Senior Systems Administrator/Task Lead

Empower AI is AI for government. Empower AI gives federal agency leaders the tools to elevate the potential of their workforce with a direct path for meaningful transformation. Headquartered in Reston, Va., Empower AI leverages three decades of experience solving complex challenges in Health, Defense, and Civilian missions. Our proven Empower AI Platform provides a practical, sustainable path for clients to achieve transformation that is true to who they are, what they do, how they work, with the resources they have. The result is a government workforce that is exponentially more creative and productive. For more information, visit www.Empower.ai.

Empower AI is proud to be recognized as a 2024 Military Friendly Employer by Viqtory, the publisher of G.I. Jobs. This designation reflects the company's commitment to hiring and supporting active-duty and veteran employees.

Empower AI: As the Senior Systems Administrator/Task Lead (NCR), you will act as a model of customer service excellence to all organizational staff members in the Office of Military Commissions (OMC) as part of DISA's Joint Service Provider (JSP) Service Delivery contract. You will be responsible for managing a team of highly qualified professionals and interacting daily with the customer to ensure productivity and provide resolution to IT issues that the end-users may have with existing desktops, laptops, software installation issues, and other critical needs. Further, you will participate in the planning and implementing key OMC IT initiatives anticipated during this effort. Although this position resides in the NCR, there may be a requirement to travel to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB) occasionally. In assuming this position, you will be a critical contributor to meeting Empower AI's mission: To deliver innovative, cost-effective solutions and services that enable our customers to rapidly adapt to dynamic environments.

Highlights of Responsibilities:

Team Leadership & Service Management:

Lead and manage a team of IT Support Technicians in the NCR, providing technical support to OMC system users.
• Create and manage work schedules, track daily attendance.
• Develop and implement initiatives to improve daily operations of the OMC Service Center.
• Develop performance measurements (goals/metrics/reports) utilizing the service desk platform. Provide feedback to team members on customer service, communication, and technical skills to enhance support quality.
• Implement and maintain an enterprise knowledge base, leveraging knowledge management best practices.
• Assess staff performance, conduct reviews, and contribute to personnel changes.
• Facilitate professional and technical development opportunities for the team.
• Utilize ITIL best practices to enhance and optimize services provided to end users.

Systems Administration & Infrastructure Support:

• Provide operational and maintenance (O&M) support for NIPRNET, SIPRNET, and JWICS system infrastructure, supporting approximately 400 users.
• Provide O&M support for Special Access System domain, storage, SQL database, workstation, and printer infrastructure, supporting approximately 150 users.
• Administer and maintain the Microsoft Active Directory environment, ensuring its stability, security, and performance.
• Manage Group Policy Objects (GPOs) to enforce security policies and configurations.
• Implement and manage Active Directory security controls, including privileged access management (PAM) and least privilege principles.
• Develop and maintain Active Directory documentation, standards, and procedures.
• Support replication of network file share volumes via Distributed File System with Replication (DFS-R) between the NCR and NSGB locations.
• Provide support for a NetApp storage area network (SAN), VMware vSAN, and encrypted file storage capabilities.
• Support the technical upgrading and maintenance of desktop systems.
• Verify and implement system upgrades to ensure longevity and optimal performance.
• Provide systems recovery and repair operations, employing industry best practices for troubleshooting and fault isolation.
• Conduct the planning, implementation, validation, and verify all server system upgrades, patches, and STIGs to meet ATO requirements and provide system longevity or lifecycle refresh (LCR).

Data Management & Security:

• Provide data backup and restoration capabilities for NIPRNET, SIPRNET, JWICS, and Special Access Systems.
• Create and maintain standalone workstation images in accordance with DoD security standards.
• Ensure seamless interconnection of desktop computers with various systems.
• Assist with updating and preserving computer inventory and managing surplus equipment.

Project & Implementation:

• Develop and implement an Active Directory domain system for SAP programs.
• Assist in testing and deploying new applications and systems.
• Coordinate with OMC and JSP IT support teams to resolve customer incidents/problems, fulfill service requests, and institute continuous improvement initiatives and methods.
• Lead the Systems Administrator tasks required for addressing ISSO ATO tasks, including (but not limited to) DISA STIG implementation, RMF security scan responses, and other requirements needed for ATO remediation with DISA and DIA

Issue Resolution & Escalation:

• Resolve customer issues effectively or escalate them to appropriate support tiers.
• Coordinate with OMC and JSP/DISA IT support teams to resolve customer incidents/problems, fulfill service requests, and institute continuous improvement initiatives and methods.

Requirements:

• Shall possess a TOP SECRET w/ SCI Clearance
• Bachelor's degree in an IT-related field with 10 years' experience.
• 7+ years of experience with Microsoft System Administration in an enterprise environment, including Microsoft Active Directory, Group Policies, and Scripting.
• 4+ years of experience leading tasks of a similar size/scope in the IC (prefer DIA) for P2P solutions.
• 4+ years of experience with the following IT disciplines:
• Team-oriented and skilled in working within a collaborative environment.

• Strong customer service orientation.
• Proven analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage teams of up to 20 technicians.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment.
• Good written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to present ideas in business-friendly and user-friendly language.
• Highly self-motivated and directed.
• Keen attention to detail.
• Required Certifications:
  • CCNA Security.
  • CySA+
  • CND.
  • Security + CE.
• DoD 8570 IAT Level II (one of the following):
• VCP (VMware Certified Professional).
• MCSE Core Infrastructure or Azure Solutions Architect Expert Certification.

Physical Requirements:

This position requires the ability to perform the below essential functions:

• Sitting for long periods.
• Standing for long periods.
• Ambulate throughout an office.
• Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl as required.
• Repeatedly lift and carry weights up to 50 pounds.

All hiring and promotion decisions at Empower AI are based on merit to bring the best talent available to contribute to our firm's overall success. It is the policy of Empower AI not to discriminate against any applicant for employment, or employee because of age, color, sex, disability, national origin, race, religion, or veteran status. Empower AI is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.