Systems Engineer/Senior Systems Engineer

The Office of Information Technology at Auburn University is seeking an IAM Systems Engineer to support day‑to‑day identity and directory services for the university, supporting Active Directory–based identity services and their integration with Microsoft Entra ID (aka: AzureAD), including modern authentication and Single Sign-On (SSO) capabilities.

The primary focus of this role is on-premises Active Directory and its relationship to Entra within an increasingly automated IAM ecosystem. The role also plays a critical part in leading Auburn University toward an Entra ID–based authentication and Single Sign-On (SSO) model, helping reduce reliance on legacy on-premises SSO systems and campus dependencies.

The position reports to the Manager of Identity and Access Management and works closely with the IT Service Desk, distributed IT units, and other central OIT infrastructure teams.

Candidates are required to upload a resume and cover letter with their application. Please combine into one document.

Identity & Directory Services Operations

• Operate, secure, and support Auburn University’s on premises Active Directory environment, including users, groups, permissions, and password policies.
• Ensure accurate user provisioning and deprovisioning outcomes across all phases of the identity lifecycle in coordination with the IAM platform.
• Perform daily monitoring and troubleshooting of Active Directory services and related identity infrastructure.
• Troubleshoot account lockouts, authentication failures, and authorization issues.
• Perform configuration of and object recovery using Veeam backups.

Hybrid Identity & Entra Integration

• Serve as administrator for Azure/Entra Connect, including monitoring, upgrades, and troubleshooting synchronization issues.
• Troubleshoot synchronization problems involving users, groups, and passwords between on premises AD and Entra ID.
• Modify and extend synchronization scope and attributes as business needs evolve.
• Build and maintain dynamic Entra groups for security, distribution lists and Microsoft 365 licensing.

IAM & Group Management

• Support IAM driven automation for account provisioning, deprovisioning, and group membership management.
• Troubleshoot and resolve identity issues originating from IAM workflows or distributed IT activity.
• Maintain and reduce technical debt related to legacy or unused Active Directory groups.
• Support a custom group maintenance web application used by campus IT and non technical administrators.
• Perform ad hoc bulk modifications to directory objects using PowerShell or other approved tools.
  Policy, Logging, and Operational Support
• Maintain Group Policy Administrative Templates (ADMX/ADML) and provide limited Group Policy support.
• Use Splunk and other logging tools to investigate login issues, sync failures, and security events.
• Participate in incident response and change management using ServiceNow.
• Communicate effectively with a student staffed Service Desk and professional IT staff across colleges and campuses.

Strategic & Future State Responsibilities

• The successful candidate will contribute to Auburn University’s identity modernization strategy, with emphasis on reducing institutional risk and simplifying authentication architecture.
• Serve as a technical contributor to the transition from legacy, on premises SSO systems (CAS / SAML) to Entra ID–based authentication and SSO, potentially in coordination with the IAM platform.
• Support, and at senior levels help lead, planning and execution of SSO modernization initiatives.
• Troubleshoot authentication flows spanning IAM Active Directory Entra ID SSO.
• Increase operational redundancy by reducing single points of failure in identity and authentication systems.
• At senior levels, mentor peers and contribute to identity architecture discussions and standards.

Systems Engineer (MA46)

• Bachelor's degree + 3 years of experience OR
• Associate's degree + 7 years of experience OR
• High school diploma or equivalent + 11 years of experience 

Sr. Systems Engineer (MA47)

• Bachelor's degree + 6 years of experience 

Scope of Experience: Relevant IT experience in the administration of distributed computer systems, preferably in a university setting.

Desired Qualifications:

• Multiple years of Microsoft Active Directory domain administration
• Experience with IAM platforms, such as Fischer Identity, particularly provisioning and deprovisioning user workflows
• Experience with Microsoft 365 licensing through dynamic Entra ID groups
• Experience supporting Group Policy Objects (GPOs)
• Experience administering or supporting Azure / Entra ID
• Familiarity with Splunk log analysis for authentication and directory issues
• Experience with LDAP
• Experience with SQL
• Familiarity with GitHub or source control for scripts and tooling
• Exposure to SAML‑based authentication concepts; experience with CAS or other SSO platforms a plus

• Advanced understanding of server infrastructure and operating systems.
• Ability to test and troubleshoot vulnerabilities in software and hardware.
• Ability to implement software and upgrade firmware.
• Ability to recognize, analyze, and solve a variety of problems.
• Ability to effectively communicate technical concepts to a non-technical audience.
• Strong technical aptitude and computer skills.

• Life-Changing Impact: Our work changes lives through research, instruction, and outreach, making a lasting impact on our students, our communities, and the world.
• Culture of Excellence:We are committed to leveraging our strengths, resources, collaboration, and innovation as a top employer in higher education.
• We’re Here for You:Auburn offers generous benefits, educational opportunities, and a culture of support and work/life balance.
• Sweet Home Alabama:The Auburn/Opelika area offers southern charm, vibrant downtown scenes, top-ranked schools, and easy access to Atlanta, Birmingham, and the Gulf of Mexico beaches.
• A Place for Everyone: Auburn is committed to fostering an environment where all faculty, staff, and students are welcomed, valued, respected, and engaged.
• Ready to lead and shape the future of higher education? Apply today! War Eagle!