Junior Network / Systems Engineer

About the University:

Manhattan University is nestled in the historic neighborhood or Riverdale, close to dozens of restaurants and shops as well as Van Cortlandt Park, and is only 35 minutes from midtown Manhattan. Manhattan University is nationally ranked and offers degree programs in the arts, business, education, engineering, and science. The University has approximately 2,900 full and part-time undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in over 50 fields of study. It is committed to excellence in teaching a diverse student body and preparing students for successful careers and fulfilling lives. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where all employees and faculty members can thrive personally and professionally.

Position Description

The Junior Network / Systems Engineer supports the design, implementation, administration, and continuous availability of Manhattan University's enterprise network and server infrastructure. This position ensures that wired and wireless connectivity, data center systems, and network-attached services remain secure, reliable, and performant across all campus buildings, classrooms, laboratories, offices, residence halls, and event spaces.

Working under the direction of the Director of Network Systems, the Junior Network / Systems Engineer installs and maintains network hardware from multiple vendors, troubleshoots complex connectivity issues, administers Windows and Linux server environments, and supports virtualized and cloud-hosted platforms. The position serves as a hands-on technical resource for incident resolution, infrastructure projects, and campus technology deployments.

This role also partners closely with the Information Security team on cybersecurity and compliance initiatives, contributes to business continuity and disaster recovery planning, and maintains accurate technical documentation, network diagrams, and asset records that support the long-term stability of the University's technology environment.

Job Responsibilities

Network & Infrastructure Administration:

• Ensure the continuous, uninterrupted availability, security, and functionality of the network.
• Troubleshoot and resolve wired and wireless network issues, sometimes under duress.
• Install and maintain network equipment — including access points, switches, routers, and firewalls — from various vendors such as HPE Aruba, HP ProCurve, Juniper, Dell, and pfSense.
• Design and implement networks and wiring for network-reliant spaces, including classrooms, offices, labs, network closets, and event spaces.
• Create, test, and deploy network automation scripts and monitoring solutions.

Systems & Data Center Administration:

• Maintain physical data center infrastructure, including racked server hardware, power and cooling considerations, and cable management.
• Maintain, monitor, and manage both Windows and Linux servers.
• Build, maintain, and deploy standardized system images and software packages for classroom and computer lab workstations.
• Manage virtualized and containerized environments both on-premises and in the cloud.

User Support:

• Resolve network and server incidents and manage issues through the University's ticketing system.
• Support network connectivity and configuration for network-attached devices, including IP cameras, printers, and VoIP phones.
• Collaborate with the Information Security team to enforce cybersecurity and compliance initiatives.
• Participate in business continuity, backup management, and disaster recovery planning for network and server operations.

Documentation & Collaboration:

• Maintain technical documentation, network diagrams, configuration standards, and asset management records.
• Partner on ITS initiatives, evaluate new technology, and support system deployment testing and post-launch validation.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Minimum of two (2) years of hands-on experience supporting enterprise/campus network infrastructure and system operations.
• Demonstrated understanding of the following:
  • Network fundamentals, such as the TCP/IP model, OSI model, and subnetting.
  • Network protocols, such as DNS, HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, SMTP, SNMP, and DHCP.
  • Network architectures, such as WAN, LAN, VLAN, and WLAN.
  • Routing protocols, such as OSPF, BGP, RIP, and EIGRP.
  • Security standards, such as SSL/TLS, SSH, and WPA.
• Solid understanding of ethernet and fiber-optic cabling standards.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, organizational, and customer service skills, with effective communication across technical and non-technical audiences.

Supplemental Information

Preferred:

• Familiarity with data center operations, racking server hardware, and virtualization platforms such as VMware, Hyper-V, and KVM.
• Prior experience supporting higher education institutions or large-scale, multi-building campus environments.
• Hands-on experience with enterprise networking platforms such as HPE Aruba, HPE ProCurve, Juniper, Dell, and pfSense.
• Familiarity with administering, patching, and troubleshooting Windows Server environments alongside both Red Hat-based and Debian-based Linux systems.
• Experience managing network peripherals such as IP security cameras, printers, and VoIP telephony.
• Relevant industry certifications such as CompTIA Network+, Linux+, or Server+; CCNA; or vendor-specific credentials.

Manhattan University is an E-Verify employer.

Founded in 1853, Manhattan University is an independent Catholic Lasallian institution located in Riverdale, NY that embraces students of all faiths, cultures, and traditions. The mission of the University is to provide a dynamic student-centered educational experience that prepares graduates for lives of personal development, professional success, civic engagement, and service to their fellow human beings. We expect our faculty, administration, and staff to be knowledgeable about our mission and to make a positive contribution to the mission.

Manhattan University provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to age, race, creed, color, sexual orientation, military status, sex, disability, marital status, partnership status, pregnancy, caregiver status, domestic violence victim status, gender identity or expression, arrest or conviction record, criminal history, credit history, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, unemployment status and salary history. Manhattan University values and celebrates diversity and is committed to providing an inclusive environment for all employees. All interested, qualified persons are encouraged to apply.

Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.