Senior IT Systems Engineer
Computer Weavers is looking for an experienced, well-rounded IT professional to join our team as a Senior IT Systems Engineer. Salary is DOE
This is a high-level technical position, not a management role. We are looking for someone who can independently handle advanced technical work, serve as an escalation resource, and take ownership of projects and issues. The right candidate will also be able to assist with solution design. We do have a team you will be working with for collaboration and support.
We do not expect anyone to know every technology we support. We do expect this person to have a strong technical foundation, sound judgment, curiosity, and the ability to research unfamiliar problems rather than immediately saying, “I don’t know how to do that; find someone who does.”
Computer Weavers provides personalized IT solutions to businesses throughout Alaska. We support a wide range of environments, including Microsoft 365, servers, cloud services, networks, cybersecurity systems, VoIP, websites, and specialized business applications.
Most work can be performed remotely from a home office. However, occasional visits to our Anchorage office or customer locations will be required.
We strongly prefer applicants who currently live in Alaska, particularly in Anchorage or the Mat-Su Valley. Applicants actively relocating to Alaska may also be considered. Remaining an Alaska-based business is important to us.
The Type of Technician We Need
The right person is more than someone who closes tickets. We are looking for someone who considers the customer’s overall technology environment and notices related issues that should not be ignored.
For example, while helping with a printer problem, a strong technician may also notice that the computer is missing endpoint protection, is significantly behind on Windows updates, or has another obvious security concern. They should address it when appropriate, document it, or bring it to the team’s attention rather than completing only the narrow task and moving on.
This position requires someone who:
- Takes ownership of technical problems and follows them through to completion.
- Can understand complex systems, even when they have not worked with the exact product before.
- Uses documentation, vendor resources, testing, and research to learn unfamiliar technologies.
- Understands the value of cybersecurity and does not treat security controls as unnecessary inconveniences.
- Exercises good judgment about when to investigate further, recommend an improvement, or involve another team member.
- Can politely and professionally push back when a customer requests something unsafe or contrary to best practices.
- Looks for the correct long-term solution rather than automatically agreeing to the easiest or fastest option.
- Identifies related problems instead of focusing only on the specific task assigned.
- Communicates clearly with customers, coworkers, vendors, and nontechnical users.
- Continues learning as technology, security threats, and industry practices change.
Primary Responsibilities
- Independently troubleshoot and resolve advanced or unusual technical issues.
- Serve as a senior escalation resource for other technicians.
- Plan and perform Microsoft 365 migrations, including tenant-to-tenant migrations.
- Administer and troubleshoot Microsoft 365 environments, including Entra ID, Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams, and Conditional Access.
- Review customer environments and recommend practical improvements to reliability, security, and usability.
- Design, implement, troubleshoot, and document technical solutions.
- Configure and support servers, workstations, networks, firewalls, wireless systems, VPNs, cloud services, and business applications.
- Review existing environments for security risks, outdated systems, missing protections, or poor configuration practices.
- Design solutions for a customer’s technology needs.
- Manage the implementation of a solution including providing instructions for our technicians. Show a high level attention to detail and follow up for quality control.
- Assist with cybersecurity planning, implementation, remediation, and incident response.
- Help customers understand why controls such as MFA, patching, endpoint protection, backups, and access restrictions are important.
- Support compliance-related projects and security assessments.
- Troubleshoot networking issues involving firewalls, VLANs, routing, VPNs, wireless networks, and related infrastructure.
- Perform occasional hands-on installation, repair, and troubleshooting of computers, network equipment, and other devices.
- Work with vendors and software providers to resolve integrations and complex application issues.
- Create useful documentation so that solutions and important customer information are not dependent on one person.
- Recommend new tools or solutions to company leadership when our current offerings do not adequately address a customer’s needs.
- Assist with other technical work that fits the employee’s experience and interests.
Required Experience and Capabilities
Applicants should have professional experience in senior support, systems administration, systems engineering, or similar technical role.
The successful applicant must have:
- Strong hands-on Microsoft 365 administration experience.
- Experience administering Entra ID, Exchange Online, SharePoint, and Teams.
- A practical understanding of multifactor authentication, Conditional Access, identity security, and access management.
- Experience completing Microsoft 365 migrations or similarly complex Microsoft 365 implementation projects.
- Strong troubleshooting skills across workstations, servers, cloud services, email, networking, and business applications.
- Working knowledge of Windows desktop and Windows Server environments.
- Working knowledge of Active Directory, Group Policy, DNS, DHCP, permissions, and authentication.
- A solid understanding of networking fundamentals, including firewalls, VPNs, VLANs, routing, switching, and wireless networks.
- An understanding of endpoint security, antivirus, patching, backups, and vulnerability remediation.
- Experience diagnosing issues that involve multiple systems, vendors, or technologies.
- The ability to independently research and test unfamiliar technologies.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- The judgment to recognize insecure or inappropriate customer requests and recommend a safer alternative.
- The ability to explain technical risks and recommendations professionally to nontechnical customers.
- Reliable documentation, organization, follow-through, and attention to detail.
Strong candidates will generally have at least five years of progressively responsible professional IT experience. Degrees and certifications are a plus. Demonstrated technical breadth, judgment, and problem-solving ability are more important than meeting an exact number of years.
Security and Compliance Awareness
Applicants do not need to have compliance frameworks memorized or be dedicated compliance specialists.
They must, however:
- Understand the general purpose of cybersecurity and compliance frameworks.
- Be familiar with standards or frameworks such as NIST, CIS Controls, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS, or CMMC.
- Recognize when a customer’s industry or contract may create additional security requirements.
- Know how to locate, review, and interpret relevant requirements.
- Understand that customer preference does not automatically override security, compliance, contractual, or professional obligations.
- Be able to explain security recommendations without being unnecessarily confrontational or alarmist.
Preferred Additional Experience
The following experience would be beneficial but is not required:
- PowerShell, Python, PHP, or other scripting or programming experience
- Automation of repetitive administrative or deployment tasks
- Website hosting, DNS, domains, SSL certificates, or web-server administration
- VoIP or unified communications systems
- ConnectWise Manage, Automate, ScreenConnect, or other MSP platforms
- Meraki or Ubiquiti UniFi products
- Intune or other endpoint-management platforms
- Google Workspace administration or migrations
- Hyper-V, VMware, Proxmox, or other virtualization platforms
- Azure infrastructure or cloud-resource administration
- Formal security or compliance implementation projects
- Experience working for a managed service provider
- Microsoft, CompTIA, Cisco, or other relevant technical certifications
A candidate will not be disqualified simply because they have not used one of our preferred vendors or products. We are more concerned with whether they understand the underlying technology and can learn a new platform without needing to hand the work off.
Location and Other Requirements
- Strong preference for applicants currently living in Alaska.
- Anchorage and Mat-Su Valley applicants are preferred due to occasional office and customer-site visits.
- Applicants relocating to Alaska may be considered if they will be available locally by their start date.
- Reliable transportation and a valid driver’s license are required.
- Must be able to pass a background check.
- Must have a reliable and professional home-office environment for remote work.
- Must be available for occasional onsite work when a task cannot reasonably be completed remotely.
Employment Details
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Salary is DOE
Benefits include:
- Flexible schedule
- Bonus program
- Paid holidays
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan with employer matching
This company does currently offer health insurance, so plan for the cost of private insurance in your salary calculation.
Pay: $80,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
- Retirement plan
Experience:
- IT support: 5 years (Required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Anchorage, AK 99518
