Job description

MISSION: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will improve outcomes for all public-school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems. Core Values: We are Determined: We are committed and intentional in the pursuit of our main purpose, to improve outcomes for students. We are People-Centered: We strive to attract, develop, and retain the most committed talent, representing the diversity of Texas, each contributing to our common vision for students. We are Learners: We seek evidence, reflect on success and failure, and try new approaches in the pursuit of excellence for our students. We are Servant Leaders: Above all else, we are public servants working to improve opportunities for students and provide support to those who serve them. New hires, re-hires, and internal hires will typically receive a starting salary between the posted minimum and the average pay of employees in their same classification. Offers will be commensurate with the candidate's experience and qualifications and will thoughtfully consider internal pay equity for agency staff who perform similar duties and have similar qualifications. The top half of the posted salary range is generally reserved for candidates who exceed the requirements and qualifications for the role. The maximum salary range is reserved for candidates that far exceed the required and preferred qualifications for the role. This is an internal posting. We are only accepting applications from current Texas Education Agency (TEA) employees. External applicants will not be considered. About the Office of IT The Office of Information Technology works closely with all agency divisions to implement innovative technology solutions in a cost-efficient manner that supports the goals and priorities of the Texas Education Agency. The Office of IT provides efficient technology solutions and stellar customer services to internal staff, 20 Educational Service Centers, and 1,200-plus public-school districts and charter schools. The following services are provided by IT: leadership on IT initiatives; guidance on security/policy issues; new application development/enhancements; software acquisition; technical support; assistance with technical sections of purchasing documents such as Request for Information (RFI), Request for Offers (RFO), Request for Proposals (RFP); and oversight on the data collection process which helps to support and improve outcomes for all of Texas' 5 million-plus students. Position Overview The Tools Administrator is responsible for managing the design, installation, and ongoing support of third-party application software within both Windows and Linux environments. The Administrator ensures that the necessary infrastructure is in place to support these applications, making adjustments as needed to optimize performance and reliability. A strong understanding of middleware applications and hardware is highly desirable, as the position requires assisting customers with troubleshooting, configuration, and integration of various software components. The role provides support to a diverse group of users, which may include internal staff, external clients, or other stakeholders. Additionally, occasional after-hours work may be required to address urgent issues, perform system maintenance, or implement planned upgrades. Establishing and following best practices for user support and system changes is critical to maintaining operational efficiency. This position also requires close collaboration with other IT support teams to ensure seamless integration and effective problem resolution across different technical areas. Flexible work location within the state of Texas may be considered for qualified candidates. Please note that a resume and tailored cover letter are required attachments for applying to this position. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants who are strongly being considered for employment must submit to a national criminal history background check. Essential Functions Job duties are not limited to the essential functions mentioned below. You may perform other functions as assigned. 1. Tools Administrator: Serves as the subject matter expert for installing, supporting, maintaining, troubleshooting and administering complex applications. 2. Infrastructure Designer: Acts as a technical expert addressing problems in failover, high availability, disaster recovery, and business continuity strategies. 3. Documentation: Documents architecture appropriately and consistently within the defined architectural process, maintains runbooks/operating procedures, usage manuals and standards. 4. Ensure compliance with Security & Change Control Policy: Adheres to the security compliance standards set by the agency, managing the creation, distribution, change, and maintenance of information. Minimum Qualifications Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university Degree field(s): Computer science, Information technology, or related field Experience: At least five (5) years of experience in tools administration, Operating system administration, troubleshooting, or infrastructure design and maintenance work. Substitutions: Each additional year of related experience above the required minimum may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis. Other Qualifications Share the belief that all Texas students can achieve at high levels and are able to succeed in college, career, or the military Demonstrated proficiency in troubleshooting connectivity issues related to firewall, load balancer, proxy, and other networking components. Hands-on expertise in process automation, applying best practices, and optimizing technology for efficiency and effectiveness. In-depth knowledge of both Windows and RHEL operating systems environments. Strong Linux experience, including shell scripting for administrative tasks. Proficiency in Windows administration, including PowerShell scripting for tasks. Skilled in SQL Query Development for Oracle and MySQL databases. Familiarity with Container and Container Orchestration is a plus. Experience with monitoring tools is a plus. Knowledge of JBoss WildFly, Apache HTTP Server, and Microsoft IIS is a plus. Familiarity with SAS and Power BI is a plus. Understanding of the workflow and process requirements of complex application systems. Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills, with proficiency in analytical tools. Strong verbal and written communication, along with negotiation skills. Self-motivated, capable of working independently, and proactive in taking initiative. Ability to multitask effectively in a fast-paced environment. Quick and proficient learner of new content areas and skills. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or veteran status, unless an applicant is entitled to the military employment preference. To review the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to each job classification series in the State's Position Classification Plan (provided by the State Auditor's Office), please access the Military Crosswalk (occupational specialty code) Guide and click on the military "occupational category" that corresponds with the state classification in this job posting title. This position requires the applicant to meet Agency standards and criteria which may include passing a pre-employment criminal background check, prior to being offered employment by the Agency. No phone calls or emails, please. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls and cannot reply to all email inquiries. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted. Please add "capps.recruiting@cpa.texas.gov" and "@tea.texas.gov" to your safe senders list to ensure you receive email notifications from our talent acquisition team and/or hiring division regarding your candidacy.

Requirements