TITLE: IT Specialist (Systems Admin), IS-2210, Grades 9, 11, 12; $52,927 to $91,913/year
TYPE OF POSITION: Trust Fund (non-federal) Indefinite (2 vacancies)
DIVISION: - Computation Facility
LOCATION: Cambridge, Massachusetts
AREA OF CONSIDERATION: All qualified candidates

*First consideration may be made 14 days after the opening date. Selection may be made at either the grade 9, 11 or 12 level. This is a career ladder opportunity with promotion potential to grade 12. A candidate selected below the grade 12, may be non-competitively promoted to the next higher grade level, up to grade 12, upon the recommendation of the supervisor based on classification requirements, satisfactory performance and qualifications of the employee.

DUTIES:

Duties at the grade 9 level may include but are not limited to: providing Unix operating system management support for CF systems at the Center for Astrophysics (CfA); maintaining supported software; investigating and resolving systems problems; documenting operating system features and local configurations for users and system administrators; maintaining the hardware on the CF Unix servers including troubleshooting hardware and system software problems; assisting in installing system software and providing system software support for users and system administrators; providing system management support for distributed Unix systems at CFA including initial configuration of hardware and software, integration of client workstations with CF Servers, configuration of NFS, and monitoring the performance of the systems; and running disk backups.

Duties at the grade 11 level, in addition to those reflected at the 9 level, may include: investigating, exploring, testing and documenting operating system changes and releases and ensuring all applications and system support software is converted to and works correctly under new operating system prior to its installation on distributed systems; and writing procedures and system software and scripts necessary to operate and manage a distributed workstation environment.

Duties at the grade 12 level, in additional to those reflected at the 9 and 11 levels, may include: developing contingency plans for partial failure of the Servers; developing system security plans and procedures; monitoring systems for security breaches and taking appropriate action to prevent security breaches; and developing plans for restoring uncompromised baseline system configurations.

QUALIFICATIONS :
Candidates for grade 9 must possess a minimum of specialized experience equivalent to at least the grade 7 in the normal line of progress for this occupation, which should demonstrate a basic knowledge of Unix operating systems, utility software, systems management of multi-user systems, and systems management of distributed Unix workstations and servers sufficient to install server workstation upgrades; basic knowledge of TCP/IP implementations running on Unix systems, sufficient to provide systems management for Unix servers and client workstations; basic knowledge of Ethernet Local Area Networks and understanding of this technology’s capabilities, limitations and common problems. Such experience should have included assignments that demonstrated the following, or equivalent: analysis of the interrelationships of pertinent components of a computer system; planning a sequence of actions required to accomplish an assignment, and personal responsibility for a project or part of a project;

a) 2 full years of graduate level education or a Master's or equivalent degree in computer science, information science, information systems management, mathematics, statistics, operations research, or engineering, or course work that required the development or adaptation of computer programs and systems and provided knowledge equivalent to a major in the computer field; or
b) combination of successfully completed graduate level education and experience equivalent to the above.

Candidates for grade 11 must possess a minimum of 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the grade 9 in the normal line of progress for this occupation, which should demonstrate knowledge of Unix operating systems, systems Job management of Unix-based IT infrastructure servers, and systems management of distributed Unix workstations and file servers, NIS, NFS (and the auto-mounter) sufficient to test system builds, and provide operational support; knowledge of Ethernet Local Area Networks and understanding of this technology’s capabilities, limitations and common problems sufficient to provide systems management for Unix servers and distributed client workstations; ability to organize complex systems of distributed computers and file servers into a cohesive system; and, knowledge of security issues and best-practices in a distributed, Internet- connected environment sufficient to correct security vulnerabilities in assigned systems in response to problems identified in vulnerability reports. Such experience should have included accomplishments that may have involved knowledge of computer methods and techniques appropriate to an assigned system management area or computer specialty area in an organization; planning the sequence of actions necessary to accomplish the assignment where this entailed coordination with others outside the organizational unit and development of project controls; and adaptation of guidelines or precedents to the needs of the assignment; or
a) 3 full years of graduate education computer science, information science, information systems management, mathematics, statistics, operations research, or engineering, or course work that required the development or adaptation of computer programs and systems and provided knowledge equivalent to a major in the computer field; or
b) Ph.D. or equivalent degree in one of the fields cited above; or
c) combination of successfully completed graduate level education and experience equivalent to the above.

Candidates for grade 12 must possess a minimum of 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the grade 11 in the normal line of progress for this occupation, which should demonstrate broad knowledge of and experience with Unix operating systems in use at the CfA and utility software, systems management of Unix-based IT infrastructure servers, and systems management of distributed Unix workstations and file servers, NIS, NFS, (and the auto-mounter) sufficient to design and test system builds, and provide operational support; ability to identify and resolve complex systems problems; knowledge of Ethernet Local Area Networks and understanding of this technology's capabilities and limitations in order to provide support in a manner that minimizes interruptions to customers and their ability to carry out critical business activities; and, ability to develop system security plans and procedures. Such experience should have included computer project assignment that required a wide range of knowledge of computer requirements and techniques pertinent to system management. This knowledge is generally demonstrated by completion of assignments requiring analysis of a number of alternative approaches and making recommendations concerning major aspects of system designs, such as system interrelationships, system software, and/or equipment configuration most appropriate for a given project.

In addition, candidates at all grades must possess knowledge of Unix operating systems and utility software, system management of distributed Unix workstations and servers; knowledge of TCP/IP implementations running on Unix systems; knowledge of perl, C, awk, bourne and other shell scripting languages; good verbal and written communication skills; and, the ability to work effectively and cooperatively with computer and network users and systems staff.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Interested candidates should submit resumes to Recruiter #455 at the address below, or to saoresumes@cfa.harvard.edu. Please be sure to reference Job Posting #28-32. Please note that the email address is for submission of application materials only.

NOTE: Appointment will be subject to the applicant’s successful/satisfactory completion of a pre-appointment background check and subsequent background investigation, including fingerprinting. New employees are also subject to a one year probationary period. Relocation expenses will not be paid.

Please complete the Applicant Survey Form, which is used to collect information from candidates during the search process to evaluate the effectiveness of the Institution's search and recruit efforts. Please print all responses. The information provided is not a part of the selection process and will be used for statistical purposes only. Your voluntary responses will have no effect on your consideration.

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in our workplace.

Visit our SAO website. or http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/sao-home.html

Mailing address:
Recruiter 455 (JP#28-32)
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
60 Garden Street, MS 17
Cambridge, MA 02138