Systems Administrator - Physical Security

IT systems administration (infrastructure) role: servers, networking, storage, and the video and access control platform. Not a security guard, patrol, or installer position.

A large public college district in San Antonio is looking for a hands-on infrastructure systems administrator to take ownership of its video surveillance and access control systems. This person keeps the platform healthy every day: cameras, door access, servers, storage, and the network that connects them.

This is a technical systems administration role. It is not a security guard, patrol, or installer position, and it is not a role that only assigns door access. You will work closely with public safety staff, outside vendors, and the district’s central IT infrastructure team.

The district is also finishing a campus-by-campus upgrade to a unified video and access control platform (Genetec). Vendors do the installations. You will make sure the finished work is running correctly and then own it going forward. You do not need Genetec experience. Experience with a similar enterprise platform is welcome, and the district will help you learn its setup and earn the certification.

What you will do

• Administer the video surveillance and access control platform day to day, including users, roles, groups, and permissions
• Keep cameras and door readers online: troubleshoot offline devices, IP address issues, PoE problems, and connectivity
• Manage video storage and retention (28 days), including estimating storage needs when new buildings and cameras are added
• Monitor system health and support backups, recovery, and snapshots for the servers and database that run the platform
• Verify new cameras and doors work correctly as each building in the upgrade is completed
• Coordinate with vendors, contractors, and college IT staff, and decide when to escalate to the central infrastructure team
• Support public safety staff who depend on the system
• Take part in annual disaster recovery testing and routine maintenance, upgrades, and patching, * Have you personally administered a video surveillance or access control system, as the person responsible for keeping it running (not only installing it or assigning access)?

Work Authorization: Must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time, ongoing basis without the need for employer sponsorship now or in the future. Background: Must pass a satisfactory standard criminal background check upon hire., * Hands-on experience administering a video surveillance, access control, or similar enterprise physical security system, as the person who kept it running (not only installing it or assigning access)

• Solid networking skills: IP addressing, DHCP, switches, connectivity troubleshooting, and cabling standards (Cat5e and Cat6)
• Experience with servers and infrastructure, including how systems depend on each other
• Ability to troubleshoot IP cameras and the network connections behind them
• Understanding of how camera count, resolution, frame rate, and retention affect storage
• Understanding of backups and recovery, including databases and virtual machine snapshots
• Comfort working with outside vendors and with internal IT
• Ability to work independently, solve problems, and know when to ask for help
• At least 3 years of professional experience in IT, systems administration, or physical security technology
• Valid driver’s license and insurability
• Ability to pass a standard background check

Nice to have

• Experience with Genetec, Milestone, Verkada, Avigilon, LenelS2 OnGuard, ExacqVision, or a similar platform
• Familiarity with virtualization, such as Nutanix, VMware, or Hyper-V
• SQL database familiarity
• A bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, IT, or a related field, or equivalent experience
• Security certifications such as Security+, Network+, CIAM, or CAMS
• 5 or more years in physical security, access control, or video surveillance systems, * Do you have hands-on experience with IP networking (IP addressing, DHCP, switches, PoE) and server infrastructure?
• What is your desired hourly contract rate, and what annual salary would you want after conversion?
• Do you have a valid driver’s license and the ability to meet insurability requirements?, * professional networking or systems administration: 2 years (Required)

License/Certification:

• CompTIA Security+ (Preferred)
• CompTIA Network+ (Preferred)

• This is a contract-to-hire role. The contract period is 40 hours per week, and the position is salaried after conversion. Are you comfortable with that?