Customer Service Engineer - VA ESOM

Overview

Thank you for considering IT Concepts dba Kentro, where innovation drives opportunity and collaboration leads to success. Our dynamic community of experts is fully committed to advancing our customers' missions, fostering professional growth, and making a positive impact on our communities. By joining our supportive community, you will find that Kentro is dedicated to your personal and professional development. Together, we can drive meaningful change, spark innovation, and achieve extraordinary milestones.

Kentro is hiring an experienced Customer Service Engineer to support our VA-ESOM- End Point Support and Operations Monitoring contract across the United States. The VA is responsible for providing comprehensive onsite and remote support to IT customers across all VA Administrations and special program offices, including direct support of over 340,000 VA employees and thousands of contractors who use government-furnished IT equipment and infrastructure. The VA provides support staff across 100+ CONUS and OCONUS locations, including difficult-to-accommodate locales, such as high cost of living or under-supported economic areas, where VA offices or facilities may be located and require onsite services.

A Customer Service Engineer can quickly respond to end-user requests for assistance when existing manuals and scripted responses are insufficient to meet user needs. Must be able to interact with customers, diagnose problems, and lead customers through the necessary steps to correct their issues. Must have experience conducting routine system administration tasks and logging data in system admin logs.

Location: Onsite - Albany Stratton VA Medical Center (Albany, NY)

Compensation Range: The anticipated base compensation range for this position is $28.00 – $32.00 hourly and reflects Kentro’s good-faith expectations at the time of posting. Final compensation is determined based on the role’s requirements, relevant skills, experience, education, certifications, work location, applicable security clearance requirements, market conditions, internal equity, and contract requirements.

This Job Description reflects the primary duties of the role; however, it is not intended to be all‑inclusive. Team members may be asked to take on additional responsibilities in alignment with customer expectations, business needs, and Kentro’s culture of collaboration and adaptability. 

Responsibilities

• Support the Government with the installation, maintenance, testing, and troubleshooting of computer systems and equipment, ensuring optimal operation and user satisfaction.
• Assist in delivering both remote and desk-side technical support, responding to IT support tickets, and performing diagnostic and repair activities on both hardware and software components.
• Aid in setting up and maintaining user accounts, interfacing with other software applications, compiling reports, and responding to customer requests.
• Assist in the maintenance of Active Directory and other system accounts, support connectivity and client applications, and assist in the configuration and support of local and wide area network services.
• Monitor open tickets in VA’s ServiceNow customer incident ticketing system to ensure adherence to business processes, and any discrepancies identified shall be reported with proposed corrective actions for approval before implementation.
• The work environment involves both sedentary and active elements, requiring careful handling of electronic components and adherence to safety precautions to prevent injuries or equipment damage.
• Utilize debugging protocols and processes.
• Troubleshoot problems and issues identified by customers and implement corrective actions quickly.
• Facilitate equipment returns, deployments, unboxing, inventorying, and verification.
• Possessing the physical capability to handle demanding tasks such as lifting equipment up to 50 pounds and bending, twisting, squatting, reaching, climbing, and crawling to navigate through facility spaces to access and repair equipment.
• Stand and move throughout the work area for prolonged periods.

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

• Active listening: Understand customer needs and concerns fully before responding.
• Clear verbal and written communication: Explain technical issues in simple, customer-friendly language.
• Empathy: Show understanding and patience with frustrated or non-technical customers.
• Relationship building: Develop trust and rapport with customers and colleagues.
• Professional demeanor: Represent the company with courtesy and confidence in all interactions.

Customer-Centric Mindset

• Proactive attitude: Anticipate customer needs before they escalate into issues.
• Continuous improvement: Seek feedback to improve both personal performance and customer experience.
• Ownership: Take responsibility for resolving issues from start to finish.

Travel:

• A Customer Service Engineer may be asked to provide additional support during temporary periods of increased workload, referred to as “surge capacity.”  These requests would be discussed and coordinated beforehand and depending on the event, events may require the need to travel for 2 weeks at a time, equating to 12 consecutive days, departing on Monday, and returning on the Friday of the following week. 
• Overtime is not authorized for any work to include this surge capacity.
• For work related travel, Kentro will pre-pay specific expenses (airfare, and hotel); expenses that are out-of-pocket will require submission of an expense report in accordance with Kentro policy. Expense reimbursements are paid out weekly. Per diem for meals and lodging will be provided for overnight stays based on the GSA Per Diem Rates for that location.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, electronics engineering, or other engineering or technical discipline or 8 years of additional relevant experience may be substituted for education.  
• 2+ years of experience in IT Technical Support, Help Desk or System Administration.   
• Candidates must be able to meet the physical requirements of the role as listed in the job description.  

 Preferred:  

• Experience in conducting routine system administration tasks and logging data in system admin logs  
• Knowledge on a number of debugging protocols and processes  
• Adept knowledge in IT principles and practices, proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, and a basic understanding of system administration in a Windows environment  

Clearance requirement:

• US Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card)
• Willing and able to get a Public Trust Suitability clearance
• Must meet updated ID requirements: https://www.gsa.gov/technology/it-contract-vehicles-and-purchasing-programs/federal-credentialing-services/get-appointment-help/bring-required-documents
• If you do not currently meet the ID requirements outlined, you must be willing and able to update your current forms of ID in a timely manner to complete the suitability process successfully. 

Health Requirements:

This Kentro position provides on-site support for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Department of Veterans Affairs has facility-specific vaccination and testing requirements (please see the bulleted examples below). If chosen for this role, candidates may be required to show proof that their vaccinations and testing are current. The Kentro Suitability team will provide guidance on what the facility-specific health requirements for this position are, any documents needed, and how to request reasonable accommodation.

• Yearly Flu Vaccination
• Tuberculosis testing with a negative result
• Vaccination records or titer testing required for Measles Mumps and Rubella (MMR), Hepatitis B, and/or Varicella

Benefits

The Company

We believe in generating success collaboratively, enabling long-term mission success, and building trust for the next challenge. With you as our partner, let’s solve challenges, think innovatively, and maximize impact. As a valued member of our team, you have the unique opportunity to work in a diverse range of technology and business career paths, all while supporting our nation and delivering innovative technology solutions. We are a close community of experts that pride ourselves on creating an environment defined by teamwork, dedication, and excellence.

We hold three ISO certifications (27001:2013, 20000-1:2011, 9001:2015), two CMMI ML 3 ratings (DEV and SVC) and CMMC Level 2 Certification.

Industry Recognition

Growth | Inc 5000’s Fastest Growing Private Companies, DC Metro List Fastest Growing; Washington Business Journal: Fastest Growing Companies, Top Performing Small Technology Companies in Greater D.C.

Culture | Northern Virginia Technology Council Tech 100 Honoree; Virginia Best Place to Work; Washington Business Journal: Best Places to Work, Corporate Diversity Index Winner – Mid-Size Companies, Companies Owned by People of Color; Department of Labor’s HireVets for our work helping veterans transition; SECAF Award of Excellence finalist; Victory Military Friendly Brand; Virginia Values Veterans (V3); Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Corporate Breath Award

Benefits

We offer competitive benefits package including paid time off, healthcare benefits, supplemental benefits, 401k including an employer match, discount perks, rewards, and more.  We invest in our employees – Every employee is eligible for education reimbursement for certifications, degrees, or professional development.  Reimbursement amounts may fluctuate due to IRS limitations. We want you to grow as an expert and a leader and offer flexibility for you to take a course, complete a certification, or other professional growth and networking. We are committed to supporting your curiosity and sustaining a culture that prioritizes commitment to continuous professional development.

We work hard; we play hard. Kentro is committed to incorporating fun into every day. We dedicate funds for activities – virtual and in-person – e.g., we host happy hours, holiday events, fitness & wellness events, and annual celebrations. In alignment with our commitment to our communities, we also host and attend charity galas/events. We believe in appreciating your commitment and building a positive workspace for you to be creative, innovative, and happy.

Commitment Equal Opportunity Employment & VEVRAA

Kentro is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

Kentro is strongly committed to compliance with VEVRAA and other applicable federal, state, and local laws governing equal employment opportunity. We have developed comprehensive policies and procedures to ensure our hiring practices align with these requirements.

As part of our VEVRAA compliance efforts, Kentro has established an equal opportunity plan outlining our commitment to recruiting, hiring, and advancing protected veterans. This plan is regularly reviewed and updated to ensure its effectiveness.

We encourage protected veterans to self-identify during the application process. This information is strictly confidential and will only be used for reporting and compliance purposes as required by law. Providing this information is voluntary and will not impact your employment eligibility.

Our commitment to equal employment opportunity extends beyond legal compliance. We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace where all employees, including protected veterans, are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.

How to Apply

To apply to Kentro Positions- Please click on the job link and then click the blue “Apply” button at the top right of Job Description. Please upload your resume and complete all the application steps. You must fully submit the application for Kentro to consider you for a position.  If you need alternative application methods, please email [email protected] and request assistance.  

Accommodations

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. If you need to discuss reasonable accommodations, please email [email protected].  

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