Windows Systems Engineer

Key Responsibilities

•       Execute the Active Directory, Group Policy, and permissions work backlog: GPO creation, modification, testing, and retirement, plus delegation and access changes.

•       Implement CIS baselines through GPO and scripted remediation, working from the Senior Server Administrator's analysis and direction. The Senior reviews and orchestrates; this role implements.

•       Design, write, and maintain PowerShell for administration, automating, auditing, remediation, and reporting across endpoints and AD.

•       Identify repetitive operational tasks and automate them, replacing manual procedures with tested, documented scripts.

•       Manage the Windows Server lifecycle at enterprise scale: build, configuration, patching, upgrading, troubleshooting, and decommissioning.

•       Receive work as assigned and prioritized by the Server Operations Team Manager, including work routed through the Senior Server Administrator or the Server Administrator under the Manager's oversight.

•       Log, update, and track all work items in Azure DevOps.

•       Work service requests and change controls through the Service Management tool, following the team's change process.

•       Store all work product and documentation in Azure DevOps as work is performed, including scripts, code, GPO documentation, runbooks, and SOPs. All work products are the property of the branch.

•       Cross-skill with the Senior Server Administrator so that AD/GPO and CIS knowledge is shared, not held by one person.

•       Take on additional on-premises duties as team responsibilities are realigned, as directed by the Manager.

Required Skills & Experience

•       5+ years of experience with Active Directory: domain services, replication, delegation, permissions, and domain controller troubleshooting.

•       5+ years of experience with Group Policy: design, scoping, filtering, troubleshooting, and change control in a large environment.

•       5+ years of experience with PowerShell: modules, error handling, remote execution, scheduled and unattended scripts, and AD/GPO automation.

•       3+ years of experience with implementation of CIS benchmarks (or equivalent hardening baselines) on Windows endpoints via GPO and scripting.

•       5+ years of experience with Windows Server administration and lifecycle management across a large server estate, including build, patching, upgrading, and decommissioning.

•       Experience with documenting while working: SOPs, runbooks, and change records kept current, with no after-the-fact write-ups.

•       Experience working from a tracked work queue (such as Azure DevOps boards) and within formal service request and change control processes.

Preferred / Nice-to-Have

•       Experience with task automation and orchestration beyond PowerShell, such as scheduled workflows and automation platforms.

•       Endpoint patch management experience, including third-party application and Windows OS patching.

•       Third-party application packaging and deployment automation, including application bundles (such as PDQ).

•       PKI and AD Certificate Services operations.

Success Metrics / Deliverables

•       Success is assessed against metrics established with the Manager and tracked in Azure DevOps, including AD/GPO backlog reduction, CIS items implemented, and script and documentation coverage.

•       AD/GPO backlog reduced and tracked in Azure DevOps.

•       CIS items implemented per the Senior's direction, with before and after state recorded.

•       Core administrative and remediation tasks covered by tested, documented PowerShell, with a baseline script library in Azure DevOps.

•       All work product, including scripts, code, and documentation, stored in Azure DevOps as property of the branch, with no work held locally or in personal storage.

•       Tested coverage on AD/GPO and PowerShell-based processes, so that more than one person can run and support them.

•       SOPs for recurring AD/GPO and hardening tasks written and reviewed by the Senior.