Sr. Systems Administrator - Bus Technology

Company: MBTA
Location: Boston
Posted on: April 14, 2025

Job Description:

The Senior Systems Administrator in the Technology Innovation Department (TID) will help configure, manage, and maintain the technology systems that are at the core of the bus service we deliver to our riders. These systems include vendor-provided hardware and software, such as the on-vehicle bus dispatch system.The Senior Systems Administrator will use transit-specific tools (e.g., TransitMaster, Samsara, HASTUS) and general infrastructure systems (e.g., GitHub, AWS). The Senior Systems Administrator will be part of the Bus Tech team that owns an operationally critical set of systems and is actively working to modernize those systems in new and transformative ways to deliver great transit service to riders and support the front-line Bus Operations staff who make transit happen.The Senior Systems Administrator will work in tandem with the project/program managers and an on-bus network engineer. The Senior Systems Administrator will also assist the Deputy Director of Bus Technology to ensure that our overall technology infrastructure is reliable and secure.Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support and administer the MBTA's bus dispatch system, known as TransitMaster.
• Own the process of deploying bus schedules data, announcements, configuration updates, and other information to dispatch systems using vendor configuration tools, ensuring timeliness and attention to detail.
• Maintain, troubleshoot, patch, and monitor cloud infrastructure in coordination with the Manager of Dispatch Apps, our system vendor, and teams in our Information Technology Department (ITD).
• Identify any vendor issues with systems, raise these issues with the vendor, and monitor/escalate as needed in coordination with the Manager of Dispatch Apps.
• Develop an understanding of bus operations and transit data at the MBTA, and act as a resource for other team members. Break down technical concepts and provide guidance on technical decisions to program managers.
• Work with hardware maintenance vendors, system vendor, and MBTA colleagues to troubleshoot hardware and software issues (e.g., incorrect data, hardware failures) as needed.
• Support MBTA bus operations staff such as dispatchers, field inspectors, and bus operators who rely on TID tools. Help other TID and MBTA teams understand and use our technology.
• Develop and execute procedures for maintenance, security, and DevOps incidents in collaboration with other TID Infrastructure and ITD staff.
• Respond to and prioritize incoming requests and tickets (e.g., FOIA requests).
• Protect the data security and privacy of the MBTA and its riders.
• In coordination with the Manager of Dispatch Apps, create and update documentation and runbooks as needed to help other MBTA staff use our tools and respond to incidents related to our tools.
• Collaborate with the Manager of Dispatch Apps and ITD team to respond to incident responses and improve incident response practices.
• Own Mobile Device Management (MDM) of off-the-shelf Android tablets on buses.
• Occasionally be on-call outside of business hours as part of a recurring duty rotation that includes colleagues to respond to outages that require action.
• Occasionally visit the field as needed: MBTA buses, garages, stations.
• Perform all other duties and projects that may be assigned.Minimum Requirements & Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in System Administration, Computer Science, Transportation Planning, Engineering, or a related field.
  • Four (4) years of experience in system administration, technology, transportation operations, scheduling/planning, customer service, or a related industry.
  • Technical familiarity: familiarity with hardware and/or software configuration, IT practices.
  • Comfortable with command-line tools, Splunk, and Tableau.
  • Effective organizational, analytical, multi-tasking, time management and documentation skills.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills, and the ability to translate both for different audiences.
  • Attention to detail and empathy for users to improve the user experience.
  • Excellent customer service, conflict resolution and presentation skills.
  • Experience working in an agile development environment.
  • Experience using online collaboration tools (e.g. Slack, Asana, etc.).
  • Working knowledge of AWS services.
  • Working knowledge of Windows system administration.
  • Working knowledge of SQL queries.
  • Understanding of software development lifecycle.
  • Experience with incident management processes.Substitutions Include:
    • A High School Diploma or GED with an additional seven (7) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor's degree requirement.
    • An associate degree from an accredited institution an additional three (3) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor's degree requirement.
    • A master's degree in a related subject substitutes for two (2) years of general experience.
    • A nationally recognized certification, or statewide/professional certification in a related field substitutes for one year of experience.Preferred Experience and Skills:
      • Formal education in system administration, computer science, transportation planning, engineering, or a related field such as a college degree, a bootcamp, or a certificate program.
      • Familiarity with the MBTA transit system as a rider.
      • Experience working in the transportation industry, the public sector, or with dispatch technologies.
      • Experience managing vendors and holding them accountable.
      • Working knowledge of Tableau.Job Conditions:
        • Ability to effectively read, comprehend, communicate, and respond to instructions, orders, signs, notices, inquiries, etc. in English.
        • Ability to commute to assigned work locations in the Boston, MA metro area, as required by the role.
        • Ability to provide internal and external customers with courteous and professional experiences.
        • Ability to work effectively independently and as part of a team (or supervise, if required).
        • Ability to uphold the rights and interests of the MBTA while building and maintaining effective relationships with employees and co-workers.
        • Ability to adhere to rules, regulations, collective bargaining agreements (if applicable), and policies of the MBTA, including the EEO, anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, and anti-retaliation policies.
        • Have a satisfactory work record for the two (2) years immediately prior to the closing date of this posting (unless if recent graduate), including overall employment, job performance, discipline, and safety records (infractions and/or offenses occurring after the closing of the posting and before the filling of a vacancy may preclude a candidate from consideration for selection).
        • Ability to pass a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check, comprehensive background screening, and/or medical Clinic screening, potentially including a physical examination and drug and alcohol screenings.
        • Ability to work all shifts and/or locations assigned, directed, or necessary for this position, including (for some transit/operations roles) up to twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week as necessary to accommodate severe weather conditions, emergencies, or any other circumstances that may potentially impact service or the safety of service.Disclaimer and Definitions:
          • General Disclaimer: The statements contained in this job description are intended to describe a summary, general nature, and complexity of typical job functions and do not represent an exhaustive list of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities required of staff assigned to this position.
          • Application Deadlines: Applicants should apply as soon as possible, as the MBTA may stop considering applicants after a sufficiently large applicant pool is established.
          • Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here-in are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. See job description for role-specific requirements.
          • Work Eligibility: Although the MBTA is an , all employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer and on an unrestricted basis (the MBTA does not sponsor non-US citizens). However, if you have an unrestricted work authorization, or sponsored by a separate entity, you are welcome to apply for open positions. International students taking part in CPT/STEM/OPT programs through a university are eligible for internships and co-ops with the MBTA. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to complete a Form I-9 to verify their identity and eligibility to work in the U.S.
          • Interviews: Candidates should ensure they arrive on time, are prepared, can remain for the duration, and if remote, are in a quiet place without distraction, for the interview. Candidates who do not attend their interview without advance authorization, including an email confirmation of a rescheduled time/date from Human Resources, will be considered a no-show and disqualified from consideration for the position. Related to rescheduling, on a one-time basis, and due to something emergent, you may be allowed to reschedule the interview. In addition, Human Resources may require documentation supporting the request. However, should you need to reschedule, you will need to contact your Recruiter directly by email.
          • Safety Sensitive Positions: Employees working in this classification will be subject to periodic physical examinations plus random drug and alcohol testing.
          • On-call or 24/7 Positions: Employees working in this classification must be available to respond to page/text/call and report to work as determined by assigned department or the Authority.
          • Essential / Emergency Staff: During declared "states of emergency," employees working in this classification are required to report to work for their assigned work hours or as directed by management.
          • ADA Accommodations: The MBTA makes reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. If you require an accommodation during this process, please contact the MBTA's ADA Unit at 617-222-5751 or .
          • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: The MBTA is an . For terms, descriptions, and definitions related to diversity, equity, inclusion, veteran status, and immediate family members that you may find on the application form, please visit .Location:This role will be hybrid. Expect to be onsite 2-3 days per week on average.Compensation:$127,982.40 annually.
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Keywords: MBTA, Boston , Sr. Systems Administrator - Bus Technology, IT / Software / Systems , Boston, Massachusetts