Associate Infrastructure Engineer

This position is eligible for teleworking, which is currently 2 days per week. New hires are eligible to apply 30 days after their effective date of hire.

Opening:

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is North America's largest transportation network, serving a population of 15.3 million people across a 5,000-square-mile travel area surrounding New York City, Long Island, southeastern New York State, and Connecticut. The MTA network comprises the nation’s largest bus fleet and more subway and commuter rail cars than all other U.S. transit systems combined. MTA strives to provide a safe and reliable commute, excellent customer service, and rewarding opportunities.

About Us:

The MTA transportation network has very large systems and infrastructure for financial, business, automated train, transportation, power, and physical security.  The MTA IT Department is centrally responsible for providing a full range of Information and Operational Technology services to the MTA agencies and administrative units through its operating and support units. Services are provided on a 7/24/365 basis in support of the MTA organization and its ridership.

MTA IT’s Infrastructure and Operations division manages and optimizes the day-to-day operation of networks, systems, hardware and software, data centers, service desk, and technical field support. The goal is to provide reliable and robust infrastructure services and steady-state IT operations to the employees and agencies of the MTA.

Summary:

This position supports and maintains a component of the IT infrastructure and systems. Responsibilities include monitoring the availability, scalability, and performance of IT systems. This role supports the network infrastructure and collaborates with other IT teams to ensure the successful implementation of projects. This role requires developing knowledge of server hardware, software configuration, networking, cloud computing, and security, and exposure to Windows, Linux, and virtualization.

Responsibilities:

• Repairs, maintains, and provides preventative maintenance for an area of the infrastructure to ensure systems availability targets are met.
• Implements changes to one or more components of the infrastructure, executing tests and reporting on performance, to meet requested needs.
• Troubleshoots hardware and software problems by analyzing a chain of events and applying technical knowledge following established procedures and standards to resolve immediate customer needs.
• Maintains and updates existing documentation and standard operating procedures to ensure accurate and timely information is available for assigned systems.
• Works with more experienced colleagues and other IT technical resources to improve coordination of infrastructure requirements and analyze issues as they arise.
• Participates in the evaluation of new products and technologies, under the direction and guidance of senior colleagues, relevant to assigned infrastructure area to enhance technology engineering service value.
• Performs capacity planning exercises to properly identify required hardware, software, configuration/architecture necessary to support application needs.
• Monitors and reports tech infrastructure usage trends.
• Assists with installation, configuration, and maintenance of physical IT hardware infrastructure components of systems, servers, cloud, storage, routers, switches, firewalls, data centers, and workstations.
• Assists with the technical security of the IT infrastructure by setting up firewalls, managing access controls/operating systems/ database servers, configuring VPNs, and taking proactive measures against potential cyber threats. Follows security protocols and complies with security standards, and handles security incidents.
• Assists with installation and configuration of software applications, operating systems, databases, and utilities according to organizational requirements. Conducts regular monitoring of software components and tunes them for optimal performance. Identifies performance issues within the software environment, escalating as appropriate.
• Assists with the implementation of local and wide-area networks (LAN and WAN), configures routers and switches, and determines proper implementation of network cable and hardware requirements.
• Travel may be required to other MTA locations or other external sites.
• May need to work outside of normal work hours supporting 24/7 operations (i.e., evenings and weekends).
• Performs other duties and tasks as assigned.
• Observing the work performed by the contractor.
• Reviewing invoices and approving them if the work meets contractual standards
• Addressing performance issues with the contractor when possible
• Escalating issues to other parties as needed.
• Regular and reliable attendance is expected and required.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: bachelor’s degree and minimum of 1 year of relevant experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Experience: 1 year

Technical Skills:

• Fundamental awareness in analyzing storage needs, such as interpreting metrics and analyzing capacity trends.
• Fundamental awareness of Disaster Recovery principles and tools, including types of disasters, basic recovery strategies, and the importance of data backup and protection.
• Fundamental awareness in conducting routine server maintenance and troubleshooting common issues.
• Fundamental awareness of patch deployment and ensuring systems are up-to-date and secure.
• Fundamental awareness in configuring software and hardware and executing predefined scripts.
• Fundamental awareness in migrating systems and data with minimal downtime and data integrity.
• Fundamental awareness in installing and upgrading operating systems with guidance.
• Fundamental awareness in monitoring systems for assessing performance and diagnosing issues.
• Fundamental awareness in system administration tasks, including managing user permissions, maintaining system efficiency, and ensuring uptime.
• Fundamental awareness of defining resource needs for projects and operational tasks.
• Fundamental awareness of the hardware lifecycle, including installation, upgrades, and maintenance.
• Fundamental awareness of IT security principles, able to implement robust security measures under guidance and respond to incidents with due diligence.
• Fundamental awareness of network security (e.g., firewalls, network ports, etc.) and connecting enterprise networks to the cloud.
• Fundamental awareness of various hardware components, networking devices, servers, backup systems, and cabling.  Intermediate understanding of computing systems and ability to troubleshoot complex hardware/software issues.
• Fundamental awareness of various software components, firmware, operating systems, database servers, and operations software (monitoring, backup, routing, job scheduling, etc.)
• Basic skills in network routing configuration and troubleshooting.
• Fundamental awareness of current system usage trends and ability to forecast future needs.
• Fundamental awareness of IT domains.

Behavioral Skills:

• Capable of active listening, attention to detail, customer service, prioritization, and problem-solving skills.
• Works independently and strategically.
• Capable of identifying and analyzing risks and developing effective mitigation strategies.
• Basic skill set to understand various technologies, systems, and potential risks.
• Capable of critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Capable of interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with both technical and non-technical peers.
• Capable of assisting multiple projects simultaneously and prioritizing tasks based on urgency and impact.
• Fundamental awareness and hands-on experience with related tools.
• Capable of working under pressure and meeting deadlines individually and collaboratively. Thinks logically, assesses problems, and is results-oriented.
• Capable of identifying business and technology risks and associated vulnerabilities.
• Capable of communicating effectively, both orally and in writing, to interact with team members, customers, management, and support personnel (technical and non-technical)
• Adept in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with employees at all levels within the organization, and with both internal and external customers.

Competencies:

Other Information:

Pursuant to the New York State Public Officers Law & the MTA Code of Ethics, all employees who hold a policymaking position must file an Annual Statement of Financial Disclosure (FDS) with the NYS Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (the “Commission”).

Equal Employment Opportunity:

MTA and its subsidiary and affiliated agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers, including with respect to veteran status and individuals with disabilities.

The MTA encourages qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and abilities, including military service members, to apply.