IT Systems Engineer / Network Specialist at Cambridge Housing Authority – Cambridge, Massachusetts

ABOUT CAMBRIDGE HOUSING AUTHORITY

The Cambridge Housing Authority ("CHA"), a leader in developing and maintaining affordable housing communities, is seeking a qualified and highly motivated candidate. By focusing on policy innovation and family economic opportunities, the CHA is committed to developing and managing safe, high quality, affordable housing for low-income individuals and families. CHA provides long-term rental housing and rental assistance to more than 5,500+ individuals and families through its Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Programs.

CHA offers competitive compensation commensurate with experience. Our generous benefits package includes health and dental insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, life and disability insurance options, tuition reimbursement, commuter benefits, retirement pension and deferred compensation 457b plans, and more! At the completion of an introductory period, CHA employees enjoy flexible work schedules including a hybrid work environment consisting of a combination of on-site and work from home days with supervisor approval.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

CHA is seeking a highly capable and experienced IT Systems Engineer/ to support and advance our organization’s technology footprint. This position lives and breathes hands-on technical work, while also participating in strategy-planning and user adoption campaigns. If you love IT, are mission driven, have a talent for managing cloud, hybrid, and SaaS environments, and are passionate about enhancing technology solutions, we would love to hear from you!

SUMMARY

The primary purpose of this position is to design, implement, administer, and support the Cambridge Housing Authority’s technology ecosystem. This includes system types such as cloud, hybrid, network, and Software-as-a-Service. This position ensures secure, compliant, reliable, and efficient technology operations across the organization, while simultaneously providing support to the users of those systems. This role also contributes to the development of IT strategy, advances automation of technology processes, and ensures appropriate documentation and continuity of operations.

DETAILS

This role is focused on three key initiatives:

1. Aid in the development of the agency’s IT strategic plan

This role is pivotal in defining and evolving the organization’s technology strategy, ensuring alignment with business goals and fostering a technology-informed culture across departments. As a technology subject matter expert, your voice will matter in how CHA builds, deploys, and maintains its technology.

1. Design and implement robust, secure, and compliant technology systems

As CHA grows, extends, and refreshes its technology stack, we understand the importance of doing it the right way. The Systems Engineer is fundamental in driving and achieving this goal, with the aim of establishing reliable and secure technology solutions. CHA trusts its Systems Engineer to lead the way when it comes to standing up SaaS environments, converting outdated systems, and implementing new features across our tech stack.

1. Maintain and improve existing technology environments

As much as CHA looks to the future of implementing new technology, this role also encompasses maintenance and improvement of existing CHA systems. This entails upgrading, patching, backing up, monitoring, and supporting existing systems, as well as their users.

Further Responsibilities

• Participate in Support
  As a small but agile IT team, all IT team members participate in Help Desk support activities. The team works together to provide the quickest and highest quality support possible.
• Deliver department automations
  Manage the end-to-end rollout of automation solutions across various IT systems. For example, automating user enrollment tasks, software deployments, end user device configuration, routine IT workflows, etc.
• Design and implement a “cloud first” approach
  Lead the design and implementation of a cloud-first initiative at CHA. This will entail taking on-prem or hybrid workflows and systems and converting them to the cloud when and where possible. It will also involve implementing automation and AI solutions where appropriate.
• Liaise with external vendors for integration and support
  Where necessary, utilize third-party vendors to access, validate, and integrate technology solutions as required.
• Establish and maintain documentation standards
  Create and maintain comprehensive documentation of systems, networks, and services. Ensure that in any worst-case scenario there is reliable documentation in place to help navigate the situation.
• Interpersonal and Customer Service
  While this may appear to be a standard requirement for any role, in any company, success in this role at CHA relies on strong interpersonal, influencing, and communication skills. This role requires the ability to articulate ideas and information at all organizational levels and to provide excellent customer service while doing so. CHA is emphatically team driven and customer service oriented.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience

The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience in technical roles, with a background in system/network administration or engineering. They will be well versed in Microsoft platforms and products, with a talent for delivering optimized solutions using the Microsoft ecosystem. The candidate will be adept at computer networking and possess the ability to configure and troubleshoot network-related issues. Most importantly, the ideal candidate will demonstrate excellent communication and customer service skills.

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university is preferred but not required. Technical certifications are preferred but not required.

If available, prospective candidates are welcome to include a portfolio, or examples of their work, as part of their application. Such materials will be considered alongside their application.

Required Technical Skills

• Advanced skills in the Microsoft ecosystem, covering products such as the Microsoft 365 technology stack, Azure, and on-premises Microsoft products. Active Directory, Entra, Exchange Online, Intune, Teams, SharePoint, Azure Vault, Windows OS, etc.
• Adept in computer networking with knowledge of firewalls, switches, VPNs, VLANs, authentication, TCP/IP, DNS, and policy configuration. This role does not require routing and switching expertise, but it does require some intermediate knowledge.
• Adept in IT security best-practices, such as zero trust and the principle of least privilege. Must be able to perform system and user audit functions. Familiarity with standard security tools, such as alert systems and mitigation tools.
• System administration experience in cloud-native platforms like Microsoft Azure, AWS, or GCP.
• System administration experience of SaaS-based applications. Connecting SaaS systems to SSO, syncing user accounts, configuring permissions, implementing role-based security, etc.
• Ability to influence decisions to drive strategy – create alignment across the organization in aid of an overall technology strategy.
• Stakeholder management – Able to confidently engage with staff of all levels and communicate clearly while carrying out support, implementation, or discussing strategy. A willingness to embrace alternate views but also remain steadfast where needed.

Non-required, but Favorable Skills and Education

• Scripting and automation experience – PowerShell and Power Automate to streamline workflows.
• Experience with Microsoft Purview and/or Defender.
• Experience with Yardi Systems (SaaS-based ERP system).
• Knowledge of, or experience in, the public or affordable housing sector.
• Knowledge of housing platforms – experience working with housing specific platforms or software.

COMPETENCIES:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Behavioral Competencies

Commitment: Sets high standards of performance; pursues aggressive goals and works hard/smart to achieve them; strives for results and success; conveys a sense of urgency and brings issues to closure; persists despite obstacles and opposition.

Customer Service: Meets/exceeds the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; identifies, understands, monitors and measures the needs of both internal and external customers; talks and acts with customers in mind; recognizes working colleagues as customers.

Effective Communication: Ensures important information is passed to those who need to know; conveys necessary information clearly and effectively orally or in writing; demonstrates attention to, and conveys understanding of, the comments and questions of others; listens effectively.

Responsiveness and Accountability: Demonstrates a high level of conscientiousness; holds oneself personally responsible for one's own work; does fair share of work.

Teamwork: Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests; able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; supports everyone's efforts to succeed.

Job Competencies

• Ability to align technical decisions with organizational and departmental goals

• Systems engineering capability across cloud, hybrid, and SaaS environments

• Ability to design, implement, and maintain secure and compliant systems

• Skill in identifying opportunities to automate processes and improve workflows

• Ability to evaluate, modernize, and improve existing technological environments

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

• Ability to communicate technical information clearly to staff at all organizational levels

• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills

• Ability to work collaboratively within a team-based IT environment

• Ability to influence decisions while considering alternate viewpoints

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to maintain a stationary position, operate computers and other office equipment, move around the office, attend onsite and offsite meetings and communicate. The employee must be able to accurately exchange information in person, in writing, and via e-mail and telephone. The employee must occasionally transport up to 25 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Office environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.