What are the responsibilities and job description for the Systems Administration Co-Op position at X-ES Board?
Support the infrastructure that enables X-ES engineers to design, develop, and deliver industry-leading embedded computing solutions. As a Systems Administration Co-Op, you'll work alongside a collaborative team of IT professionals to manage, automate, and improve the systems that power our engineering environment. This role provides hands-on experience with enterprise infrastructure, virtualization, and automation while contributing to meaningful projects that have a direct impact on the organization.
This position is full-time and in-person at our Verona, WI facility for a Spring/Summer 2027 Co-Op (January-August 2027) or a Summer/Fall 2027 Co-Op (May-December 2027). This typically requires students to take a semester off school to accommodate.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Assist with the administration, maintenance, and automation of Linux servers, Windows virtual machines, Microsoft 365, and network infrastructure
- Automate Linux, Windows, and Switch infrastructure using Ansible as the primary management tool, writing and maintaining playbooks, roles, and reusable workflows
- Manage physical servers, KVM virtual machines, and Docker containers
- Administer ZFS and Ceph based storage systems
- Use GitLab CI/CD pipelines for infrastructure change management
- Monitor system performance and troubleshoot issues using Zabbix, implementing improvements to reliability and efficiency
- Work with the team using Agile and DevOps practices to deliver reliable, scalable infrastructure
- Participate in deployments, system upgrades, and continuous improvement initiatives
Required Qualifications:
- Currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science, System Administration, or a related field.
- Hands on experience with Linux distributions
- Familiarity with Bash and/or Python scripting
- Understanding of basic networking concepts (DNS, DHCP, subnets, firewalls)
- Ability to manage competing priorities and fulfill tasks to meet project deadlines.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with Ansible or other Infrastructure-as-Code tools like Terraform
- Exposure to virtualization technologies (KVM, VMware, or similar)
- Familiarity with Git and version-controlled workflows
- Windows system administration or Active Directory experience
- Experience with ZFS, Docker, or CI/CD tooling (GitLab)
Compensation and Benefits
Extreme Engineering Solutions offers a competitive compensation package and excellent benefits, including:
- No-deductible, low-copay group health insurance (90% employer paid).
- Eligibility for health insurance benefits on the first day of the month following date of hire.
- 401(k) employer match up to 4%. Roth option is available.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
X-ES also takes a casual, small-business approach to company culture. At our state-of-the-art office and manufacturing facility located in Madison’s growing tech corridor, there’s no formal dress code, flexible scheduling, and dedicated personal workspaces. Our employees kick back at regular company events and enjoy lunches from local pizza places and food carts. At X-ES, we strive to offer a comfortable, relaxed environment for our employees to do their best work.
About X-ES
X-ES is proud of its strong university partnerships and offers multiple student opportunities each year. Student employees make direct contributions to the company’s products, processes, and day-to-day operations.
When “rugged enough” isn’t rugged enough for embedded computing systems, industry leaders in the military, aerospace, industrial, and commercial sectors turn to Extreme Engineering Solutions (X-ES). Because we strive to be the premier provider of mission-critical embedded products while delivering exceptional levels of customer and employee satisfaction, we hire strong contributors and give them space to thrive. As a 100% employee-owned company, our employees both drive and directly benefit from our success. Together, we meticulously design and build products that stand up to some of the most extreme conditions on the planet.
Extreme Engineering Solutions is located in the Madison, WI area. The company designs and manufactures rugged embedded computing solutions for a variety of applications. For more information, visit www.xes-inc.com.
Extreme Engineering Solutions is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other category protected by law.
All X-ES job postings and application procedures are posted in compliance with Section 39.08 of the Madison General Ordinances.