Computer Science Systems Administrator

Why Work at BYU

As the flagship higher education institution of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Brigham Young University (BYU) strives to be among the exceptional universities in the world. At BYU, we are devoted to our faith and to our students. We take an active role in the University's Mission: "To assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life.”

Our unique mission, deeply rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, provides countless ways to serve and make an impact. This, along with our remarkable culture of belonging, weekly devotionals, and endless opportunities for learning and growth—all situated within a beautiful and historic campus—make it hard to imagine a more inspiring place to work.

Brigham Young University strongly prefers to hire faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Computer Science Systems Administrator

The Computer Science (CS) Animation Systems Administrator will provide essential technical support and assistance to faculty, staff, and students within the Animation program specifically and when feasible within the CS Department more broadly. This role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the smooth operation of Animation and computer science education, research, and administrative functions.

What you’ll do in this position:

• Hardware and Software Support for Animation – Support the mission of the BYU Animation program by managing hardware and software assets within the Computer Science department, including inventory tracking, procurement, and deployment. Collaborate with animation faculty and students to identify needs and possible.
• Computing Environment Architect – Architect, plan, and deploy hardware and software needed to support Animation students with input from the Animation faculty. Create, update, and maintain critical production pipelines in a timely manner to avoid interruptions in classes and student projects. Design and refine systems for reporting and resolving support requests. Craft long term plans and solutions in response to direction from Animation faculty about program long term plans. Collaborate with animation faculty and students to ensure labs continue to meet program needs.
• Manage Animation Lab and Open Labs – Take responsibility for the operation of Animation computer labs, classrooms, and specialized computing facilities used by Animation students and faculty. This includes the design, creation and use of tools for the automated installation and configuration of many lab computers. Perform routine maintenance, software updates, and equipment troubleshooting to minimize disruptions to teaching and learning activities. Assist with the installation, configuration, and maintenance of computers, servers, peripherals, and specialized software tools used for teaching and research purposes. This includes the management of a diverse set of operating environments including Linux, Mac, and Windows; and also includes the management of the network infrastructure. The position will also assist with management of general department hardware and software assets as needed.
• Security and Compliance – Assist in implementing and enforcing IT security policies, procedures, and best practices within the Department of Computer Science. Collaborate with the university's IT security team to address cybersecurity threats, vulnerabilities, and compliance requirements. This would include training and installation of any required software and/or equipment and/or procedures that are required by the Church, BYU or OIT.
• Manage Student Employees – Hire, manage and mentor student employees who will take care of the day-to-day operations of computing support. Train these students in the skills they will need to be effective.
• User Training and Guidance – Offer consulting, guidance and training to departmental users on the proper use of computing resources, software applications, and IT systems. Assist and consult with faculty and students in setting up development environments, configuring software tools, and troubleshooting programming-related issues.
• Share Documentation and Knowledge – Maintain accurate documentation of IT procedures, troubleshooting steps, and system configurations. Create and update user guides, manuals, and knowledge base articles to empower users to resolve common technical issues independently.
• Collaborate with other System Administrators from the college to develop best practices and to improve user experience. Work with university (OIT) to develop best practices and to improve user experiences.

What qualifies you for this role:

Required:

• A firm commitment to the mission of BYU.
• Bachelor's degree: A B.S. in Computer Science, Information Technology, Computer Engineering, or a related field preferred. However, candidates with equivalent degrees may also be considered OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• System Administration Experience: Candidates should have 3 or more years of experience with at least two of the following: managing end-user desktop/mobile systems, network design/management, and backend services.
• Technical Support Experience: Candidates should have 3 or more years of practical experience providing technical support and assistance in an academic, corporate, or IT service desk environment. This includes diagnosing and resolving hardware, software, and network issues, as well as assisting users with technology-related inquiries.
• Customer Service Skills: Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills are crucial for effectively communicating with faculty, staff, and students and providing quality support. The ability to troubleshoot technical issues remotely and in person while maintaining a positive and professional demeanor is important.
• Documentation and Communication: Proficiency in documenting technical procedures, troubleshooting steps, and user guides is important. Effective written and verbal communication skills are essential for conveying technical information clearly and concisely to users with varying levels of technical expertise.
• Familiarity with Computing Environments: Strong familiarity with computing environments such as Windows, macOS, and Linux is essential.
• Experience with server administration, virtualization technologies.
• Problem-Solving Abilities: Candidates should demonstrate strong problem-solving abilities and the capacity to think critically and analytically to resolve complex technical issues. The role may require the ability to adapt to new technologies and methodologies quickly.
• An awareness of IT security best practices and a commitment to safeguarding sensitive data, research assets, and intellectual property are essential. Candidates should have experience with adhering to departmental and university IT security policies and procedures and defending against cybersecurity threats and minimizing vulnerabilities.

Preferred:

• Prior experience providing technical support within an academic or research environment, particularly within a computer science department or similar setting, may be advantageous.
• Experience as a leader of a team of IT professionals, ideally a team which also includes students.
• Knowledge of Programming Languages: Familiarity with programming languages commonly used in computer science education and research, such as Python, Java, C/C++, and others, may be beneficial for assisting faculty and students with programming-related issues.
• Previous experience with animation software, pipelines, and classes in production and education settings.
• Familiarity with Animation software and development pipelines.
• Experience with cloud computing platforms such as AWS.

What we offer in return:

In addition to our competitive pay structure, this position comes with fantastic benefits, including:

• 401k. BYU automatically contributes 8% at no cost to you. Additionally, if you contribute 5%, BYU adds an additional 4% (Rehires may qualify for different retirement plans)
• Excellent work-life balance: 13 paid holidays + 22 days paid vacation + 12 sick days, accrued annually
• Employee assistance program, available to the employee and all members of their household
• Tuition benefits for employees and eligible family members
• Access to athletic facilities
• Excellent medical/dental benefits
• Short/long-term disability benefits
• Paid parental and maternity leave
• Wellness Program
• Free on-campus parking
• Free UTA passes for employees, spouses, and qualified dependents
• Discounts at the BYU Store and for many events at BYU

Pay Grade: 54T

Typical Starting Pay: $88,000.00 to $114,000.00 annually

Required Documents:

All Staff positions require a resume.

Refer to the Job Posting for any additional required documents.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints must hold and be worthy to hold a current temple recommend.

Brigham Young University is an equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veteran status.

Brigham Young University (BYU) is widely recognized not just for its world-class education, but for its deep commitment to inspired religious values. Gathered together in a Christ-centered atmosphere, BYU employees are a vital part of a community of belonging, where we value the experiences, perspectives, and talents of each individual. If you share in our devotion to faith and to excellence, we have a place for you here at BYU!