Job Description
Job Description
Senior Systems Engineer
Position Overview
The Senior Systems Engineer will provide advanced engineering, administration, integration, and troubleshooting support for electronic physical security systems at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory in Princeton, New Jersey. The position supports Physical Access Control Systems, Video Assessment and Surveillance Systems, visitor management applications, identity-validation technologies, servers, databases, storage systems, network devices, security workstations, and monitoring consoles.
The engineer will serve as the senior technical resource for complex hardware and software problems involving RS2 AccessIT, HID PIV Class, Avigilon, and EasyLobby. The role includes preventive maintenance, software lifecycle administration, emergency corrective support, system integration, and maintaining continuous operational availability.
Key Responsibilities
- Administer, maintain, configure, and troubleshoot RS2 AccessIT access-control software.
- Support integration between RS2 AccessIT and HID PIV Class high-assurance credential readers.
- Diagnose and resolve data synchronization, credential validation, database, communication, and interface failures.
- Administer and maintain Avigilon video management software, recording servers, storage arrays, cameras, network switches, and associated infrastructure.
- Develop and execute maintenance procedures that minimize system outages, recording interruptions, and lost camera footage.
- Support EasyLobby visitor management software, integrations, licensing, and system availability.
- Maintain access-control servers, database systems, security workstations, monitoring consoles, network storage, and related infrastructure.
- Perform advanced troubleshooting of hardware, operating systems, databases, applications, network connectivity, and integrated security platforms.
- Plan and implement software updates, patches, upgrades, configuration changes, and license renewals.
- Maintain system configurations, maintenance records, service tickets, technical reports, test results, and corrective-action documentation.
- Coordinate with certified technicians during field troubleshooting, equipment replacement, testing, and system restoration.
- Provide technical direction to Certified Security Technicians and Apprentice/Helpers.
- Support scheduled preventive maintenance and emergency corrective maintenance.
- Participate in 24/7/365 emergency support and help ensure an on-site technician can arrive within four hours of notification.
- Protect system availability and security while performing troubleshooting, testing, upgrades, and maintenance.
- Follow all site safety, electrical safety, cybersecurity, physical-security, and access-control procedures.
The opportunity specifically evaluates experience integrating RS2 AccessIT with HID PIV Class and maintaining Avigilon recording servers and storage arrays without causing significant system interruptions.
Qualifications/Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronic Security, or a related discipline is preferred.
- Equivalent technical training, manufacturer training, and relevant professional experience may be accepted in place of a degree.
- Recommended minimum of five years of systems engineering, electronic security systems, network engineering, or related technical experience.
- Demonstrated experience supporting enterprise physical access control or video surveillance systems.
- Experience administering Windows-based servers, databases, network-connected appliances, storage systems, and workstations.
- Experience troubleshooting integrated hardware and software systems in operational or high-security environments.
- Experience supporting federal, Department of Energy, research, academic, industrial, or other controlled-access facilities is preferred.
- Experience maintaining systems that require high availability and limited operational downtime.
- Experience documenting technical findings, corrective actions, system changes, and maintenance results.
Required Skills
- Advanced troubleshooting and root-cause analysis
- RS2 AccessIT administration and integration
- HID PIV Class credential-reader integration
- Avigilon VMS, recording server, and storage administration
- EasyLobby administration or comparable visitor management experience
- Windows Server and workstation support
- Database and application troubleshooting
- Network connectivity and TCP/IP troubleshooting
- Video storage and recording infrastructure
- Software patching, upgrading, and lifecycle management
- System configuration and change management
- Preventive and corrective maintenance
- Technical documentation and reporting
- Emergency incident response
- Ability to work independently in a high-security environment
- Ability to direct and mentor junior technical personnel
Certification
The following current manufacturer certifications are strongly preferred:
- RS2 AccessIT certification
- Avigilon certification
- HID certification or documented HID PIV Class training
- EasyLobby certification or documented product training
Clearance/Security
- Must be eligible to obtain access to a secured Department of Energy national laboratory.
- Must present a valid, unexpired REAL ID-compliant credential or passport for site access.
- Non-U.S. citizens are subject to advance review and approval through the applicable foreign-national access process.
- Personnel performing more than 40 hours of on-site service must complete required General Employee Training before receiving unescorted access.
- Must comply with all site security, safety, escort, and badging requirements.
Place of Performance and Availability
- Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey
- On-site support is required.
- Standard service hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
- Must be available for scheduled after-hours work and emergency response.
- Must support 24/7/365 emergency service requirements, including a four-hour on-site response.
- Must be assigned through an operational office or dispatch center located within 100 miles of the facility.
Salary
TBD