Entry Level Linux System Administrator Jobs in Minnesota

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is seeking candidates who are eager to contribute to its Lasallian Catholic mission of awakening, nurturing, and empowering learners to ethical lives of service and leadership. We invite individuals to help transform lives through education, inspired by the Catholic Intellectual Tradition’s quest to understand the human experience through faith and reason and its embrace of all who are dedicated to learning from one another through authentic conversations in search of the truth. We are especially interested in and give preference to candidates who demonstrate a vision to create and nurture initiatives that will advance our mission within the scope of their duties and who will foster a culture of dialogue that, with respect for all people, supports the search for meaning and purpose in pursuit of excellence.

Job Summary

The Systems Administrator I is responsible for supporting and maintaining an organization’s IT infrastructure, ensuring systems operate efficiently, securely, and reliably. This entry-level role provides day-to-day technical support for servers, networks, and end-user systems while assisting in troubleshooting issues, performing routine maintenance, and implementing basic system upgrades. The Systems Administrator I works closely with senior IT staff to develop technical skills and contribute to overall system stability and performance. This role is critical in maintaining the continuity of our technical infrastructure during our 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM shift. You will be the primary technical lead during the transition from standard business hours into evening operations, ensuring system stability and providing expert-level support.

Salary Range: $50k - $60k 

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide 2nd and 3rd level support to staff, faculty and students via phone and in person.
• Manage identity and access via Active Directory or LDAP, including onboarding new hires, resetting passwords, and adjusting permissions.
• Assist with end user accounts, permissions, and access rights (Active Directory, Group Policy, and Google Workspace).
• Manage servers, including database, print, and backup servers and their associated OSs and software.
• Deploys new servers using master images to ensure software versions are consistent and backup procedures meet standards.
• Provides daily management and routine reporting for all servers and the checking of event logs to determine any irregularities.  
• Maintain VLAN segments to ensure secure traffic isolation between networks
• Configure and optimize switches and wireless access points including trunking and PoE management and switch-level port security
• Perform routine server monitoring, updates, and patches to ensure hardware and software are running at peak performance.
• Administer Virtual Storage Appliance based multi-site SAN to ensure stability and acceptable data management.
• Execute regular data backups and assist in implementing security protocols (firewalls, antivirus) to protect against data loss or cyber threats.
• Configure and deploy physical and virtual servers, workstations, and networking equipment (routers, switches, etc.).
• Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware and software failures, escalating complex issues when necessary.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Experience and Education Requirements

• Required: Associate’s Degree Or Bachelor’s Degree Or Equivalent Experience
• Preferred: Bachelor’s Degree in IT with emphasis on server and network administration; Certifications (VMWare, A+, Microsoft, etc)

Essential Knowledge & Skills

• Management of Windows and Linux operating systems
• Experience with VMWare
• Knowledge of server and storage hardware
• Knowledge of basic networking technologies
• Strong research and analytical skills
• Professional demeanor and ability to remain calm in challenging situations
• Ability to communicate and interact successfully with a diverse community of faculty, students and staff
• Creative problem-solving skills, attention to detail and follow-through
• Ability to work independently and as a team member
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and competing time demands
• Ability to respond 24/7 for critical system needs
• Ability to occasionally travel between campus locations

Physical Demands

• Sedentary work. Sedentary work involves lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time and occasionally lifting or carrying articles like docket files, ledgers, and small tools. Although a sedentary job is defined as one which involves sitting, a certain amount of walking and standing is often necessary in carrying out job duties. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required occasionally and other sedentary criteria are met.

Physical Hazards – Health and Safety Concerns

• General office environments
• Ergonomics

Apply online at https://www.smumn.edu/about/offices-services/human-resources/employment-opportunities/ and include a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references.

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota believes inclusion and human dignity contributes to a robust academic and work environment and is critical to achieving the University's mission in an increasingly diverse society. Individuals with expertise and diverse skills from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. The successful candidate must support, respect, and advance the mission of Saint Mary's University as a Lasallian Catholic institution.

Saint Mary’s offers a comprehensive benefit package including health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, flexible spending, retirement pension plan, and both undergraduate and graduate tuition remission plans.

All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.