At Polaris Inc., we have fun doing what we love by driving change and innovation. We empower employees to take on challenging assignments and roles with an elevated level of responsibility in our agile working environment. Our people make us who we are, and we create incredible products and experiences that empower us to THINK OUTSIDE.
JOB SUMMARY:
The IT Systems Engineer is a key contributor to the stability, performance, and security of the organization's core infrastructure - including server, storage, virtualization, and identity systems. This role leads the design, administration, and ongoing enhancement of these foundational environments to ensure high availability and optimal performance. The engineer also partners closely with product and operational teams to deliver expert technical guidance, resolve complex issues, and support cross-functional initiatives that advance business objectives.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Administer and continuously optimize datacenter and branch office server, virtualization, and storage infrastructures to ensure scalability, reliability, and cost-efficiency.
- Lead capacity planning, performance tuning, and lifecycle management of infrastructure components across hybrid environments (on-premises and cloud).
- Architect and implement infrastructure enhancements aligned with business goals, security standards, and emerging technologies.
- Evaluate and recommend new tools, platforms, and methodologies to improve operational efficiency and system resilience.
- Configure new and existing technology solutions following industry best practices, with a strong emphasis on automation, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), and repeatable deployment processes.
- Lead technical aspects of infrastructure projects, including scoping, risk assessment, resource allocation, and stakeholder communication.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment and project deadlines.
- Adhere to and promote existing ITIL processes and standard procedures.
- Define and document operational standards, runbooks, and escalation procedures for Level 1–3 support teams.
- Stay current with new and evolving technologies via formal training and self-directed education.
- Share insights and innovations with the broader team to foster a learning-oriented environment.
- Lead post-incident reviews and contribute to root cause analysis and preventive measures.
- Participate in a rotating 24x7 on-call schedule, providing expert-level support and rapid incident resolution across global infrastructure.
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & EDUCATION:
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related technical field; equivalent practical experience will be considered.
- Minimum 3 years of experience administering or supporting Microsoft Windows Server in enterprise environments, with deep expertise in Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, File Services, Group Policy, and troubleshooting across both physical and virtual infrastructures.
- Minimum 3 years of experience administering or supporting VMWare environments on enterprise-grade physical hardware, including installation, configuration, and maintenance of rack-mounted and blade servers (e.g., Cisco UCS, HPE BladeSystem).
- Minimum 1 year of experience administering or supporting Microsoft Entra, including user and role management, app registrations, SSO (SAML/OIDC), certificates/secrets, and Entra Connect.
- Advanced PowerShell scripting skills for automation, reporting, and system management.
- Experience working with Storage Area Network (SAN) technologies, including configuration and management of iSCSI and/or Fibre Channel protocols.
- Experience with backup and disaster recovery solutions in virtualized environments (e.g., Rubrik, Commvault, Veeam).
- Strong understanding of networking concepts, including IP addressing and subnetting, routing protocols, DNS resolution, and secure communication protocols such as SSL/TLS.
- Strong understanding of ITIL processes, including incident, change, and problem management.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to lead technical discussions and mentor junior staff.
- Proven ability to troubleshoot complex infrastructure issues, perform root cause analysis, and implement long-term solutions.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Microsoft Azure infrastructure, including subscriptions, management groups, virtual networks, NSGs, load balancers, and ExpressRoute gateways.
- Experience with hybrid cloud environments and integration of VMware with public cloud platforms (e.g., Azure VMware Solution, VMware Cloud on AWS).
- Experience with Linux operating systems such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux or Ubuntu, including system configuration, package management, and basic shell scripting.
- Experience with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet, Chef, Terraform).
- Technical certifications with Microsoft, Redhat, Nutanix, and/or VMWare.
The starting pay range for Minnesota is $78,000 to $97,000 per year. Individual salaries and positioning within the range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, skills, and geography. While individual pay could fall anywhere in the range based on these factors, it is not common to start at the high end or top of the range.
#LI-RAO
To qualify for this position, former employees must be eligible for rehire, and current employees must be in good standing.
We are an ambitious, resourceful, and driven workforce, which empowers us to THINK OUTSIDE. Apply today!
At Polaris we put our employees first, by offering a holistic approach to their health and financial wellbeing. Polaris is proud to offer competitive compensation, including a market-leading profit-sharing plan that is fundamental to our pay-for-performance culture. At Polaris, employees are owners of the company through company contributions to our Employee Stock Ownership Plan and discounted employee stock purchases plan. Employees receive a generous matching contribution to 401(k), financial wellness education and consultation to plan for their financial future. In addition to competitive pay, Polaris provides a comprehensive suite of benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance, wellness programs, paid time off, gym & personal training reimbursement, life insurance and disability offerings. Through the Polaris Foundation and our Polaris Gives paid volunteer time off, we support employees who actively volunteer their time, efforts, and passions to improve the health and wellbeing of the communities in which they live, play and work. Employees at Polaris drive our success and are rewarded for their commitment.
About Polaris
As the global leader in powersports, Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII) pioneers product breakthroughs and enriching experiences and services that have invited people to discover the joy of being outdoors since our founding in 1954. Polaris' high-quality product line-up includes the Polaris RANGER®, RZR® and Polaris GENERAL™ side-by-side off-road vehicles; Sportsman® all-terrain off-road vehicles; military and commercial off-road vehicles; snowmobiles; Indian Motorcycle® mid-size and heavyweight motorcycles; Slingshot® moto-roadsters; Aixam quadricycles; Goupil electric vehicles; and pontoon and deck boats, including industry-leading Bennington pontoons. Polaris enhances the riding experience with a robust portfolio of parts, garments, and accessories. Proudly headquartered in Minnesota, Polaris serves more than 100 countries across the globe. www.polaris.com
EEO Statement
Polaris Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will make all employment-related decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, familial status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local commission, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. Applicants with a disability that are in need of an accommodation to complete the application process, or otherwise need assistance or an accommodation in the recruiting process, should contact Human Resources at 800-765-2747 or [email protected]. To read more about employment discrimination protection under U.S. federal law, see: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal (eeoc.gov).
Top Skills
What We Do
Since 1954, Polaris has proudly defined, re-defined and then raised the bar again for the powersports industry. It is reflected in the innovation we bring to the products we design and experiences we create for all those who play, work and THINK OUTSIDE
