Senior Systems Administrator

The Sax Institute is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that improves health and wellbeing by driving better use of evidence in policies, programs and services.

The Sax Institute has an international reputation as an Evidence Specialist, and nearly 20 years' experience in translating research findings into policy drawing on our own expertise as well as that of our more than 50 member organisations. We work with governments, health organisations, research organisations and a network of experts nationwide to analyse policy problems and find the best evidence-based solutions.

Our IT team is a pivotal part of our organisation and provides both technology solutions to our staff and support to one of our key business lines - the Secure Unified Research Environment (SURE). The SURE is a high-powered computing environment developed to help make best use of our national knowledge base and provides external researchers with secure remote access to virtual machines.

Our office is based in Glebe and we offer excellent flexible and remote working arrangements. Our staff employee engagement survey showed our staff are proud to work here at the Institute and would recommend it as a great place to work – so read on and see how you can join the team

A great opportunity exists for an experienced and hands-on System Engineer to join the Sax Institute – an organisation making a real difference to the health of all Australians.

In this role, you'll play a key part in managing and maintaining the Institute's secure research platform (SURE), helping to ensure its reliability, performance and security. You'll bring strong experience across Linux, networking, storage and virtualisation, along with excellent problem-solving skills and a passion for driving continuous improvement and innovation.

The position offers the chance to apply and grow your automation expertise, streamlining tasks and processes through scripting and modern DevOps practices. With a focus on tools such as Ansible, you'll be central in shaping the scalability, efficiency, and security of one of Australia's leading research platforms.

Although no two days will be the same, responsibilities will include:

• User Support & Service Delivery – Provide high-level technical support, configure secure workspaces and ensure the smooth delivery of IT services to internal and external users.
• Infrastructure Operations – Manage and monitor network, compute, storage, and virtualisation systems, maintain backups and ensure system performance meets security and availability requirements.
• Automation & DevOps – Streamline operations through scripting and automation, supporting ongoing efficiency and scalability.
• Technical Advice – Act as an escalation point for complex issues, liaise with vendors, and provide expert guidance across infrastructure and service delivery.
• Information Security – Maintain and enhance security controls, compliance, and awareness in line with ISO27001 and ASD/ISM requirements, including identity management and SSL lifecycle.
• Documentation & Process Improvement – Maintain accurate technical documentation, SOPs, and service workflows to support ongoing operations.
• Project Delivery – Contribute to infrastructure upgrades, new technology implementations, and other IT projects that drive innovation and continuous improvement across the Institute.

Our new IT Senior Systems Administrator will be able to show the following skills and experience:

• Minimum 5 years' experience providing 2nd and 3rd level technical support across complex, multi-technology environments, ideally within a Managed Services Provider (MSP) or IT services context.
• Proven ability to deploy, configure, and manage virtualised infrastructure and systems, including both Windows and Linux virtual machines.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft technologies, including Active Directory, Windows Server, and Group Policy management.
• Hands-on experience with virtualisation platforms such as VMware and KVM.
• Solid understanding of core infrastructure components, including switches, routers, and firewalls.
• Expertise in securing and hardening Linux systems, as well as managing vulnerabilities.
• Familiarity with containerisation tools such as Docker and Kubernetes.
• Strong technical expertise in backup solutions, particularly Veeam.
• Proficiency with version control tools such as Git.
• Experience with desktop virtualisation (VDI) solutions.
• Scripting and automation skills using Bash, PowerShell, or Ansible.
• Advanced technical troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of ITIL principles and practical experience in incident, request, and change management processes.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with internal stakeholders, external clients, and contractors.
• Must be an Australian Citizen, eligible to obtain and maintain Security Clearance

Further details

If this sounds interesting, please go to the Careers Opportunities page of our website to read more about the position:

To apply please send your CV and a cover letter outlining your experience against the selection criteria to with the subject heading: Senior Systems Administrator.

Please contact Phil Shead at if you have further questions about the role.

The Sax Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.