Systems Automation Engineer

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), a pioneer in scientific research, has an immediate opening for a term position for a Systems Automation Engineer with the Lab’s IT User Support Department.

The Systems Automation Engineer will report to the Workstation Support Group Lead, and work under the direction of the Endpoint Manager. The Engineer will use existing infrastructure to develop tools and methods to automate the deployment, configuration, and support of servers, virtual machines, and workstations for the Lab 4000+ users. The Engineer will also be responsible for the administration of Linux and Windows servers used internally and by scientific users throughout the Lab.

As part of the Endpoint Management Team, the Engineer will develop and maintain maintain scripts and applications, use industry-standard deployment, monitoring, and management tools, and implement best practices for consistent, repeatable processes, to provide secure, reliable, and efficient computing services. The Engineer will assist in managing the routine maintenance, patching, and reporting of endpoint workstations using tools including IBM Endpoint Management Suite (BigFix), Microsoft WSUS, JAMF Casper, and antivirus and anti-malware products. This position will also serve as a technical resource to the rest of the workstation support group, and IT division as a whole, providing Tier 2 and 3 support for Windows and Mac workstations, Linux and Windows servers, and VMware-based virtual machines.

• Implement endpoint solutions for patching, policy enforcement, software distribution, and asset management for Windows, Mac, and Linux workstations, using existing BigFix, Active Directory, and JAMF infrastructure

• Develop scripts and utilities to automate and monitor tasks using bash, PowerShell, python, and other common scripting languages

• Develop and maintain web applications for managing equipment inventories, software licenses, and customer portals using Ruby, Javascript, PHP and other languages

• Deploy and manage scripts, GPOs, and fixlets using for BigFix and Active Directory

• Research and implement automated Linux deployment using Ansible, Puppet, Warewulf, cfengine and other tools

• Research and implement systems to automate VM provisioning using VMware and cloud services

• Assist and support the use of automation tools by other administrators, engineers and technicians

• Produce clear, well-written documentation of applications, procedures, and methods

• Maintain accurate Configuration Management Databases (CMDB) of server and workstation deployments

• Provide end user support for servers and workstations, responding to direct communications from customers, and team members

• Maintain accurate records of all customer and project work using ServiceNow ticket platform

• Participate in weekly team meetings for the planning and tracking of projects and activities and quarterly meetings with key stakeholders to communicate plans and acquire feedback

• Work closely with the cyber security team to identify and evaluate emerging threats, trends, and regulatory requirements, and recommend new products and strategies to manage them

• Maintain test and production environments for supported applications and help develop long term endpoint management and workstation support strategies

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience and a minimum of 2 years of experience developing software or automation utilities.

• Experience developing scripts using one or more of PowerShell, python, bash, VBScript, or Perl

• Experience deploying, configuring, and maintaining Linux systems, primarily Ubuntu and CentOS

• Experience developing user-friendly web or client-server applications using Ruby, PHP, Python, Javascript, etc

• Experience developing and consuming services via web APIs

• Knowledge of networking concepts including routing, firewalls, and ACLs

• Ability to sort through problems of moderate scope and conduct comparative analysis of multiple solutions       

• Ability to write clear and accurate documentation and quickly learn new tools, applications, programming languages, and OS environments

• Excellent customer service skills, by email, by phone, and in person

• Demonstrated analytical and troubleshooting skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to prioritize and manage time under a heavy workload and collaborate with disparate sets of stakeholders

Additional Desired Qualifications:

• Experience developing fixlets for BigFix

• Experiencing managing Windows domains using Active Directory

• Knowledge or prior experience managing a WSUS server

• Experience working with IT support ticketing systems (e.g. Service Now, Jira, Remedy)

• Familiarity with software packaging, distribution and license management

• Experience with Antivirus product management, such as Malwarebytes and Sophos

• Experience with Mobile Device Management (MDM) tools

• Experience with cyber security compliance and enforcement

• One or more technical certification, such as Linux Professional Institute (LPI), CompTIA A+, Microsoft MCSE, Dell or Apple technician, and Cisco CCNA, or equivalent education and experience

Notes:

• This is a one-year Term appointment that may be renewed or converted to Career based upon several factors, including: performance, budget and ongoing operational needs.

• Full-time, M-F, exempt from overtime pay (monthly paid).

• Salary is commensurate with experience.

• This position is contingent on the successful completion of a background check.

• Work will be primarily performed at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA.



Berkeley Lab (LBNL) addresses the world’s most urgent scientific challenges by advancing sustainable energy, protecting human health, creating new materials, and revealing the origin and fate of the universe. Founded in 1931, Berkeley Lab’s scientific expertise has been recognized with 13 Nobel prizes. The University of California manages Berkeley Lab for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. Berkeley Lab is in compliance with the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision under 41 CFR 60-1.4.  Click here to view the poster and supplement: "Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law."