Missouri University of Science and Technology

Hiring Department

Division of Information Technology

Job Description

Research Support Solutions “X-Team” within the Division of IT at the University of Missouri provides advanced technical support for research computing needs across the campus. Researchers at the University are involved in diverse fields of study and research, requiring innovative and dedicated technologists with diverse skillsets.

We seek highly qualified candidates to join our advanced team of experts. Our team members are enthusiastic about enabling greater discoveries at MU and take pride in providing the best customer support. Successful candidates will contribute to the support of research computing needs by developing, installing, and managing computer systems, research instrumentation, scientific applications, and security solutions for research efforts on campus. They are expected to provide superior customer and technical support, both in-person and remotely utilizing management tools. Ideal applicants will possess outstanding professional written and verbal communication skills as well as strong interpersonal abilities.

Researcher systems are integrated into the campus environment and managed using industry best practices and technologies. Some of the technologies employed include Active Directory (AD), Puppet, Foreman, Ansible, Zabbix, VMWare, network and cloud file storage, configuration scripts (bash, tcsh, zsh, Python, PowerShell, among others), Veeam Backup and Replication, along with other enterprise-level and device-based tools.

Your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Assisting faculty, staff, and students with resolving issues.
• Diagnosing and solving end-user problems using error messages, logs, documentation, collaboration, and vendor communication.
• Handling escalated issues: triage, remote resolution, and referral to other groups as needed.
• Coordinating with vendors for hardware, software, and research instrumentation procurement and installation.
• Researching, recommending, and implementing hardware/software purchases to meet customer needs.
• Contributing to customer support strategy development.
• Learning research workflows, investigating best practices, and guiding data collection and analysis workflow development.
• Testing new tools, systems, techniques, and software products.
• Providing technical guidance, documentation, and training to customers and IT professionals.
• Documenting system configurations, modifications, and concerns.
• Managing work orders, projects, and tracking efforts.
• Communicating effectively in written and verbal forms with colleagues, customers, and external organizations.
• Advocating for researchers' needs while promoting institutional policy.
• Staying updated with emerging IT trends in research computing and support.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

This position is in-person and on-site in Columbia, MO, and has the potential for occasional travel to other campuses.

Shift

Monday – Friday 8am - 5pm

Evening, weekend, and call-in work may be required to meet deadlines and correct system failures.

Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience is required.
• Experience installing, configuring, maintaining, and troubleshooting Linux systems in Academic, Enterprise, or Research environments.
• Experience securing and monitoring Linux systems as well as educating customers on proper security practices.
• Ability to determine and initiate necessary actions to restore normal services with minimal down time.
• Experience as a member of a highly technical and customer-service driven team.
• Demonstrated experience with documentation, professional communication, and interpersonal relationships in IT and/or research focused groups.
• Ability to provide and receive honest feedback on team and individual efforts and ideas.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct customer support in an academic or research environment is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience managing Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Enterprise Linux clones (CentOS/Oracle Linux/Alma/Rocky), Debian, and Ubuntu is highly desirable.
• Experience with web application development is highly desirable.
• Experience with networking, security, and compliance is a plus.
• Experience compiling and installing software on Linux systems without using standard package repositories is highly desirable.
• Experience with database management (MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB) is a plus.
• Experience with Python and R languages or development environments is a plus.

Physical Expectations

• Constantly perform desk-based computer tasks.
• Frequently sitting, using a telephone, grasp lightly/fine manipulation, bending, lifting, standing, carrying equipment, and walking between buildings on campus.
• Occasionally lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh up to 60 pounds.
• Rarely kneel/crawl, climb (ladders, scaffolds, or other), writing by hand, sort/file paperwork or parts, grasp forcefully.

Anticipated Hiring Range

Salary Range: $60,000 - $85,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

University Title: System Administrator

Internal applicants can determine their University title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.

Sponsorship Information

Visa Sponsorship Information:

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. The University will not sponsor applicants for this position for employment visas.

Community Information

Columbia offers small-town friendliness with big city features and a high quality of life for people of all ages and interests. Founded on education and known as an ideal college town, its location also makes it an attractive spot for businesses and travelers. Located on Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 63, Columbia is right in the middle of the state and the nation. Just a couple hours’ drive from St. Louis and Kansas City, Columbia is Boone County’s largest population center offering big-city culture, activities, and resources with a low cost of living. Columbia is home to a variety of restaurants and entertainment venues and hosts more than a dozen festivals each year. If you want to grow your career, continue your education, raise a family, and retire, Columbia is a good place to be!

Benefit Eligibility

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits. 

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.