Job Details for Operating Systems Administrator
| Court Name/Organization | Texas Western Federal Public Defender |
| Overview of the Position | The Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Texas is accepting applications for the position Operating Systems Administrator, to be stationed in the San Antonio office. |
| Location | San Antonio, TX |
| Opening and Closing Dates | 09/16/2026 - Open Until Filled |
| Appointment Type | Permanent |
| Salary | $90,823 - $108,001 |
| Link to Court Careers Information | https://txw.fd.org/about-us/employment |
| Announcement Number | 26-54 |
| Link to Job Announcement | |
Position Description
The Operating Systems Administrator role involves developing, executing, and supporting the national Federal Defender Microsoft Windows infrastructure. Specialized duties include:
- Windows client and server operating system installation, deployment, maintenance, and support
- Administration and troubleshooting Active Directory and Group Policy
- Manage and maintain third-party applications in conjunction with vendor support
- Serve as a Tier-3 escalation resource for complex Windows infrastructure issues with the ability to troubleshoot across infrastructure boundaries
- Communicate technical issues, to both a nontechnical and technical audience, with excellent customer service skills
- Drive infrastructure related projects independently or through collaboration with team members
- Evaluate technologies and technical solutions and provide recommendations concerning enterprise systems, platforms, and services
- Utilize enterprise tools to manage, monitor, and secure large enterprise data center environments
- Prepare and present reports on usage and system health
- Serve as a Microsoft Windows escalation resource and mentor team members
- Demonstrate attention to detail and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted during course of work
- Occasional travel and lifting equipment up to 50 pounds
- Monitor enterprise infrastructure including storage area networks (SAN) and Windows server environments
- Develop and maintain project documentation such as: Infrastructure diagrams, installation documentation, upgrade assessments, knowledge base articles
- Implementing and troubleshooting security controls within Microsoft Windows environments, including hardening, patch management, privileged access, and endpoint security
Qualifications
Minimum Qualification:
- High school diploma or equivalent
- 3 years of general experience (relevant accredited coursework may substitute for part)
- 4 years of specialized experience (education may substitute for part)
- Employment contingent on a satisfactory background check (FBI name & fingerprints)
- Experience performing Microsoft Windows Server maintenance to ensure the system is secure, healthy, and highly available
- Comfortable working beyond documented procedures to identify root cause and implement sustainable solutions
- Practical and in-depth understanding of networking principles
- Advanced Active Directory and Group Policy administration and troubleshooting
- Demonstrated proficiency using PowerShell to administer, troubleshoot, and automate Windows infrastructure
- Knowledge of data center technologies, functions, and infrastructure
- Experience in leading projects and providing architectural input for system design
- Experience diagnosing complex virtualization, performance, resource, and availability issues is highly desirable
- 3+ years experience supporting Microsoft Windows Server deployments in virtualized environments including Failover Clustering
- 3+ years experience administering and supporting enterprise Microsoft Windows server operating systems (2019, 2022, 2025, Hyper-V), server class hardware, and enterprise storage (SAN) technologies
Employee Benefits
- Retirement benefits under the Federal Employees Retirement System
- Optional participation in Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB)
- Optional participation in Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)
- Optional participation in Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI)
- Position is excepted service, without competitive civil service tenure
Application Info
- Cover letter and resume
- Three professional references with their contact information
- Form AO-78 – All sections of the AO-78 must be completed in full, with dates in the following format: mm/dd/yyyy
- Apply by sending your application to: TXW_Employment@fd.org. Attach your cover letter, resume, references and the AO-78 in one PDF. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
To request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interview process, contact personnel administrator Michelle Higgins at 210-981-2081.
The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.