Systems / Network Administrator Lead

About the role

CWS seeks an experienced Systems / Network Administrator Lead to lead enterprise systems and network administration supporting the U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command (USMEPCOM) Enterprise Network for Lifecycle, Information Support, and Technology (ENLIST) program. The selected individual will serve as the primary technical leader for enterprise infrastructure services. This role ensures that systems and network operations consistently meet defined service levels while maintaining secure, reliable, and highly available services across the command. The Systems / Network Administrator Lead provides technical direction and oversight for enterprise servers, operating systems, databases, virtualization platforms, storage solutions, collaboration technologies, cloud environments, and network infrastructure. Responsibilities include direct oversight of infrastructure operations, maintenance, and support activities for platforms deployed throughout the USMEPCOM enterprise. The position requires close collaboration with Government leadership, engineering teams, cybersecurity personnel, vendors, and external partners to uphold security, compliance, resilience, and interoperability standards. The successful candidate must lead geographically dispersed technical teams and demonstrate exceptional leadership within a complex Department of Defense IT environment.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Execute the operational responsibilities and technical oversight for enterprise systems and network infrastructure as defined for the Systems / Network Administrator Lead role at Cwsc.
• Provide primary technical leadership for enterprise infrastructure services, ensuring that systems and network operations consistently meet defined service levels while maintaining secure, reliable, and highly available services across the USMEPCOM enterprise.
• Direct the Outage Response Team (ORT), coordinating enterprise outage response, disaster recovery efforts, Continuity of Operations (COOP) initiatives, incident management procedures, and system restoration activities in alignment with organizational priorities.
• Act as the primary technical point of contact during major incidents, ensuring structured communication and timely resolution while guiding the ORT through complex scenarios and tracking restoration steps.
• Perform intake and classification of service requests and configuration changes, evaluating impact and routing issues to appropriate specialized teams for resolution in a timely manner.
• Establish and maintain baseline configurations for servers, operating systems, and network devices to enforce consistency and support efficient operational workflows across the enterprise.
• Maintain documentation of enterprise platform standards, ensuring that records support operational efficiency, compliance requirements, and knowledge transfer activities.
• Review system performance and security logs on an ongoing basis, identifying patterns that may indicate risk or inefficiency within critical infrastructure components.
• Implement approved changes following strict validation protocols to ensure military services and data flows remain uninterrupted and compliant with defense standards.
• Collaborate with cybersecurity staff to enforce access controls, audit trails, and compliance for defense-related environments, aligning with security frameworks and patching cycles.
• Maintain configuration for virtualization platforms, storage arrays, and database systems to support mission-essential applications and hybrid infrastructure strategies.
• Work alongside cloud teams and vendors to align hybrid infrastructure strategies, monitoring availability and performance across on-premises and cloud boundaries to ensure comprehensive visibility.

Requirements

• Hold active experience managing enterprise infrastructure in complex operational settings, demonstrating capability in high-stakes, technology-driven environments.
• Possess proven ability leading distributed technical teams, including mentoring, performance management, and coordination across multiple locations.
• Demonstrate experience communicating with Government stakeholders and vendors, ensuring clarity, professionalism, and adherence to contractual expectations.
• Show knowledge of security frameworks, patching cycles, and disaster recovery processes specific to defense IT programs, including compliance with applicable regulations.
• Exhibit the ability to interpret technical documentation and translate complex topics into concise guidance for diverse audiences, including technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Maintain strong problem-solving skills, using analytical methods to diagnose issues, evaluate risks, and recommend effective solutions in a timely manner.
• Demonstrate commitment to operational excellence, ensuring that all activities align with organizational objectives, service level agreements, and strategic priorities.
• Uphold integrity and professionalism when managing sensitive defense-related information, adhering to strict confidentiality and data protection standards.

Nice to have

• Preferred items are not specified for this role.

Practical notes

• Location for this role is Chicago, Illinois.
• The engagement is full-time, with an annual compensation of eighty-eight thousand seven hundred ninety-two USD for 2024.
• Details regarding application procedures and requirements must be confirmed with the issuing authority.