IT Systems Architect

Position Overview

The Systems Architect is responsible for designing, organizing, modifying, and supporting the organization’s IT systems.

This individual ensures that hardware, operating systems, software systems, and related equipment are functioning at all times.

Maintaining these systems, monitoring them, and issuing upgrades are all duties of the system architect.

They are responsible for delivering superior end-user help desk support, as well as functioning as tier 3+ support for current IT Help Desk Staff. 

The Systems Architect is a highly technical hands on individual contributor position in the IT department.

The candidate is responsible for the maintenance, security, support and continued operation of IT resources such as Office 365, Azure, AD, on prem-servers, Colo, LAN and WAN equipment.

This position also provides technical support to the Help Desk, assisting with trouble tickets that are beyond the scope or ability of the assigned technician.

The Systems Architect role provides the day to day, hands-on technical support required for the continued, uninterrupted operation of the corporate infrastructure as well as provides technical knowledge and advice to those members of the IT team involved in future capacity planning and IT strategy. 

Responsibilities 

Microsoft Azure / Server / Colo Management (25%)

• Server management consists of functions including, but not limited to, backing up and restoring data, reviewing server event logs and proactively addressing issues, creating administrative scripts, creating and managing users and security groups, managing the Windows domain, Azure server management, managing network printers, monitoring security events, monitoring server performance, applying security patches, setting and enforcing password policies, safeguarding our systems from unauthorized access, accidental destruction of data or unscheduled downtime.

• Manage and monitor HyperV and VMware environments throughout the global PIH IT portfolios.

• Manage, monitor and implement best practices for data backups including improve and implement BCP planning for Disaster Recovery scenarios. 

LAN / WAN / Security Management (25%)

• Network management consists of functions including, but not limited to, monitoring computer addresses to ensure that all devices connecting to the network are able, reviewing logs for wired and wireless network to ensure availability of services, monitoring firewall for unauthorized access, setup and maintain VPN connections for users and between sites, preconfigure network equipment (switches, firewalls, wireless access points) for zero-touch deployment at sites outside of Boston, identify bandwidth hogs and address to ensure availability of bandwidth for all users, configure, monitor and manage DNS and DHCP services, which are essential services for computer network communications, monitor for viruses and zero-day exploits and contain them if located. 

Help Desk Support (15%)

• Monitor the Help Desk queue and participate in resolving level 3+ customer tickets.

Provides experienced and educated support to 1st and 2nd level help desk analysts to assist them with tickets that they do not have the authority or experience to resolve.

Maintain help desk ticketing system and review for customer satisfaction rates, speed of resolution, identify trouble areas based on patterns of tickets. 

IT Resource Capacity Planning (15%)

• Monitor the existing server and network user loads to ensure that there are sufficient resources available to serve the needs of the PIH users; network bandwidth, disk space on file servers, available network addresses for wireless devices to connect, load-balanced servers are working properly to protect against an outage, monitor power loads on backup UPS batteries.

Plan and implement changes to ensure that these resources grow as PIH’s IT demands grow so that user requests for services do not exceed IT supply.

Create plans to increase services in a transparent fashion.

• Collaborate with global PIH IT teams to improve manual processes such as backup and monitoring of systems and networks. 

IT Architecture Design and Planning (20%)

• Utilize expertise and experience to develop creative and effective ideas for expanding IT service delivery, ways to increase productivity or lower costs such as remote management of network equipment from Boston, saving travel times.

Help to architect a unified IT infrastructure across all sites to share resources and limit exposure to risk and cost overruns.

• Implement efficient processes within existing and new workflows.

• Continuously implement automation wherever possible utilizing various industry best practices including scripting through PowerShell, Python, Bash, Ansible, SaltStack, Puppet where applicable.

• Implement containerized based solutions where possible using Docker, Podman, Kubernetes and various proven and mature solutions available in the industry. 

Qualifications 

• Bachelor (4-year) degree, with a technical major, such as engineering or computer science.

• Work experience in place of Bachelor degree (10 years as System Engineer or equivalent).

• Six – ten years systems administration experience.

• Expert Level in Microsoft O365 & Azure services management mandatory.

• System Security and Planning

• Problem-solving skills.

• Technical and organized attitude.

• In-depth knowledge of computer systems.

• Ability to travel up to 2 weeks per year and lift up to 50lbs

• Ability to describe technical information in easy-to-understand terms.

• Exemplary interpersonal skills; ability to collaborate effectively with culturally diverse staff across departments and country.

• Interest in social justice strongly desirable.

Organizational Profile 

Partners In Health (PIH) is a non-profit, global health organization that fights social injustice by bringing the benefits of modern medical science first and foremost to the most vulnerable communities around the world.

PIH focuses on those who would not otherwise have access to quality health care.

PIH partners with the world’s leading academic institutions to create rigorous evidence that shapes more sound and all-inclusive global health policies.

PIH also supports local governments’ efforts to build capacity and strengthen national health systems. 

As of today, PIH runs programs in 11 countries (Haiti, Peru, Rwanda, Mexico, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Malawi, Lesotho, Russia, Kazakhstan, Navajo Nation), where it provides direct care to millions of patients, through public facilities and community engagement.

Partners In Health (PIH) is committed to the fundamental principle of equal opportunity and equal treatment for every prospective and current employee.

It is the policy of PIH not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex and gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

PIH works in and with a number of governments in and outside the U.S., and to the extent applicable, this statement is intended to incorporate the prohibition of any unlawful discrimination covered by applicable laws in such countries, states and municipalities.

Partners In Health participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment.

Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.