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Systems Administrator Lead Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Systems Administrator Lead coordinates ITIL-aligned incident, problem, and change management processes, leads planning and execution of upgrades and patch cycles, and mentors junior ...

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Systems Administrator Lead information

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$41K

$88.9K

$137.5K

How much do systems administrator lead jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for systems administrator lead in the United States is $88,927.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $70,000.00 and $104,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Systems Administrator Lead?

A Systems Administrator Lead is an IT professional responsible for overseeing a team of system administrators and managing the overall operation, maintenance, and security of an organization's computer systems and networks. They ensure that systems run efficiently, troubleshoot complex technical issues, and implement upgrades or new technologies as needed. Additionally, they often develop policies, mentor junior staff, and coordinate with other departments to support business objectives. Their role is critical in maintaining uptime and ensuring data integrity across the organization's IT infrastructure.

What is the difference between Systems Administrator Lead vs Systems Administrator?

AspectSystems Administrator LeadSystems Administrator
CertificationsCompTIA Network+, Microsoft Certified: Windows Server, Cisco CCNACompTIA Network+, Microsoft Certified: Windows Server
Work EnvironmentTeam leadership, project coordination, overseeing IT infrastructureMaintaining and supporting IT systems, troubleshooting, daily operations
Employer & Industry UsageIT departments across various industries, often in larger organizationsIT support teams, small to medium businesses, enterprise environments

The Systems Administrator Lead typically has additional responsibilities in team management and project oversight compared to the Systems Administrator. While both roles require similar technical certifications and work in similar environments, the Lead focuses more on leadership and strategic planning, whereas the Systems Administrator concentrates on daily system maintenance and support.

What are some typical challenges a Systems Administrator Lead faces when managing a diverse IT team?

As a Systems Administrator Lead, you may encounter challenges such as aligning team members with varying skill sets, ensuring consistent adherence to security protocols, and coordinating responses to critical system incidents. Balancing project deadlines with ongoing maintenance tasks and facilitating effective communication between stakeholders and technical staff are also common hurdles. Proactively fostering collaboration and continuous learning within your team can help address these challenges and contribute to overall IT performance.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Systems Administrator Lead, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Systems Administrator Lead, you need advanced knowledge of system architectures, server management, networking, and a relevant degree or certifications such as CompTIA Server+, Microsoft Certified: Windows Server, or Red Hat Certified System Administrator. Expertise in tools like Active Directory, VMware, Linux/Unix systems, and monitoring platforms is typically required. Strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills help manage teams and coordinate with other IT departments. These skills ensure the stability, security, and optimal performance of critical IT infrastructure while effectively guiding and mentoring junior administrators.
More about Systems Administrator Lead jobs
Infographic showing various Systems Administrator Lead job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $88,927 per year, or $42.8 per hour.
Systems Administrator, Lead

Systems Administrator, Lead

Georgia State University

Atlanta, GA • On-site

$79K - $103K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 15 days ago


Georgia State University rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 33 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

248th of 546 rated colleges and universities


Job description

Description:
Systems Administrator, Lead
Georgia State University
Instructional Innovation and Technology
Enterprise Infrastructure
Why Work at GSU?
Join a Top Five Most Innovative Public Institution (U.S. News & World Report, 2026) known for academic excellence, research, and community impact. GSU offers strong career growth, a collaborative culture, and values-driven work.
Why GSU?
• Comprehensive benefits
• Collaborative, growth-focused environment
Why IIT?
• Drives innovation in learning and student success
• Offers growth, cutting-edge tools, and a collaborative team culture
Position Overview:
Georgia State University's Instructional Innovation and Technology (IIT) division is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Systems Administrator, Lead to provide technical leadership for the design, deployment, and lifecycle management of research computing infrastructure. This role is primarily responsible for the architecture and operation of high-performance storage and networking systems , including distributed storage platforms and scale-out NAS.
Other responsibilities include ensuring infrastructure security and compliance with research data requirements, designing tiered storage strategies for home, project, scratch, and object storage, optimizing performance for research workloads, and implementing quotas, replication, lifecycle management, and disaster recovery capabilities while supporting both POSIX and S3-compatible access.
Candidates must demonstrate hand-on experience working in LINUX and High-Performance Computing environments , possess some level of scripting/coding knowledge , and demonstrate understanding of scientific computing workloads and needs - this is a strict requirement for consideration.
This role requires practical expertise in designing, deploying, and maintaining large-scale distributed storage systems and network infrastructure associated with storage systems , including experience debugging issues related to networking and storage systems. Only candidates with this level of hands-on experience will be considered.
NOTE: This role requires on-site work. Remote or hybrid work options are not available for this position.
Key Responsibilities
The scope of responsibilities for this position will include, but is not limited to, the following:
Storage, Network, and Infrastructure Standards
• Provide technical leadership for research computing infrastructure to ensure scalable, reliable, and high - performance services
• Design, deploy, and manage enterprise storage and networking solutions that support data - intensive and high - performance research
• Align infrastructure architecture and standards with evolving research and institutional needs
Enhancements
• Enhance, modify, test, analyze and adapt existing systems across multiple platforms and tools, including virtual infrastructure tools, Kubernetes, High-Performance Computing clusters, network infrastructure, storage systems, and software infrastructure including observability platforms.
• Resolve complex system issues to maintain service stability and availability, which involve capacity planning and incident response.
Documentation
• Produce and maintain clear technical documentation and procedures to support information technology tools and solutions across multiple platforms for customers.
• Implement secure infrastructure practices aligned with research data compliance requirements (e.g., NIST 800-171).
• Support identity and access integration with institutional systems and ensure secure communication, auditing, and monitoring capabilities.
Solutions
• Deliver infrastructure solutions that expand or improve research computing capabilities.
• Increase operational efficiency through automation and standardized deployment practices.
• Ensure computing, storage, and networking systems are consistently configured and maintainable across platforms.
Research
• Identify and assess emerging technologies that can advance research computing capabilities.
• Collaborate with researchers, cyberinfrastructure facilitators, and IT teams to identify and support computational research needs.
• Mentor system administrators, contribute to technical planning for research initiatives, and participate in regional or national research computing collaborations.
Application Deadline: Applications must be submitted by June 30, 2026 (subject to change without notice).
Disclaimer:
This job requisition provides a high-level job definition. It is not intended to provide a comprehensive or exclusive list of job duties.
As such, job duties and/or responsibilities within the context of this job requisition may change at the discretion the employee's direct supervisor.
Qualifications:
Minimum Hiring Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree and three years of related experience, or a combination of education and related experience.
Preferred Hiring Qualifications:
NOTE: Preference will be given to candidates who also demonstrate:
• Hands-on experience with distributed high-performance storage systems
• Hands-on experience with networking systems, such as ethernet and InfiniBand
• Hands-on experience with computing systems and observability platforms systems
• Experience with implementing, maintaining, and complying with security standards, such as NIST 800-171
• Experience working with Kubernetes, HPC Systems, OpenStacks
• Hands-on experience working with large-scale backup solutions
• Experience with Cloud and AI environments
• Exposure to National Cyberinfrastructure

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