Data Center Technician

Cognizant is seeking a

Systems Administrator to provide technical expertise and support for Linux, Windows, and Virtual environments operating in advanced engineering labs. This is an onsite role in Research Triangle Park, NC.

The annual salary for this position is between $75,000 to $86,000 depending on the experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate. Qualified candidates must have valid US work authorization.

Applications will be accepted till 8/12/2025.

This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant’s applicable plans.

Benefits: Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
  
• Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off
  
• 401(k) plan and contributions
  
• Long-term/Short-term Disability
  
• Paid Parental Leave
  
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
  

Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong foundation in systems administration, basic networking, and virtualization, coupled with an innovative mindset and passion for solving complex problems. This position involves collaborating within a dynamic, Agile-driven team to deliver high-quality results while maintaining lab environments that are safe, compliant, and aligned with Cisco standards.

Core Responsibilities:

• Systems Administration: Manage Cisco UCS C-series rack servers and UCS Blade Centers chassis, including servers and network modules. Configure and troubleshoot Linux, Windows, and Virtual environments.
  
• Virtualization Expertise: Configure, administer, and maintain virtual systems, including VMware vCenter and ESXi servers (vSphere 7.0-8.X) and other Virtual (OpenNebula) environments.
  
• Infrastructure Management:
  

+ Install, configure, and maintain operating systems and networking hardware platforms.

+ Administer Cisco UCS servers (C-Series and B-Series) and RAID configurations.

+ Oversee NFS or iSCSI storage solutions and server health monitoring tools like Nagios.

+ Utilize IP address management tools (IPAM) and port scanning tools.

• Collaboration: Work closely with information security teams to address vulnerabilities, apply software patches, and maintain secure lab operations.
  
• Documentation: Develop and maintain clear, concise documentation for completed work, best practices, and troubleshooting procedures.
  
• Emergency Response: Monitor resource utilization, energy consumption, and system health to mitigate business impact during emergencies.
  
• Lab Environment Maintenance: Ensure lab areas adhere to Cisco�s safety, tidiness, and compliance standards.
  

Technical Skills:

• Operating Systems: Advanced proficiency in Linux (RHEL/Ubuntu) and Windows operating systems.
  
• Networking Knowledge:
  

+ Familiarity with Cisco Catalyst and Nexus switches, IOS, NXOS, IOS-XE, C9600, C9300, C1100, transceivers and industry cable standards.

• Virtualization: Understanding of VMware (vSphere 7.0-8.X) and other Hypervisor solutions (OpenNebula).
  
• Hardware:
  

+ Knowledge of Cisco UCS servers, including CIMC or IPMI.

+ Experience with RAID controllers and variety of server admin hardware (Dell/HP a plus).

+ Understanding of NetApp storage solutions (nice to have).

• Tools: Experience with monitoring tools (i.e. Nagios).
  

Soft Skills:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities to identify root causes of complex issues.
  
• Excellent organizational and time management skills to handle multiple priorities efficiently.
  
• Team-oriented mindset with the ability to collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams.
  
• Outstanding communication skills, both verbal and written to interface engineers, leadership, and external stakeholders.
  
• Adaptability and eagerness to learn new technologies and evolving concepts.
  
• Detail-oriented with a proactive approach to resolving technical challenges.
  
• Passionate about networking technology, with a �get it done right the first time†attitude.
  
• Case/Ticket management: responsiveness - prompt in addressing lab user requests with follow up until successful resolution.
  

Minimum Qualifications:

• Intermediate knowledge of Linux and Windows operating systems.
  
• Intermediate expertise in VMware environments.
  
• General networking knowledge, including Cisco IOS.
  
• Proven ability to manage large-scale Windows, Linux, and Virtual environments.
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Cisco Catalyst, Nexus, and other Cisco networking equipment.
  
• Familiarity with Cisco UCS hardware.
  
• Experience with server health monitoring and performance optimization tools.
  
• Knowledge of Agile methodologies and ability to work within Agile frameworks.
  
• Overall experience in high-tech engineering environment 3-7 years
  

Regular Work Activities:

• Collaborate daily with the team on work activities, priority checkpoints, and project timelines.
  
• Conduct in-depth troubleshooting to identify and resolve issues in datacenter environments.
  
• Execute tasks efficiently to meet deadlines and team objectives.
  
• Create detailed documentation for completed tasks and best practices.
  
• Maintain a safe, compliant, and organized work environment in alignment with Cisco standards.