System Engineer

Title: Senior Admin/ Engineer

Duration: Contract to hire

Salary upon conversion range is 110-130k

Location: Onsite 4-5 days a week in Piscataway, NJ

Position Overview

A fast-paced, regulated organization is seeking a Senior System Administrator to oversee and maintain its core IT infrastructure. This role is ideal for a self-sufficient and experienced technologist who thrives in lean, agile environments. You will take ownership of server and network systems, implement security and compliance controls, and lead infrastructure projects with a focus on performance, scalability, and regulatory adherence.

Key Responsibilities

Administer, maintain, and monitor the organization's IT infrastructure, including servers, storage, network hardware, and operating systems.

Install, configure, and manage physical and virtual servers (Windows and Linux), ensuring system reliability and compliance with applicable standards.

Implement and manage robust security controls, including access management, encryption, patching, and intrusion detection systems.

Lead infrastructure upgrades and migrations with careful planning to minimize disruption and ensure regulatory alignment (e.g., FDA, NIST, FISMA).

Monitor system health, troubleshoot performance issues, and proactively optimize system resources.

Support internal IT teams and end users by resolving infrastructure-level technical issues promptly.

Maintain and update system documentation, SOPs, and evidence of compliance activities.

Conduct audits and assessments to ensure compliance gaps are identified and addressed.

Contribute to the planning and execution of IT infrastructure projects and new technology deployments.

Mentor junior administrators and serve as a key technical advisor within the infrastructure domain.

Stay current with industry regulations and best practices, and recommend changes to strengthen compliance and security posture.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field.

Minimum 5 years of experience in system administration, in a regulated or highly controlled environment.

Strong hands-on experience with Windows Server and/or Linux administration, storage management, and network configuration.

Proficiency with virtualization platforms (VMware or Hyper-V).

Experience operating in compliance-driven environments (e.g., FDA, NIST, or FISMA-regulated).

Familiarity with cloud environments, particularly AWS (preferred).

Solid understanding of Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, and foundational networking concepts.

Demonstrated ability to perform upgrades, migrations, and infrastructure rollouts.

Skilled in implementing access controls, security protocols, and data protection solutions.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a collaborative mindset.

Ability to work independently as the go-to infrastructure expert in a small, agile team.

Industry certifications such as MCSA, MCSE, RHCE, or CCNA are a strong plus.