IT Systems Engineer

Job Title: IT Systems Engineer

Team: IT

Location: In-Person in Chicago (IL) or New York (NY) 

Employment Type: Full-time

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Start Date: ASAP

About Braven

Braven is a national nonprofit that prepares promising young people—many of whom are people of color, from low-income backgrounds, and the first in their families to attend college—to secure a strong first opportunity after college graduation through a career-accelerating program.

We work with higher education and employer partners to offer a life-changing experience that begins with a semester-long course for college students followed by support that lasts through graduation.  

Together, we are helping to open up access to the American Promise, empowering a generation of leaders who mirror the diversity of our country.

To learn more, take a look at Braven’s Impact Report and Jobs Report.

About the Role

In order to achieve its ambition of serving 80,000-100,000 Fellows over the next decade, Braven is hiring an IT Systems Engineer who will play a crucial role in designing, implementing, and maintaining the company’s IT infrastructure. As a member of the IT team, you will lead the transformation of our IT infrastructure, delivering robust and scalable solutions that enhance operational efficiency. Your proactive approach will ensure seamless integration of new technologies, directly contributing to improved system reliability and organizational  growth.

This role is on the IT team and reports directly to the Director, Information Technology.

What You’ll Do

Infrastructure Management - 35%

• Design, implement, and maintain IT infrastructure (e.g., SaaS application administration, physical networks)
• Monitor and troubleshoot system and SaaS application performance across the organization (e.g. Slack, Google Workspace, Zoom)
• Identify and improve processes via automation (e.g. Okta Workflows, scripting, etc.)

Security and Compliance - 25%

• Ensure security through access controls and backups in order to safeguard our organization’s data and assets
• Support disaster recovery plans to prepare in the event of a system outage or security breach by collaborating with the Director of IT 

Project Implementation - 20%

• Lead IT projects, including office expansions and new technology rollouts in order to support the organization’s continuous growth
• Coordinate with various software vendors in order to implement new features in our environment to create opportunities for workflow efficiencies for the organization

Support and Training - 20%

• Provide technical support to our end users via our ticketing platform Atlassian Jira Service Management
• Develop and maintain system documentation and user guides

Other duties as assigned

Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• At least 4 years in IT with at least ​​2 years of experience in systems engineering or a similar role
• 1-2 years of network design (implementing networks, including routers, switches, firewalls, and wireless access points) and systems administration (e.g., performing regular system maintenance, updates, and patches to ensure optimal performance and security)

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency in managing network equipment (e.g., routers, switches)
• Hands-on experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, GCP)
• Experience with mobile device management solutions (e.g., Kandji, Jamf) and single sign-on administration (e.g., Okta)
• Proven experience in IT project management and execution using tools such as Atlassian Jira
• Experience with scripting and automation tools (e.g., PowerShell, Python)
• 1-2 years experience in the design and support of AV technologies utilized in office meeting spaces
• Working knowledge cybersecurity principles and best practices
• Demonstrate analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on detail and accuracy
• Ability to explain complex technical concepts to a variety of stakeholders with different technical backgrounds
• Relevant certifications (e.g., CompTIA A+, AWS certifications) are a plus
• Demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion.
• Exemplification of Braven’s core values.
• Experience that has informed your belief in Braven’s mission and have prepared you to work with, or for, Braven’s student Fellow population.

Please know that no one ever meets 100% of the preferred qualifications. If much of this describes you, we encourage you to apply.

Work Demands

• Ability to work in-person in Chicago (IL) or New York (NY) at least 3 days per week with the occasional need to work in-person to troubleshoot systems, as required.
• Travel 2-4 times per year

Additional Requirements

• Authorized to work in the U.S.
• Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of such by the date of hire. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons.

Application & Interview Process

While the interview process may vary slightly, the general process will be:

• Phone screen with Talent Team member
• Performance Task
• Interview with Hiring Manager
• Panel Interview with Key Partners
• Reference Checks

Benefits

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this position, which depends on prior work experience and our assessment of your demonstrated fit for the role, will likely be between $68,600-$85,700 in Chicago and $75,500-$94,300 in New York City. This is a full-time regular, exempt, and benefits eligible position where you will be working at 100% capacity. Braven offers competitive base salaries based on the midpoint of the market among not-for-profit organizations of similar size, with opportunities for salary growth over time. We believe in compensating staff members fairly in relation to each other, their qualifications, and their impact on behalf of the organization, and take internal and external equity seriously. Given our commitment to equity, Braven does not negotiate salary offers; instead each salary offer is determined carefully using external and internal benchmarking. You will have an opportunity to discuss salary in more detail after you begin the application process.

Braven also provides competitive, comprehensive benefits, recognition, and career development. While Braven reserves the right to change benefits at any time, current benefits include: 

• Unlimited vacation time in addition to org-wide holidays and week-long shutdowns in July and the end of the calendar year (this is a minimum of 19 days per year)
• Match of your 401K contribution up to 5% of your base annual salary, starting your first full month
• Coverage of 85% of health insurance premium for employee and dependents
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• A one-month paid sabbatical after 4 years on staff

Location

We gather in the office at least 3 days per week (on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) and often work remotely 2 days per week (although certain commitments might adjust that from time to time). Therefore, this role requires teammates to live within commuting distance of Chicago (IL) or New York (NY). We believe in the magic, connection, and collaboration that happens when people work together face-to-face and we believe in giving people flexibility to focus, balance personal priorities, and save themselves two commutes per week.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 

At Braven, we are committed to attracting, engaging, developing, and retaining a diverse team. Braven operates in the context of our American culture, against the backdrop of systemic racism and oppression of marginalized people since our country’s founding. We are committed to assembling leaders at our organization who have emerged from everywhere, with a particular emphasis on those who share the racial and income backgrounds of our Fellows, and creating an inclusive culture that allows all teammates, of all experiences and identities, to thrive.  

Braven is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor.  We encourage talented individuals of all backgrounds to apply.