • Implement and monitor backup and recovery solutions across supported platforms (cloud storage, Synology C2, future on-prem storage, and researcher-provided storage).
  • Configure backup cadence/retention based on project requirements and validate restoration readiness when required.
  • Recommend storage approaches aligned to performance, cost, and data lifecycle needs and document decisions.
• Research Workstation, Instrumentation, and Field Support + Vendor Enablement
  • Perform routine remote checks and schedule on-site inspections for research workstations and instrument-attached systems.
  • Conduct manual patching where automatic updates are constrained by experimental risk and approved change windows.
  • Respond to hardware issues and instrument-computer failures; coordinate troubleshooting and resolution with appropriate partners.
  • Support vendor access and maintenance activities and document exceptions when upgrades are not feasible.
• Researcher Enablement, Intake, and Governance Alignment
  • Participate in researcher consultations for compute, storage, security, and lifecycle planning; help translate needs into implementable technical options.
  • Assist with onboarding and configuration for scientific workflows within CMTS-supported environments.
  • Contribute technical inputs for infrastructure planning and cost estimates to support proposals and planning.
  • Follow institutional governance requirements and document exceptions when researchers decline CMTS services and assume responsibility for compliance.
• Documentation, Standards, and Service Design
  • Create and maintain operational documentation, support procedures, and technical references across OS, virtualization, storage/backup, monitoring, incident response, and vendor coordination.
  • Contribute to service-level documents (SLDs) and intake workflows to support consistency, audit readiness, and operational continuity.
  • Maintain audit-ready records that support repeatable execution and knowledge transfer.
• DevOps & Automation Support (Shared Function)
  • Support automation pipelines and CI/CD workflows shared across Software & Applications and Technology & Engineering verticals, using tools such as Ansible, Python, and GitHub Actions, and Azure DevOps.
  • Contribute to infrastructure-as-code practices that support the reliability of cloud and hybrid platforms.
  • Collaborate with Software & Applications and Technology & Engineering staff on shared automation initiatives, providing systems engineering context and support as needed.
• Continuous Skill Development and Expanding Ownership
  • Build capability across Linux/Windows administration, Azure/AWS/VMWare, on-prem infrastructure, monitoring/observability, and research instrumentation environments.
  • Take on increasing responsibility for technical deliverables within projects over time in collaboration with the broader CMTS team.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support CMTS and departmental operations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two years of experience supporting Linux/Windows servers in a professional environment.

Skills

• Familiarity with virtualization platforms, storage concepts, and core networking principles.
• Ability to document system configurations, processes, and procedures.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Basic familiarity with CI/CD and automation tooling (e.g., Ansible, GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps) sufficient to support shared DevOps functions.
• Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting research environments, HPC clusters, or mixed OS ecosystems.
• Exposure to cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, VMware), infrastructure-as-code tools (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation), and automation frameworks.
• Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git) and scripting (e.g., Bash, Python).
• Experience with container orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes, Docker).
• Preferred certifications: CompTIA Linux+, Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA), Azure Administrator Associate, AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate, or VMware Certified Professional (VCP).

Other Requirements

• May require work outside standard office hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, to support operations and scheduled maintenance windows.
• Requires periodic on-site visits to CMTS-supported lab locations.
• Non-immigrant foreign nationals are prohibited by export control laws from performing the employment responsibilities associated with this position; sponsorship is NOT available.

Pay

Pay Grade 72. Compensation is commensurate based on the selected candidate’s qualifications.

Schedule

This position is based on-site in College Station, Texas. Full-time remote work is not available, but partially remote work may be available pending employee eligibility requirements.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M AgriLife contributing to employee health and basic life premiums.
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays.
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month.
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
• Employee Wellness Initiative for Texas A&M AgriLife.