Systems Administrator | Lincoln, Nebraska

Approximately $60,000–$80,000 Base Salary + Annual Bonus

You’re an experienced Systems Administrator who has become the person everyone relies on.

You know the servers, the users, the hardware, and how the entire environment fits together. You’re still comfortable being hands-on, but you may be ready for something beyond maintaining what someone else has already built.

This opportunity gives you the chance to help build an independent Information Systems function from the ground floor—with a genuine opportunity to grow into a leadership role as the department evolves.

Our client is an established global manufacturing organization creating a dedicated Information Systems team for one of its major business divisions. Infrastructure, hardware, networking, and end-user support responsibilities that were previously shared are being transitioned into this new team.

The transition is already underway, and the organization needs an experienced Systems Administrator who can learn the environment, help execute the plan, and gradually take greater ownership of the division’s technology operations.

You won’t be expected to figure everything out alone. You’ll work closely with experienced internal technology leaders and another Systems Administrator who is already learning the environment.

Over time, however, this team will need to stand on its own—and the person hired into this role is expected to become one of the people others rely on to help lead it.

What You’ll Have the Opportunity to Do

You’ll support an environment of approximately 800 users and work across the full systems administration landscape, including:

• Microsoft Windows and Active Directory.
• VMware and server virtualization.
• Servers, workstations, hardware, and end-user support.
• User accounts, permissions, access rights, and storage.
• Backups, restores, security, and data integrity.
• Connectivity, switches, and broader network infrastructure.
• Troubleshooting hardware and software issues throughout the organization.

This is a hands-on role, especially while you’re learning the environment. You’ll need to be willing to resolve user issues, support hardware, troubleshoot systems, and handle the everyday work that keeps the business operating.

You’ll also need enough confidence to enforce sound IT practices.

Employees throughout the organization may occasionally want to take a shortcut or move ahead without following the established process. The right person will be able to explain the reasoning behind a decision, maintain strong working relationships, and still say no when a request could create security, reliability, or support problems.

That means this can’t be someone who prefers to stay behind a monitor.

You’ll need to be approachable, patient, comfortable in group discussions, and able to work with people throughout the business.

Where This Could Lead

As the department grows, additional systems and support professionals are expected to join the team.

The person hired into this role may have the opportunity to train future employees and move into a supervisory position after mastering the environment and demonstrating the ability to lead.

That progression will need to be earned, but the opportunity is real. For a strong performer, leadership could reasonably come into view within the next couple of years.

What We’re Hoping You’ll Bring

You’ll likely have:

• Approximately 8-10 years of progressive IT and technical support experience.
• Several years of direct systems administration responsibility.
• Strong Windows and Active Directory experience.
• VMware and server virtualization experience.
• Experience supporting servers, workstations, hardware, and end users.
• Exposure to networking, switches, connectivity, backups, and security.
• Broad technical knowledge rather than experience in only one narrow area.
• The confidence to enforce the right process while remaining patient and approachable.
• The desire to remain hands-on today while growing toward leadership.

Manufacturing experience would be helpful, but it isn’t required. An associate or bachelor’s degree in a computer-related field would strengthen your background, although equivalent professional experience will also be considered.

Why This Opportunity May Be Different

Many Systems Administrator roles offer more work without creating a meaningful next step.

This role offers the opportunity to:

• Join a newly developing infrastructure and support function near the beginning.
• Help transition technology responsibilities into a dedicated internal team.
• Work broadly across systems, hardware, users, virtualization, and networking.
• Learn from an experienced technology group.
• Help train and guide future team members.
• Earn consideration for leadership as the department grows.
• Join a stable organization where many employees have built long careers.

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary: Approximately $60,000–$80,000.
• Compensation above the stated range may be considered for an exceptional candidate.
• Annual bonus opportunity historically around one month of salary, based on company performance and not guaranteed.
• Strong employer-supported health insurance and 401(k) benefits.
• Twelve paid holidays.
• Additional PTO awards at designated service anniversaries.
• Paid straight-time compensation for approved weekend project work.
• Subsidized on-site cafeteria and fitness facilities.

Location and Schedule

This is an on-site position in Lincoln, Nebraska and is not a hybrid role.

Limited remote flexibility may be available for unusual circumstances, subject to management approval. There may also be occasional on-call or weekend project work, although most after-hours issues can typically be handled remotely.

Insight Recruitment has been retained to conduct this confidential search.

You may not be actively looking. But if you’d like to remain technically hands-on while helping build something—and position yourself for meaningful leadership—we’d welcome a confidential conversation.