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Systems Administrator

Portland, Oregon, United States

At Unispace, we are committed to transforming workplaces to meet the diverse needs of today’s dynamic global brands. Our agile, end-to-end approach is delivered seamlessly across borders, fueled by strong client partnerships and supported by insightful workplace intelligence and innovative technology.

We believe that everyone deserves to work in an environment that inspires productivity, fosters peak performance, and promotes overall well-being. Across our 48 global studios, we recognize that positive work environments cultivate open, collaborative, and supportive cultures, enriched by the contributions of independent and motivated individuals from all backgrounds.

While our core business revolves around strategizing, designing, and building workplaces for some of the world's leading brands, we understand that our people are our greatest asset. We prioritize their growth and well-being through a comprehensive Employee Value Proposition program that includes rewards and recognition, career development opportunities, and a strong focus on mental and physical well-being.

To further support our team, we embrace flexible working arrangements, including hybrid working options that empower our employees to balance in-office collaboration with remote work flexibility. This approach not only enhances work-life balance but also allows us to harness the full potential of our diverse and talented workforce.

Role: Systems Administrator (Portland, OR) 

Reports to: Senior Technical Director 

About Downstream:

Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, Downstream is a leading experiential design firm specializing in creating dynamic environments that integrate storytelling, technology, and design. Our multidisciplinary team excels in delivering innovative solutions, including interactive installations, data visualization, and intelligent environments, tailored to enhance brand experiences and engage audiences. With a global presence, we collaborate with clients across various industries to transform spaces into immersive experiences that resonate and inspire. Our commitment to excellence and creativity has established us as a trusted partner in the realm of experiential design.

The Position: 

This job will turn a Linux user into a Linux master.

We are migrating a hand full of clients, each supported by a unique and custom-built application and hosted on a separate server, over to a new application with a unified architecture. We need a curious junior administrator to own the exporting side of that process.

Although it’s all Linux, each machine is a new puzzle that will push you to expand and deepen your knowledge. There’s no containers, no AI, and no serverless architecture – just you and your favorite operating system, mano a mano. You will be mentored and supported by a small team of passionate Unix enthusiasts with one goal: Simplify.

Mission

As systems administrator, you will support the migration of our clients’ content management systems away from their individual custom-built Web applications and onto our new SaaS CMS, Bridge. The project is expected to take at least a year.

You will be responsible for the legacy CMS hosts during this change. The legacy hosts are mostly Ubuntu servers running in Akamai’s cloud, Linode. The applications are PHP applications backed by a variety of databases and served by Nginx, except a few very old ones which are served over Apache. Some clients have bespoke solutions that will require special consideration.

Outcomes

You will be considered a successful hire if you get so good that we hardly ever think about the legacy systems anymore.

  • Keep your fleet secure, reliable, and up to date for each client until their migration is complete
  • Export the data from each legacy CMS, design import procedures, create supporting documentation, and provide appropriate client training and support to ensure a smooth migration for each client
  • Provide tier 1 customer support for clients still using a legacy CMS
    • Resolve straightforward client requests within 5 business days
    • Resolve or escalate urgent requests by next business day
  • Monitor security bulletins and vulnerability scans pertinent to assigned systems. Fix vulnerabilities on assigned systems within our team SLOs
    • Critical: 10 business days
    • High: 30 business days
    • Medium: 90 business days
  • Support compliance activities pertaining to your assigned systems, including our ISO 27001 audit

As the migration progresses and the number of legacy CMSes dwindles, your portfolio may shift to include work on Bridge.

Requirements

  • Linux experience, Linux certification, or undergraduate degree in computer science, MIS, or related fields. New grads are eligible.
  • Strong familiarity with modern Internet protocols, cryptosystems, and security best practices.
  • Strong English-language technical communication skills.
  • Able to adhere to a diverse schedule of small but routine tasks without reminders from others.
  • Commitment to operational excellence.

Why diversity is important to us:

Our Labs team currently includes women, military veterans, people of color, and people from the queer community. We have different backgrounds and interests. This has been a crucial element in creating a cohesive team that makes no assumptions and remains

resistant to homogeneity. We have further to go, but we recognize that our differences make us stronger together.

Benefits

Competitive benefits (medical, dental, vision, 401k). 17 days flexible paid time off (PTO) plus standard holidays is offered immediately and increases to 21 days flexible paid time off at 3 years.

Location

This is a hybrid position, but remote may be considered. The Downstream Labs team is based in Portland, Oregon, USA. Our business hours are in Pacific Time and we have a preference towards candidates that can work in that time zone. However, this position is open to English speakers across Pacific, Central, or Eastern time zones to ensure that we’re able to have live sessions at reasonable times of the day. At this time, Downstream does not sponsor work visas.

The statements in this job description are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the person(s) assigned to this job. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required.

We encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply, and we are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities, allowing them to perform essential job functions as determined on a case-by-case basis.

Inclusion and Diversity Commitment:

At Unispace, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We proudly embrace equal opportunity hiring and will evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, marital status, medical condition (as defined by state law), physical or mental disability, military service, veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

We are proud that our leadership reflects this commitment, with persons of color, women, neurodiverse and LGBTQ+ individuals playing pivotal roles in shaping the future of our organization. Their unique perspectives and experiences drive innovation and help us create a truly inclusive culture. We are dedicated to ensuring that every voice is heard and that our workplace is a space where diversity is not only celebrated but is integral to our success.

 

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