Systems Engineer

[Sarah Hartman]

NGP VAN is a software-as-a-service business, delivering web-based applications and services to progressive non-profits and Democratic candidates. The NGP VAN IT team is expanding, and seeking a Systems Engineer in our Somerville office, who will design and build new systems, provide cloud and on-premise infrastructure support, develop and update systems documentation, and collaborate with our distributed IT team.

The Systems Engineer will plan, implement and maintain hardware, software and services in support of our corporate and customer-facing applications. Because we're delivering software through a mix of growing and evolving applications, familiarity with the software development lifecycle is extremely helpful.

Like most IT teams, we handle a mixture of break/fix and project work. This position will focus on production, internet-facing systems. We expect the Systems Engineer to spend about half of their time on projects, and about half on triage and troubleshooting. Systems Engineer candidates should be comfortable interacting with staff at all levels of technical expertise. Because our team is fairly small and flat, all IT staff provide some end-user technical support.

Candidates should have the ability to research, recommend, plan and deploy systems, solve problems independently, and work well on cross-functional teams.

 

Requirements:

• 4 to 8 years of professional IT experience
• At least 4 years in production, internet-facing-system support, involving
  • Windows Server operating systems
  • Web, email, and database application servers
  • On-premise network, server and storage infrastructure management
• Thorough understanding of IP networking
• IP routing, addressing, and major protocols like SMTP, HTTP, DNS, and ICMP
• Understanding of enterprise IT operations concepts and best practices
  • Configuration Management, Change Control, Redundancy, Security, Monitoring, Logging, Risk, Performance, Automation
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong attention to detail, with solid organizational and time management skills
• Ability to participate in an on-call rotation, in one-week shifts, to address issues outside of normal business hours

Helpful but not essential experience:

• IIS and SQL Server
• Modern Linux operating systems
• Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services cloud computing platforms
• VLANs and switch management
• VMWare server virtualization products
• Storage Area Networking
• Source control, change management and ticket-tracking systems
• Scripting languages (PowerShell, Windows batch file, VBScript, Bash, etc.)
• Project planning and Agile methodologies
• Progressive political campaigns and/or issue advocacy organizations

Other Things:

• This is a full-time position located in our Boston office.
• Because we work with a variety of hardware devices, some quite large, candidates should be able to lift 50 lbs.
• To support a range of multi-user systems, occasional planned work will be required outside of regular business hours, to minimize business impact.
• The request for a cover letter is a real request. Please include a cover letter with your application.

 

 

 

About Us

NGP VAN is the world’s leading political technology firm, providing campaign and organizing technology to Democrats, progressives, and non-partisan organizations. We offer an integrated platform that combines the best fundraising, compliance, organizing, and new media products available.

We built the voter contact and volunteer management tools used by Obama for America. Nearly every State Democratic Party in the country distributes our VoteBuilder tools to Democrats up and down the ticket, and we provide industry-leading organizing tools for labor unions, environmental groups, pro-choice advocates, civil rights activists, and international political parties across the world. Our fundraising and compliance software is used by the vast majority of Democratic candidates from the Presidential level on down, and our fast-growing new media platform has recently become the most-used platform by Democratic campaigns as well.

We are a successful and growing company with room for career advancement. NGP VAN has been recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in America by Inc. Magazine for seven years in a row, and one of the top 50 fastest growing companies in the DC area by both the Washington Business Journal and SmartCEO.

Compensation

The position offers competitive compensation and a strong benefits package. NGP VAN prides itself on being a progressive and open-minded workplace; we have a fun and relaxed company culture, including blowing off steam on a softball field, drinking in the office on Fridays, enjoying periodic company retreats to warm places with beaches, and casual Friday every day.

How to Apply

Please apply through our careers page found here.

NGP VAN is an equal opportunity employer. We ensure that discrimination does not occur against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, age, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, disability, or any other classification that offends our liberal sensibilities.