IT Systems Engineer I

Systems Engineer IPosition Description The Systems Engineer I maintains and supports the university’s enterprise server and storage infrastructure across cloud platforms and Biola’s on-premises data centers, and implements and maintains the university’s identity, collaboration, and productivity SaaS platforms. As a generalist on the Systems Engineering team, this role performs routine maintenance and initial triage for server and storage systems, engineers solutions for platforms such as Google Workspace and Entra ID, and uses agentic AI tools to carry out this work. The Systems Engineer I helps ensure the high availability, performance, and security of critical enterprise IT services, directly supporting the university’s mission and operational excellence. Alignment with Theological Positions The person who fills this position must be someone who personally agrees with Biola’s Articles of Faith and who is supportive of the positions taken by Biola as contained in its Statement of Biblical Principles and Eschatology Teaching Position. As such, this person may not act in a manner inconsistent with these positions during the course of their employment at Biola. Department Information Technology Supervisor Director of IT Systems Administration Educational RequirementsBS in information systems, computer science, or a related field preferred1+ years of experience in a systems administration or systems engineering role, or equivalent experience, and 3+ years of experience in Information Technology preferredWork RequirementsNon-exempt (02), full-time, 40 hours/week, 12 months per yearThis is a hybrid position based in La Mirada, California. Fully remote work is optional.Occasionally lift, carry, push, and pull technology-related equipment weighing 21–50 poundsOccasionally kneel, stoop, and bend to connect equipmentOccasionally climb laddersEssential DutiesServer, storage, and hybrid cloudMonitor the health, capacity, and performance of Linux and Windows server VMs, tiered storage, and hypervisor environments across cloud and on-premises data centers, and perform routine maintenance.Perform initial triage of server and storage incidents, resolve known issues using documented runbooks, and escalate complex issues to senior Systems Engineers with clear diagnostic findings.Execute patching and upgrade cycles for servers, operating systems, and software according to established processes and maintenance windows.Use system management tools for automated, scalable deployment, configuration, monitoring, and patching of infrastructure, operating systems, and software.Maintain Azure Automation and App Services environmentsMonitor enterprise backup jobs, perform restores, and report on compliance with the university’s RTO and RPO objectives.Identity and SaaS platformsImplement, configure, and maintain identity and access management systems, including Entra ID, for SSO, MFA, conditional access, and account lifecycle provisioning for Biola applications.Engineer, implement, and maintain SaaS and PaaS platforms used by departments across the university, such as Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and Zoom, including tenant configuration, security settings, integrations, and administrative automation.Resolve complex (tier 3) technical issues for identity and SaaS platforms.Provide backup support for endpoint management systems (Jamf and Intune) in coordination with the Endpoint Systems Engineer.Agentic AIUse agentic AI tools to accelerate triage, log analysis, scripting, configuration, and routine maintenance, validating outputs before applying changes to production systems.Use agentic AI to develop and maintain runbooks, standard operating procedures, and knowledge base articles, keeping documentation current as systems change.Follow established guardrails for agentic AI use, including change management, least-privilege access for AI tools, and protection of university data.Security and operationsFulfill routine service requests escalated from the IT Service Desk, as assigned.Participate in the after-hours on-call rotation for systems incident response and remediation, escalating to senior Systems Engineers as needed.Review trusted notification channels daily for emerging cyber threats, and apply hardening and remediation measures as directed.Projects and documentationParticipate in projects to implement new systems and storage infrastructure, including discovery, proof of concept, change management, and roll-out.Maintain IT infrastructure documentation, including system diagrams, standard operating procedures, and knowledge base articles.Stay up to date with emerging technology and process trends in the IT infrastructure and security field, and evaluate new technologies for their suitability for use at Biola.Required Skills/QualificationsDemonstrated use of AI tools to accelerate daily technical work. Experience with agentic AI tools, such as Claude Code, Codex, or similar, is a plus.Curiosity and a demonstrated habit of learning new tools and technologies independently.Ability to reason from incomplete information to form and test hypotheses when diagnosing problems.Broad familiarity with information technology best practices and tools across a variety of technology platforms.Ability to think broadly about information technologies to create solutions for business needs.Working knowledge of Linux and Windows server administration.Proficiency in Windows and macOS operating system administration.Experience with identity and access management best practices and IdP systems like Entra ID.Experience administering SaaS platforms such as Google Workspace or Microsoft 365.Working knowledge of cloud platforms and services, such as AWS and Azure.Experience with scripting (e.g., PowerShell, Bash, or Python).Familiarity with version control and automated deployment (GitOps).Familiarity with containerization and its orchestration.Familiarity with systems configuration, data extraction, reporting, and systems automation.Understanding of IT security best practices and experience hardening systems against cyber threats.Familiarity with endpoint management systems like Intune, SCCM, or Jamf.Strong team orientation, with the ability to work effectively in a team environment and on cross-functional teams.Excellent written and verbal communication skills for interacting with diverse clients and team members.Proven ability to handle high levels of system and data access with integrity and discretion.Maintain a lifestyle in consonance with sound Christian principles and those promulgated by the institution. Participate in the spiritual growth, development, care, and support of other employees.