What are the responsibilities and job description for the Network & Systems Administrator position at Tooling Systems Group?
Job title: Network & Systems Administrator
Reports to: IT Director
Supervisory responsibilities: None
Most of the work is network and infrastructure: firewalls, switching, servers, virtualization, backups and Microsoft 365. When the help desk is busy, the administrator also supports employees and their PCs.
The ideal candidate is a self-starter who enjoys solving problems in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, documents what they build, and explains technology clearly to the people who use it.
TSG is an Equal Opportunity Employer. TSG does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.
Reports to: IT Director
Supervisory responsibilities: None
Summary/objective: Tooling Systems Group (TSG) is adding a Network & Systems Administrator to its IT team. This hands-on role keeps the networks, servers and cloud services that TSG's member companies depend on secure, available and well documented.
Most of the work is network and infrastructure: firewalls, switching, servers, virtualization, backups and Microsoft 365. When the help desk is busy, the administrator also supports employees and their PCs.
The ideal candidate is a self-starter who enjoys solving problems in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, documents what they build, and explains technology clearly to the people who use it.
Essential functions:
Network and infrastructure (primary)- Administer, monitor and troubleshoot the network across multiple company sites: firewalls, switches, VLANs, routing, wireless, and site-to-site VPN and WAN links.
- Administer Windows Server and Active Directory, including DNS, DHCP and Group Policy, in a multi-domain environment.
- Administer and support Linux (Ubuntu) servers.
- Manage virtualization hosts and virtual machines: provisioning, capacity, snapshots and updates.
- Manage backup and recovery: monitor backup jobs, fix failures and run regular test restores.
- Administer Microsoft 365 and Azure: Entra ID, Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams, and Azure-hosted servers and SQL databases.
- Patch and maintain servers, network devices and endpoints on a defined schedule.
- Respond to monitoring and security alerts; investigate, resolve or escalate them under the incident procedures.
- Keep documentation current: network diagrams, IP address records, asset inventory and runbooks.
- Support the cybersecurity and compliance program (CMMC 2.0 / NIST SP 800-171): follow change control, apply security configurations and provide evidence when asked.
- Take infrastructure projects from plan through build, testing, cutover and on-site commissioning, working with vendors and carriers.
- Provide help-desk and desktop support when the queue needs it: Windows PCs, Microsoft 365 apps, printers, phones and business applications.
- Set up equipment and accounts for new employees and remove access for leavers.
- Work tickets in the IT service desk system and keep them up to date.
- Train employees to use technology effectively and securely.
Required competency, education and experience:
- BS in Computer Science, Information Technology or a related field, or equivalent relevant industry experience
- 3–5 years of hands-on network and/or systems administration experience
- Working knowledge of TCP/IP, VLANs, routing, firewalls and VPNs
- Windows Server and Active Directory administration
- Microsoft 365 administration
- Strong troubleshooting, documentation and communication skills
- Ability to work independently and prioritize requests from several sites
- Availability for planned after-hours and weekend maintenance windows, and for urgent outages
- Valid driver's license
Preferred education and experience:
- Next-generation firewalls (SonicWall or similar) and managed switching
- Virtualization platforms (Nutanix, VMware, Hyper-V or similar)
- Enterprise backup and recovery (Veeam or similar)
- Linux administration and scripting (PowerShell, Bash or Python)
- Azure administration: virtual machines, networking and SQL
- Remote monitoring and management (RMM), endpoint protection, SIEM and multi-factor authentication tools
- Network monitoring (SNMP) and IP address management
- Work in a regulated environment (CMMC, NIST SP 800-171, ISO 27001 or similar)
- Certifications such as CompTIA Network or Security , Cisco CCNA, or Microsoft Azure / Microsoft 365 administrator
- Experience in a manufacturing environment
Work environment: Office/desk setting in a manufacturing environment, with regular work on shop floors and in server and network rooms.
Physical demands:
- Ability to sit at a desk and computer for long periods of time
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds (servers and network equipment)
- Ability to climb ladders to reach ceiling-mounted access points and cabling
Position type and expected hours of work: Full time, Monday through Friday, with occasional after-hours and weekend work for planned maintenance and outages.
Travel: Up to 35% travel to company sites in the Grand Rapids area, with occasional overnight travel to out-of-state sites.
Compensation/Benefits: TSG offers a competitive compensation and benefits package which includes competitive pay, dental insurance, vision insurance, health insurance, short term disability, long term disability, company paid life insurance, voluntary life insurance, 401(k) plan with match, education reimbursement, paid vacation and holidays, and flex spending.
Other duties: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.
TSG is an Equal Opportunity Employer. TSG does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.