STEM OPT Senior Systems Administrator Jobs
Senior Systems Administrator roles qualify for STEM OPT when your degree is in computer science, information technology, or a related CIP-coded field. The 24-month STEM OPT extension gives you up to 36 months total to work for an E-Verify-enrolled employer while building the infrastructure experience that supports long-term sponsorship.
See All Senior Systems Administrator JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 149+ Senior Systems Administrator jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 149+ Senior Systems Administrator jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Senior Systems Administrator roles.
Get Access To All JobsJob No: 503436
Work Type: Staff Full Time (1500 hours or greater)
Location: Dayton, OH
Category: Research Institute Staff
Department: Research IT - 250220
Pay Grade: P3 - Exempt
Advertised: April 27, 2026
Applications close:
Position Summary:
UDRI is seeking a skilled System Analyst & Team Lead to oversee the design, modernization, and operation of UDRI’s on-premises and Microsoft-based enterprise infrastructure. This role is responsible for leading a small technical team while ensuring reliability, security, and compliance across mission-critical systems including Active Directory, Microsoft 365 GCC High, Azure Government, and Hyper-V environments.
The ideal candidate has strong leadership ability, deep expertise in Microsoft enterprise systems, and the ability to translate business needs into secure and scalable technical solutions.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as team lead for a group of 3–4 IT staff, including system administrators and helpdesk personnel.
- Architect, administer, and modernize Windows Server, Active Directory, Group Policy, and Microsoft 365 GCC High environments.
- Manage virtualization platforms including Hyper-V, VM lifecycle, performance, and capacity planning.
- Oversee enterprise server operations including patching, upgrades, lifecycle management, and automation.
- Develop technical documentation, architecture diagrams, and operational standards.
- Collaborate with cybersecurity to ensure compliance with NIST SP 800-171, CMMC Level 2, and DoD requirements.
- Lead advanced troubleshooting, incident response, and Tier 3 escalation support.
- Evaluate emerging Microsoft and on-premises technologies to drive modernization and reliability.
- Collect and translate business requirements into secure and scalable system designs.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Science, or a related field and 6 years of relevant experience OR Masters and 5 years of relevant experience.
- Active Security+ certification or ability to obtain within first six months of employment.
- Five or more years of experience administering Windows Server, Active Directory, GPO, and enterprise Microsoft systems.
- Experience with virtualization platforms (Hyper-V preferred).
- Strong understanding of Windows hardening, identity, authentication, and hybrid architecture.
- Experience implementing or supporting NIST SP 800-171 or similar federal cybersecurity frameworks.
- Excellent communication and technical documentation skills.
- Due to the requirements of our research contracts with the U.S. federal government, candidates for this position must be a U.S. person (i.e., a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, asylee, or refugee).
- Valid driver’s license and low-risk driving record.
Preferred Qualifications:
While not everyone may possess all of the preferred qualifications, the ideal candidate will bring many of the following:
- Security+, CISSP, CASP+, or similar certifications.
- Experience with Microsoft 365 GCC High or Azure Government.
- Automation experience using PowerShell, DSC, or similar Windows-centric tools.
- Previous leadership or team-lead experience.
Special Instructions to Applicants:
To apply please submit a cover letter addressing each minimum qualification and any applicable preferred qualifications that you meet.
Closing Statement:
Informed by its Catholic and Marianist mission, the University is committed to the dignity of every human being. Informed by this commitment, we seek to increase diversity in all of its forms, achieve fair outcomes, and model inclusion across our campus community. The University is committed to policies of affirmative action designed to increase the employment opportunities of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in compliance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1973.
Job No: 503436
Work Type: Staff Full Time (1500 hours or greater)
Location: Dayton, OH
Category: Research Institute Staff
Department: Research IT - 250220
Pay Grade: P3 - Exempt
Advertised: April 27, 2026
Applications close:
Position Summary:
UDRI is seeking a skilled System Analyst & Team Lead to oversee the design, modernization, and operation of UDRI’s on-premises and Microsoft-based enterprise infrastructure. This role is responsible for leading a small technical team while ensuring reliability, security, and compliance across mission-critical systems including Active Directory, Microsoft 365 GCC High, Azure Government, and Hyper-V environments.
The ideal candidate has strong leadership ability, deep expertise in Microsoft enterprise systems, and the ability to translate business needs into secure and scalable technical solutions.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as team lead for a group of 3–4 IT staff, including system administrators and helpdesk personnel.
- Architect, administer, and modernize Windows Server, Active Directory, Group Policy, and Microsoft 365 GCC High environments.
- Manage virtualization platforms including Hyper-V, VM lifecycle, performance, and capacity planning.
- Oversee enterprise server operations including patching, upgrades, lifecycle management, and automation.
- Develop technical documentation, architecture diagrams, and operational standards.
- Collaborate with cybersecurity to ensure compliance with NIST SP 800-171, CMMC Level 2, and DoD requirements.
- Lead advanced troubleshooting, incident response, and Tier 3 escalation support.
- Evaluate emerging Microsoft and on-premises technologies to drive modernization and reliability.
- Collect and translate business requirements into secure and scalable system designs.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Science, or a related field and 6 years of relevant experience OR Masters and 5 years of relevant experience.
- Active Security+ certification or ability to obtain within first six months of employment.
- Five or more years of experience administering Windows Server, Active Directory, GPO, and enterprise Microsoft systems.
- Experience with virtualization platforms (Hyper-V preferred).
- Strong understanding of Windows hardening, identity, authentication, and hybrid architecture.
- Experience implementing or supporting NIST SP 800-171 or similar federal cybersecurity frameworks.
- Excellent communication and technical documentation skills.
- Due to the requirements of our research contracts with the U.S. federal government, candidates for this position must be a U.S. person (i.e., a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, asylee, or refugee).
- Valid driver’s license and low-risk driving record.
Preferred Qualifications:
While not everyone may possess all of the preferred qualifications, the ideal candidate will bring many of the following:
- Security+, CISSP, CASP+, or similar certifications.
- Experience with Microsoft 365 GCC High or Azure Government.
- Automation experience using PowerShell, DSC, or similar Windows-centric tools.
- Previous leadership or team-lead experience.
Special Instructions to Applicants:
To apply please submit a cover letter addressing each minimum qualification and any applicable preferred qualifications that you meet.
Closing Statement:
Informed by its Catholic and Marianist mission, the University is committed to the dignity of every human being. Informed by this commitment, we seek to increase diversity in all of its forms, achieve fair outcomes, and model inclusion across our campus community. The University is committed to policies of affirmative action designed to increase the employment opportunities of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in compliance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1973.
See all 149+ Senior Systems Administrator jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Senior Systems Administrator roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Senior Systems Administrator
Verify your CIP code before applying
Cross-check your degree's CIP code against the official STEM OPT designated degree list at USCIS before targeting roles. Computer science, information systems, and network engineering codes qualify, but a mismatch can invalidate your extension eligibility entirely.
Filter job postings for E-Verify enrollment
Run prospective employers through the E-Verify employer search tool before investing time in an application. Systems administrator roles at many staffing agencies and smaller managed service providers look appealing but fall outside the E-Verify requirement, disqualifying them for STEM OPT.
Target infrastructure-heavy employers with H-1B history
Use Migrate Mate to identify employers with active STEM OPT hiring and H-1B filing history for systems administrator roles. Companies that have filed for this SOC code before understand the training plan requirement and won't stall on I-983 paperwork.
Map your I-983 training goals to real infrastructure projects
Draft your I-983 training plan around concrete deliverables: server migrations, Active Directory deployments, or cloud infrastructure buildouts. Vague goals like 'gain systems experience' trigger DSO rejections. Tie each learning objective to a specific project your employer is already running.
Negotiate your offer letter to reflect STEM OPT terms
Ask for explicit confirmation that your employment agreement acknowledges E-Verify participation and STEM OPT reporting obligations before signing. Some employers agree verbally but haven't updated their onboarding process, which creates compliance problems at the 6-month and 12-month self-evaluation checkpoints.
Check prevailing wage before discussing compensation
Look up the wage level for your target metro area using the OFLC Wage Search before salary conversations. The DOL prevailing wage for Senior Systems Administrators varies significantly by region and level, and knowing the floor protects you from offers that undercut what future H-1B sponsorship would legally require.
Senior Systems Administrator jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Senior Systems Administrator JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does a Senior Systems Administrator role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your underlying degree carries an eligible CIP code, such as computer science, information systems, computer engineering, or a closely related STEM field. The role itself must also involve the direct application of that STEM knowledge. Confirm your CIP code against the STEM Designated Degree Program List published by USCIS before filing your STEM OPT extension application with your DSO.
What does the I-983 training plan require for a systems administrator position?
Your I-983 must describe how the role applies your STEM degree, list specific learning objectives tied to infrastructure or systems work, and include your employer's signature. For a Senior Systems Administrator, that means documenting hands-on projects like network architecture, server administration, or security operations, not generic job duties. Your employer must also submit 6-month and 12-month evaluations confirming your progress against those stated goals.
How do I confirm my employer is enrolled in E-Verify?
Use the E-Verify employer search tool maintained by the Department of Homeland Security to look up the company by name or location before accepting an offer. Enrollment status is public. Note that some large employers operate multiple E-Verify accounts by subsidiary or location, so confirm the specific hiring entity, not just the parent company, is enrolled and active at the time you begin work.
Does cap-gap protection apply if my employer files for H-1B while I'm on STEM OPT?
Yes. If your STEM OPT authorization expires between April 1 and October 1 and your employer has filed a timely H-1B cap-subject petition, cap-gap automatically extends your EAD and F-1 status until October 1 of that fiscal year. You can continue working as a Senior Systems Administrator without interruption during that window, provided the petition remains pending or approved and your employer maintains E-Verify enrollment throughout.
Where can I find Senior Systems Administrator jobs at employers who hire STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate filters Senior Systems Administrator listings by employers with E-Verify enrollment and prior STEM OPT and H-1B filing activity, so you're not wasting applications on companies unfamiliar with the training plan process. This is particularly useful for this role because many systems administrator openings come through staffing firms or smaller IT shops that aren't E-Verify enrolled and can't legally employ STEM OPT workers.
See which Senior Systems Administrator employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.
Search Senior Systems Administrator Jobs