How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter must include a brief summary of the IT environment(s) you currently support (e.g., size, platforms, and technologies).

In addition, please include a short description of at least one system or environment you helped design, build, or stand up, addressing the following:

• The purpose of the environment and the problem it was intended to solve
• The mix of on-premises and/or cloud technologies involved
• Your specific role in designing, deploying, and operationalizing the environment
• How the system was monitored, maintained, or evolved after initial deployment

This information will be used to better understand your hands-on experience with building and supporting complex infrastructure environments.

For questions about this position or to request a reasonable accommodation during the application process, email [email protected].

Job Summary

The Survey Research Center (SRC) within the Institute for Social Research (ISR) at the University of Michigan is seeking a Systems Administrator Senior to join its Computing and Multimedia Technologies (CMT) team. Reporting to the Director of CMT, this role designs and implements new server and platform environments, modernizes on-premises infrastructure, and integrates hybrid on-prem and cloud systems with a strong focus on reliability, security, and performance.

This role requires a senior systems professional with deep, hands-on experience in Windows Server and virtualization who has built and operated infrastructure at scale. It extends beyond routine system administration and includes technical ownership of systems supporting research, administrative, and federally regulated environments.

The position is based on the University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus and requires scheduled on-site presence to manage on-premises infrastructure; limited hybrid flexibility may be available. Work hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with participation in an after-hours on-call rotation and occasional off-hours work for maintenance or incident response.

This position requires the ability to obtain federal level 5 security clearance within six months of hire (U.S. citizenship required).

The salary range for this position is $95,000 to $103,000, commensurate with relevant qualifications.

View the full job description here.

Why Work at Michigan?

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and any eligible family members and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off 
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting upon meeting eligibility requirements 
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance 
• Life insurance 
• Long-term disability coverage 
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses

Responsibilities*

• Design, deploy, and maintain new server and platform environments, with a strong emphasis on on-premises Windows infrastructure and hybrid integrations.
• Lead and support Microsoft Windows Server environments, including Active Directory, Group Policy, DNS, DHCP, and Hyper-V virtualization.
• Manage and optimize on-prem server hardware, storage, and virtualization platforms.
• Implement and maintain system monitoring and logging, including use of tools such as Splunk for visibility, troubleshooting, and operational insights.
• Troubleshoot complex system issues across virtualization, operating systems, networking, and integrated services.
• Apply security best practices, including system hardening, patching, vulnerability remediation, and compliance support.
• Contribute to infrastructure planning, documentation, disaster recovery, and business continuity efforts.
• Collaborate closely with CMT colleagues and campus partners to deliver stable, scalable, and well-documented systems.
• Participate in on-call rotation and scheduled maintenance activities.

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree in information technology, computer science, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Significant professional experience (6+ years) administering on-premises Windows Server environments.
• Demonstrated experience building or standing up new infrastructure environments, not just maintaining existing ones.
• Strong hands-on experience with Hyper-V virtualization.
• Deep working knowledge of Active Directory, Group Policy, DNS, and DHCP.
• Experience managing physical server hardware, virtualization hosts, and storage systems.
• Proven ability to diagnose and resolve complex infrastructure issues independently.
• Strong documentation and communication skills.

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Institute for Social Research job openings are posted for a minimum of fourteen (14) calendar days. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. 

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.

Company Name: University of Michigan
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