Systems Engineer

Why do you need to choose between doing important work and having a fulfilling life? At Ardent, we have both. Ardent employees are committed to solving our customers’ most difficult problems—and we are committed to the well-being, personal goals, and professional development of our employee. We are “All In.” We put forth our strongest effort possible to get the mission accomplished and we do it together. We respect the skills and experience you bring to the Ardent team. And we provide a rewarding environment to help you succeed. 

We offer highly competitive benefits, professional development opportunities, and an exceptional culture that embraces flexibility, innovation, collaboration, and career growth. A collective service mindset underpins our work, and a shared camaraderie to serve clients, colleagues and our communities set us apart. Our full commitment to being "All In" for our employees and our clients is not just our approach, it is our standard. If this sounds like the perfect fit for you, choose Ardent and make a difference with us. 

Ardent is seeking a highly skilled Systems Engineer to manage and support the full suite of Microsoft 365 (M365) infrastructure (including: MS Azure, Azure AD (Entra), Purview, Security, Compliance, Defender, Intune, SharePoint Online, Exchange Online, Teams, and OneDrive infrastructure for a multi-tenant organization.

The ideal candidate will oversee day-to-day IT operations, including service desk management, while ensuring seamless integration and functionality across other critical IT platforms. Additionally, the role requires active participation in compliance initiatives such as CMMI, CMMC, and ISO audits to ensure operational excellence and regulatory adherence.

This is a hybrid role in the Vienna, VA area. Candidates in the Washington D.C. area are encouraged to apply.

Key responsibilities include:

Microsoft 365 Administration:

• 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.

 IT Operations Management:

• 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.

 Compliance and Audit Participation:

• 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.

Infrastructure Management:

• 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.

Collaboration and Training:

• 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.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 5+ 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.

Certifications:

• Relevant M365 certifications (e.g., Microsoft 365 Certified: Enterprise Administrator Expert).
• ITIL 4 Foundation certification is a plus.
• Familiarity with CMMI/CMMC and ISO frameworks.

Skills and Competencies:

• 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.

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.

Ardent is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.