Remote Systems Engineer Contract Jobs in Minnesota

The Role in One Sentence

You architect the large-scale infrastructure our customers ride on, set the automation and security standards the team builds to, and you’re the last call when something critical breaks.

What You’ll Actually Do

This is the senior technical seat for our broadband, voice, and IPTV infrastructure. You design enterprise-scale server, virtualization, and storage environments; make core ISP services — DHCP, DNS, RADIUS, VoIP, authentication, and provisioning — highly available and redundant; and build the automation and orchestration frameworks that let the whole team move faster with less manual work.

You’re a technical authority and a force multiplier. You lead the hardest infrastructure projects, own security and compliance programs, act as the highest escalation point for critical incidents, and shape long-term infrastructure strategy — all while mentoring the administrators coming up behind you. If you want to set direction rather than follow it, this is that role.

Position Title: Systems Administrator 3

Location: Remote (within driving distance of a Schurz property, see locations below)

Rate: $101,000 - $120,000 annually

Reports to: VP, Business Technology

Position Type: Full-time

What a Typical Week Looks Like

No two weeks are identical, but roughly:

• ~30% — Architecture & infrastructure strategy. Designing and optimizing enterprise server, virtualization, and storage environments and core ISP services for scale and resilience.
• ~25% — Automation & orchestration frameworks. Building tools and pipelines (Ansible, Terraform, Python) that standardize deployments and eliminate manual work.
• ~20% — Security, compliance & DR. Leading vulnerability management, incident response, compliance (FCC, PCI, SOC 2), and disaster-recovery and business-continuity strategy.
• ~15% — Escalation & root cause. Serving as the top technical escalation point for critical, large-impact incidents.
• ~10% — Leadership & reporting. Mentoring administrators and producing executive-level architecture diagrams, post-mortems, and recommendations.

Working with AI

We treat modern AI tools as part of how strong administrators and engineers work today. You’re encouraged to use AI assistants to accelerate scripting, draft and review automation, generate documentation, and speed up troubleshooting. What matters to us is sound engineering judgment and reliable systems — not whether a human or a model wrote the first draft.

What You’ll Own

Architecture & scale

Architect and oversee enterprise server and infrastructure environments — Windows, Linux, and Unix servers, virtualization platforms, and storage. Design and improve mission-critical ISP services for high availability and redundancy at large customer scale.

Automation & orchestration

Build advanced automation and orchestration frameworks — tools, pipelines, and processes using Ansible, Terraform, and Python — that standardize deployments and remove manual intervention.

Security, compliance & continuity

Lead vulnerability management, incident response, and compliance programs (FCC, PCI, SOC 2). Guide system hardening and risk mitigation, and design and regularly test disaster-recovery, backup, and failover procedures.

Leadership & strategy

Act as the highest-level technical escalation point and lead large cross-department infrastructure projects with senior network and engineering teams. Drive adoption of emerging technologies, mentor junior and mid-level administrators, and produce executive-level documentation and reporting.

What You’ll Bring

We care more about whether you fit the shape of this role than whether you tick every box. If you’ve architected and secured infrastructure at scale in a telecom or ISP and you’re missing an item or two below, we’d still like to hear from you.

Core

• 8+ years of server or networking experience
• Expert knowledge of TCP/IP, ISP network architecture, and core protocols — routing, switching, and IP addressing
• Mastery of managing and troubleshooting servers through shell commands and scripting
• Deep automation and orchestration experience (e.g., Ansible, Terraform, Python)
• A security-first approach: vulnerability management, intrusion detection, incident handling, and compliance (FCC, PCI, SOC 2)
• Proven ability to architect large-scale systems and lead complex root-cause investigations
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives and mentoring engineers
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field — or equivalent experience

Even better if you have

• Senior-level certifications: RHCE, Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE), Cisco CCNP/CCIE, or VMware Certified Professional (VCP)
• Data-center and ISP-backbone design experience
• A record of setting infrastructure strategy and standards at scale

Working Conditions

• Remote, but must reside within driving distance of one of our property locations: Winona, MN; Sergeant Bluff, IA; Maricopa, AZ; Hagerstown, MD; Burlington, VT; or New Knoxville, OH
• Participation in a senior on-call escalation rotation, including after-hours, weekend, and holiday coverage for critical incidents and major maintenance
• Serves as the top technical escalation point during scheduled maintenance windows and major incidents
• Leadership on large cross-department and change-control initiatives
• Primarily sedentary, computer-based work; must be able to remain at a workstation and operate a keyboard for extended periods, with or without reasonable accommodation
• Occasional lifting, moving, or transporting of server and network equipment (up to approximately 50 lbs) and work in data-center environments with moderate noise

Why Join Schurz Broadband Group?

When you join Schurz Broadband Group, you’ll be part of an award-winning company and team. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Group health & dental insurance
• 401(k) program with company match
• Generous PTO program
• Company wellness program
• Employer-paid short- and long-term disability
• And much more!

We are committed to providing an environment that gives each employee the opportunity to nurture their gifts and achieve their potential. Our mission is to pass on to future generations—customers, employees, communities, and owners—an organization that is even stronger and better than it is today.

Schurz Communications and its subsidiaries’ strategic objectives:

• We will attract, invest in, communicate with, and retain top talent. 
• We will innovate, partner, experiment and create a better future together. 
• We strive to continuously improve operating performance to ensure sustained growth. 
• We will dynamically grow revenues by building and nurturing mutually beneficial and profitable customer relationships.