Senior IT Systems Administrator & Team Lead

Company

Sagan Recruitment (Hiring on behalf of a growing Managed IT Services Provider (MSP))

Salary / Compensation

• $3,000 – $4,000 USD/month
• Full-time
• Independent Contractor position
• Fully Remote (Open to Global Talent)

Overview / Job Description

Sagan Recruitment is seeking a Senior IT Systems Administrator & Team Lead to oversee technical support operations, manage complex IT infrastructure, and lead a team of IT support professionals. This role serves as the highest technical escalation point (L3+) for complex infrastructure issues while providing leadership, mentoring, and operational oversight to ensure high-quality service delivery across client environments.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience in systems administration within an MSP environment, strong expertise in Microsoft infrastructure and enterprise networking, and proven leadership abilities. Success in this role requires balancing hands-on technical administration with team management, process improvement, and client communication.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Supervise, mentor, and support junior and mid-level IT support technicians (L1/L2)
• Manage ticket queues, escalation workflows, and service delivery quality
• Provide technical leadership and guidance across the support team
• Monitor team performance and promote continuous improvement

Advanced Technical Support (L3 Escalation)

• Serve as the primary escalation point for complex technical issues
• Troubleshoot advanced Windows, cloud, and networking problems
• Resolve infrastructure issues beyond standard end-user support
• Ensure timely resolution of high-priority technical incidents

Systems & Infrastructure Administration

• Design, administer, and maintain:
  • Windows Server environments
  • Active Directory
  • Microsoft 365
  • Azure Active Directory
• Configure and manage domain policies
• Maintain secure and reliable IT infrastructure

Network & Security Administration

• Manage enterprise networking infrastructure including:
  • TCP/IP
  • DNS
  • DHCP
  • VPNs
  • Firewalls
  • Routing and switching
  • Wi-Fi
  • VoIP systems
• Maintain network security and system availability
• Troubleshoot enterprise networking issues

Backup & Disaster Recovery

• Manage backup and disaster recovery solutions
• Maintain systems such as:
  • Veeam
  • Backup Exec
• Develop backup strategies and recovery procedures
• Ensure business continuity and data protection

Process Improvement & Documentation

• Develop technical documentation and standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• Create escalation playbooks and support documentation
• Improve internal workflows and operational processes
• Promote documentation best practices across the IT team

Client & Stakeholder Communication

• Serve as the technical point of contact for escalated client issues
• Communicate technical solutions clearly to clients and stakeholders
• Ensure compliance with service-level agreements (SLAs)
• Build strong relationships with business and educational clients

Requirements

Experience

• Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in:
  • IT Systems Administration
  • Infrastructure Support
  • Enterprise IT Operations
• Experience working in a Managed Service Provider (MSP) environment (strongly preferred)
• Minimum 2 years of leadership experience as:
  • Team Lead
  • Supervisor
  • Senior Escalation Engineer
• Proven experience managing advanced L3 technical escalations

Technical Skills

• Advanced administration of:
  • Microsoft Windows Server (2016+)
  • Active Directory
  • Microsoft 365
  • Azure Active Directory
• Strong enterprise networking expertise including:
  • Routing & Switching
  • VPN Configuration
  • Firewall Management
  • DNS & DHCP
  • VoIP Systems
• Experience with backup and disaster recovery platforms
• Strong infrastructure troubleshooting and systems optimization skills

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership and mentoring abilities
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Exceptional written and verbal English communication skills
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced MSP environment
• Customer-focused mindset with strong client relationship skills
• Ability to work independently in a fully remote environment
• Reliable high-speed internet with backup connectivity and power

Nice-to-Haves

• Microsoft Certifications (MS-700, AZ-104)
• Networking Certifications:
  • CCNA
  • CCNP
  • Network+
• Linux server administration experience
• Asterisk/VoIP administration experience
• Experience with Cisco, HP, or Fortinet networking equipment
• Experience supporting multi-site organizations or educational institutions

Candidate Profile

You SHOULD Apply If

• You enjoy solving complex infrastructure and networking challenges
• You have extensive experience supporting enterprise IT environments
• You thrive in leadership roles while remaining hands-on technically
• You enjoy mentoring and developing IT support teams
• You have strong Microsoft infrastructure and networking expertise
• You communicate technical concepts clearly to clients and colleagues
• You are proactive about improving IT processes and documentation
• You excel in fast-paced MSP environments supporting multiple clients

You Should NOT Apply If

• You primarily have end-user (L1/L2) support experience
• You have limited experience managing enterprise infrastructure
• You are uncomfortable leading teams or mentoring technicians
• You lack experience with Microsoft server environments or enterprise networking
• You struggle managing multiple client environments simultaneously
• You prefer individual contributor roles without leadership responsibilities

Other Information

Additional Benefits / Highlights

• Fully remote position
• Full-time Independent Contractor opportunity
• $3,000–$4,000 USD/month
• Work schedule:
  • Monday–Friday
  • 8:00 AM–5:00 PM EST
  • Shift may be adjusted to support 24-hour operational coverage
• Opportunity to lead technical operations for a growing Managed IT Services Provider
• High-impact leadership role with hands-on infrastructure responsibilities
• Exposure to enterprise networking, cloud infrastructure, and advanced systems administration
• Collaborative remote team serving business and educational clients across the United States