Associate System Engineer Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Senior Systems Engineer

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Systems Engineer will lead the design, implementation, and optimization of Microsoft Cloud (Azure) and the full Microsoft 365 suite across Pepper’s enterprise and jobsite environments.

This role is responsible for delivering a secure, scalable, cloud-first architecture that enables seamless collaboration between field and office, strengthens cybersecurity posture, and supports resilient operations.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Microsoft Cloud & Microsoft 365 Platform Ownership

• Lead architecture and administration of the full Microsoft 365 ecosystem, including:
  • Exchange Online (mail flow, security, hybrid environments)
  • Microsoft Teams (collaboration, voice, and meetings)
  • SharePoint Online and OneDrive (content management and file services)
  • Intune / Endpoint Manager (device and application management)
• Serve as a Global Administrator responsible for tenant governance, configuration, and optimization
• Manage and enhance Exchange Online and Hybrid Exchange environments, including:
  • Mail routing, security policies, and retention
  • Backup, compliance, and archiving strategies
  • Integration with third-party systems
• Drive adoption and optimization of Microsoft collaboration tools across job sites and offices

Identity, Access & Security (Microsoft Stack)

• Own Entra ID (Azure AD) including identity lifecycle, SSO, and access governance
• Implement and manage Conditional Access, MFA, Zero Trust policies, and device compliance
• Administer Microsoft Defender suite (Endpoint, Identity, O365) and security posture improvements
• Support Microsoft Sentinel (SIEM) for monitoring and threat response
• Manage role-based access control (RBAC) and privileged identity management

Cloud Infrastructure & Hybrid Environment

• Design and support Azure infrastructure (IaaS/PaaS) including compute, storage, networking, and backups
• Manage hybrid identity and infrastructure integrations between on-prem and cloud platforms
• Lead cloud migration initiatives including Exchange, file services, and application workloads
• Support legacy systems where needed while driving cloud-first modernization

Resiliency, Compliance & Operations

• Implement disaster recovery and business continuity strategies using Azure and M365 capabilities
• Ensure compliance with data protection, retention, and regulatory standards using Microsoft tools
• Monitor performance, availability, and service health across Microsoft platforms
• Plan and execute patching, upgrades, and lifecycle management

Enterprise Systems & Support

• Provide Tier 2/3 escalation support for Microsoft Cloud, M365, and infrastructure issues
• Manage AD, DNS, and identity services in hybrid environments
• Maintain documentation, standards, and operational procedures

Strategy & Leadership

• Define and execute Microsoft-first cloud strategy and architecture standards
• Partner with leadership on M365 optimization, cost management, and security improvements
• Evaluate emerging Microsoft technologies (e.g., Copilot, automation, analytics and Fabric)
• Lead technical projects and manage vendors and consultants

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Science, or equivalent experience
• 5–7+ years of experience in systems engineering, cloud, or Microsoft platform administration
• Strong hands-on experience with:
  • Microsoft 365 administration (including Exchange Online)
  • Azure (IaaS, identity, networking)
  • Entra ID / Azure AD and identity governance
• Experience managing Exchange Hybrid environments and enterprise mail systems
• Strong understanding of security, compliance, and cloud governance principles
• Solid knowledge of networking and hybrid infrastructure

Preferred Skills

• Deep expertise in:
  • Microsoft 365 (Exchange, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, Intune)
  • Exchange Online & Hybrid administration
  • Identity, SSO, and federation technologies (ADFS, Entra ID)
• Experience with:
  • Microsoft Defender suite and Sentinel
  • Backup and recovery solutions (AvePoint, Veeam, Azure Backup)
  • Windows/Linux server environments
  • SQL Server administration
  • Network infrastructure (Cisco, firewalls, VPN)
• Experience leading cloud transformation and M365 adoption initiatives

Certifications (Preferred)

• Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
• Microsoft 365 Certified: Enterprise Administrator Expert
• Microsoft Certified: Messaging Administrator Associate (Exchange)
• Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate

The annual salary midpoint for this role is $100,000. We consider many factors when determining the actual hiring salary. These factors may include location, transferable skills, work experience, licensure and certification, business needs, internal equity, and market demands.

Pepper Construction is dedicated to offering our employees a comprehensive and best-in-class benefits package that prioritizes their physical, financial, and emotional well-being. We offer medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance plans, a generous 401k match, and a student loan repayment benefit. In addition to paid time off for company holidays, vacation, and personal days, Pepper offers fully paid medical and parental leave, mental health services, and more.

For additional information, visit www.pepperconstruction.com