Job Description

Job Description Summary:

The COSMIC System Administrator Intern will offer undergraduate or graduate students the opportunity to work closely with COSMIC’s professional IT staff to gain professional work experience and skills in the information technology/system administration field. This position will be responsible for supporting the COSMIC staff with maintaining the macOS environment, including building laptops, upgrading operating systems, deploying application updates, tracking asset changes, maintaining inventory, and assisting staff with troubleshooting needs.

Day-to-day administration will require a working knowledge of Apple macOS and Red Hat Linux operating systems along with servers and devices, networking, SSH, and basic Linux/BASH command line knowledge. Participation in a positive and a considerate team environment, as well as the ability to follow all internal and external procedures, guidelines, and best practices is essential to this job.

This position is expected to be part-time during active school semesters and can be as high as full-time during school breaks.

Position Details:

Visa Sponsored Job:

No

Relocation Assistance Eligible:

No

Job Location:

Boulder, Colorado

Position Type & Term:

Full time, Casual

Undergraduate Interns: $22.79/hr

Graduate Interns: $27.58/hr

Application Notes

Application Deadline: This position will be posted until 11:59:59 pm MT, Friday, January 3, 2025. Applications will not be accepted past this date.

Required application materials (preferably in PDF Format): 

• Resume

• Questionnaire - (to be completed within the Workday application):

  • Briefly describe how you have remotely managed a Linux Server without a desktop environment? (e.g. SSH, Telnet, PuTTY, etc.)

  • How many usable, available addresses will a /24 subnet have? (254 or 255) 

  • How do you exit Vi or VIM on a server? Please select your answer from the list below:

    • ":q", 

    • ":q!", 

    • "wq", 

    • "Wq!"

    • "Shift + ZZ"

Background checks are conducted for candidates selected for hire. Learn more.

Work Location:  This position is open to candidates seeking fully in-person/on site opportunities. UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.

What You Will Do

Here is a summary of what one would expect to be generally responsible for in this role.

Key Responsibilities

User & System Support

• Provide comprehensive support for COSMIC staff, including troubleshooting workstation, software, and printing issues. 

• Maintain accurate records in the ticketing system and ensure timely resolution of issues by researching solutions, escalating to COSMIC IT when necessary, and tracking progress through completion.

• Monitor staff systems, including Code42 backups, application update deployments, and operating system upgrades, to maintain system reliability and security.

Software, Server, and Systems Management

• Research, configure, and deploy applications to staff systems using JAMF. 

• Track asset changes, reporting them to COSMIC IT and the Divisional Property Administrator (DPA) to ensure compliance with UCAR policies.

• Maintain detailed documentation of processes, network audits, and equipment configuration, including physical labeling. 

• Update records as processes evolve to align with organizational requirements.

Who We'd Love To Join Our Team

Successful candidates will ensure their application materials speak to the following criteria:

Education & Experience

• Must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program with a focus on information technology, computer science, or a related technical field.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Skilled troubleshooter with a knack for making computers work.

• Support-focused: Genuine desire to help others use technology effectively.

• Detail-oriented: Able to stay focused on the tasks at hand and not lose track of important details.

• Desire to learn and grow professionally.

• Knowledge of current macOS operating systems and macOS hardware troubleshooting.

• Ability to clearly communicate in both verbal and written form with staff.

• Familiarity with securing desktop environments (encryption, secure passwords, maintaining updates).

• Ability to determine when internal system support, vendor support, or other technical resources should be consulted.

• Proven ability to work in a positive and considerate team environment.

• Ability to work in a diverse and inclusive environment.

Commitment to an Ethical, Welcoming, and Supportive Work Environment

Our organization is committed to being an employer of choice for people from all backgrounds and identities, and to integrating your myriad perspectives through intentional policies and practices that promote belonging and lead to organizational excellence throughout our research and operations. We encourage you to visit our webpages for our Office of Access, Culture, and Opportunity to learn more about the ways we work to uphold this commitment to our community.

Research shows that women and people of color are less likely to apply for a position if they do not meet almost 100% of the desired skills and experience while others will apply if they meet only 40%. Please remember that while the minimum requirements are necessary, we don't expect that anyone is likely to meet every single item on our desired wish list! Whoever you are, if you meet the minimum requirements and have a passion for the work, we encourage you to apply. We can provide on-the-job training for the rest.

Commitment to Job Application Fairness

Applicants are not required to provide age or age-related information and may redact information related to age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution from any submissions during the initial application process.

Some Final Considerations

At UCAR|NCAR|UCP, you will work alongside a dedicated team of professionals conducting critical research and community outreach to solve complex Earth system science  problems including climate change, air pollution, extreme weather, floods, drought, wildfires, and space weather, all with the goal of improving human life and reducing economic loss. Each of us, from scientists to the professionals who support their work, serves the public and a collaborative community of scientists in our mission to understand the complex processes that make up the Earth system, from the ocean floor to the Sun’s core.

Flexible Work

At UCAR, we are committed to supporting our mission by giving staff the flexibility to find the schedule and location that works best to maintain their own work-life circumstances and reach their full potential as professionals. Many positions within our organization are eligible for fully on-site, hybrid, fully-remote and/or flexible work schedules.

Equal Opportunity Employer

UCAR is committed to providing equal opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or pregnancy. Whatever your intersection of identities, you are welcome at UCAR.

Export Control

All positions are required to comply with U.S. export compliance regulations work location requirements regarding access to facilities and research systems.

Visa Wait Times

Please consider the length of visa procurement when applying for this posting, understanding that you will not be able to begin employment until you are able to get a visa and enter the U.S.