About this role
Job Title: Junior Systems Engineer FLSA Status: Non-exempt
Reports to: Senior Systems Engineer Classification: Classified Salary IIIC+4/hr
Dept./School: Technology Services Terms of Employment: 260 days
Primary Purpose The Junior Systems Engineer supports the district's core network, virtualization, and security infrastructure. Working under the direct guidance of the Senior Systems Engineer, this role bridges the gap between daily desktop technical support and foundational infrastructure administration. The Junior Systems Engineer understands the district's wired and wireless network. The communicate with partners on the availability and functionality of the network and can step in when the Senior Systems Engineer is absent. This position is ideal for an aspiring systems administrator who enjoys working with virtual environments, maintaining robust data backups, and defending the district's network. Qualifications
• Education/Licensure/Testing Required/Bonding:
• Any combination of education and work experience equivalent to a High school diploma or GED required.
• Requirements: Oregon Fingerprint and Criminal Check Clearance.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development and willingness to pursue relevant industry certifications (e.g., CompTIA Network+/Security+, CCNA, or Microsoft/VMware certifications).
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience).
• Technical Skills: Basic knowledge of wired/wireless networking (routing, switching, and Cisco hardware), virtualization environments, endpoint protection, and backup/recovery solutions. Basic scripting knowledge for routine automation tasks is required.
Experience Required
• 1–2 years of experience in technical support, network troubleshooting, or junior systems administration.
• Proven experience with ticket triage, hardware/software deployment, and supporting end-users.
• Familiarity with network hardware (switches, access points) and network monitoring tools.
• Basic hands-on experience or academic exposure to managing virtual machines and configuring backup schedules.
• Experience with customer service in a technical support capacity.
Skills, Knowledge, and/or Abilities Required
• Skills:
• Effective problem-solving and diagnostic skills for infrastructure and connectivity issues.
• Working knowledge of scripting languages (e.g., PowerShell, Bash) for prompting, testing, and troubleshooting basic automation.
• Clear and concise technical documentation skills for mapping network configs and backup logs.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Knowledge:
• Understanding of basic networking concepts (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VLANs).
• Familiarity with virtual machine (VM) environments and hypervisors.
• Basic understanding of cybersecurity principles, threat landscapes, and endpoint security clients.
• Knowledge of standard backup methodologies (grandfather-father-son, offsite, cloud replication).
• Abilities:
• Ability to install, configure, and maintain endpoint protection on district devices under senior supervision.
• Ability to monitor backup jobs and assist with basic disaster recovery verification tasks.
• Ability to follow complex technical instructions and prioritize tasks effectively.
• Capacity to handle multiple support tickets and infrastructure tasks simultaneously.
• Maintains a positive attitude and an eagerness to upgrade skill-based competencies.
Essential Job Functions Network & Virtual Machine Administration
• Assist with the installation, configuration, maintenance, and troubleshooting of district wired and wireless networks, including Cisco switches.
• Proactively monitor network and server performance, alerting the Senior Systems Engineer to anomalies or outages and work with partner to resolve.
• Aid in the provisioning, monitoring, and routine maintenance of virtual machines (VMs) and core server infrastructure.
• Assist with automation tasks and scripting to streamline routine infrastructure and deployment processes.
Cybersecurity & Endpoint Protection
• Facilitate the deployment, updates, and day-to-day maintenance of endpoint security software across all district-owned devices.
• Assist in performing regular vulnerability scans and basic security audits to identify risks.
• Monitor security alerts, participate in initial incident response triage, and help enforce multifactor authentication (MFA) protocols.
• Maintain a working knowledge of cybersecurity best practices and state/federal data compliance guidelines.
Backup Management & Disaster Recovery Support
• Help perform and monitor regular local and offsite data backups to ensure system resilience.
• Conduct routine checks on backup integrity and verify successful replication cycles.
• Assist the Senior Systems Engineer in testing, documenting, and updating the district's disaster recovery plan.
Technical Support & Infrastructure Operations
• Provide Tier 2/3 support via ticket triage and phone, diagnosing and resolving complex network connectivity, endpoint security, and VM-related issues.
• Maintain accurate technical documentation, creating network diagrams and step-by-step infrastructure quick-reference guides.
• Deliver training to staff on cybersecurity best practices, device safety, and secure remote access tools.
Professional Responsibilities
• Research new infrastructure tools, virtualization features, and security practices under the guidance of senior staff.
• Collaborate with the technology team to act as a point of contact regarding network access control and device security compliance.
Other Job Functions
• Provide backup support to other positions in case of absence or work overload.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Work collaboratively and communicate effectively with staff and customers at all organizational levels.
• Demonstrate professionalism and appropriate judgment in behavior, speech, and dress.
• Maintain regular and consistent attendance and punctuality.
• Confer regularly with immediate supervisor, or designee.
• Follow all district policies, work procedures, and reasonable requests by proper authority.
• Fulfill daily tickets; Provide voice and remote support as needed to ensure minimal disruption to the learning environment and maintain smooth classroom operations.
• Travel between sites as necessary
Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors
• Tools/Equipment Used: Standard office equipment; personal computer and peripherals; network testers, hand tools for rack-mounting hardware.
• Posture: Prolonged sitting; occasional standing, bending, reaching, and stooping.
• Motion: Repetitive hand motions including frequent keyboarding; fine motor coordination to handle delicate computer and network components.
• Physical: Lifting and carrying swinging weights or network equipment exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally.
• Environment: Indoors for the majority of the workday; occasional work inside cramped server closets; travel between worksites required.
• Mental Demands: Maintain emotional control and analytical focus under stress during critical system network outages.