Senior Systems Engineer

Summary

Join Ardent, a company committed to both impactful work and employee well-being. We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Systems Engineer to manage and support our Microsoft 365 infrastructure, including Azure, Azure AD, and related services. This hybrid role in the Washington, DC area requires overseeing daily IT operations, ensuring seamless integration across platforms, and actively participating in compliance initiatives. The ideal candidate will possess extensive M365 administration experience, strong IT operations management skills, and a proven track record in compliance support. Ardent offers competitive benefits, professional development opportunities, and a flexible work environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field
• Minimum of 6 years of experience managing M365 environments and IT operations in a mid-to-large scale organization
• Hands-on experience with IT service management (ITSM) platforms and service desk leadership
• Proven track record of supporting compliance initiatives such as CMMI, CMMC, and ISO audits
• Relevant M365 certifications (e.g., Microsoft 365 Certified: Enterprise Administrator Expert)
• Due to the nature of the work we support, all candidates in consideration for this role must be willing to undergo the government issued background investigation process

Responsibilities

• Manage and maintain the organization's M365 environment, including MS Azure, Azure AD (Entra), Purview, Security, Compliance, Defender, Intune, SharePoint Online, Exchange Online, Teams, OneDrive, Single Sign-On, Retention Policies, and Retention Labels
• Implement and oversee security and compliance features within M365, including Conditional Access, DLP, and eDiscovery
• Ensure M365 infrastructure supports the scalability and operational needs of the organization
• Monitor and optimize M365 performance and usage, implementing best practices for cost management and user adoption
• Oversee daily IT operations to ensure service continuity and resolution of issues
• Manage the service desk team, prioritizing ticket resolution and user satisfaction
• Lead the implementation, configuration, and maintenance of additional IT platforms and enterprise software
• Develop and enforce IT policies, procedures, and SLA adherence
• Support CMMI/CMMC and ISO compliance efforts by maintaining documentation, processes, and tools required for audits
• Collaborate with internal and external auditors to ensure adherence to regulatory standards
• Implement systems and controls to meet compliance requirements while maintaining operational efficiency
• Integrate and maintain interoperability across M365 and other IT systems
• Perform regular system audits, patches, and updates to maintain infrastructure health and security
• Support the planning and execution of disaster recovery and business continuity initiatives
• Work closely with business units to understand operational needs and develop solutions leveraging IT systems
• Provide training and knowledge-sharing to staff, improving IT literacy and reducing dependency on support
• Stay current with emerging M365 technologies and IT trends, proposing innovative solutions to meet evolving business needs

Preferred Qualifications

• ITIL 4 Foundation certification
• Familiarity with CMMI/CMMC and ISO frameworks
• In-depth knowledge of M365 applications and services, including security and compliance tools and policies
• Strong understanding of IT infrastructure, including networking, virtualization, and MS Azure cloud computing
• Familiarity with compliance frameworks and the ability to create audit-ready processes and documentation
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot complex technical issues
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with experience managing multi-tenants and cross-functional teams
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks for multiple tenants under tight deadlines

Benefits

• Highly competitive benefits
• Professional development opportunities
• Exceptional culture that embraces flexibility
• Innovation
• Collaboration
• Career growth