Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology:

Predictive Brain (Faculty of Psychology) and Cognitive Neurobiology (Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology)

In order to fill a permanent position in full-time (39.83 hours/week = 100%) at the earliest possible date, we are looking for  a

System Administrator (m/f/x)

We are seeking a committed and service-oriented System Administrator to support two vibrant and growing neuroscience research departments at Ruhr University Bochum: The Predictive Brain (Faculty of Psychology) and Cognitive Neurobiology (Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology). Both groups conduct cutting-edge experimental research on perception and cognition with an interdisciplinary focus, strong international collaborations, and substantial third-party funding. We offer a collaborative, appreciative, and international working environment where your initiative and creativity are highly valued.

As a system administrator you will play a central role in building and maintaining the IT infrastructure that powers our scientific work, helping shape the technological backbone of two new, dynamic labs.

Your tasks:

You will support both departments in all aspects of IT infrastructure, including:

• Setup and administration of a Linux-based server infrastructure for data analysis, research data storage, and FAIR-compliant data sharing
• Management of Active Directory-based IT systems (clients, servers, network components, mobile devices, and experimental equipment)
• Ensuring secure, reliable, and high-performance IT operations, including data protection, fail-safety, and system interoperability
• Procurement and installation of hardware and software to support research and teaching needs
• First-level support and user consulting, especially for international researchers
• Diagnosing and solving hardware, software, and network issues across systems
• Co-development of IT strategy in collaboration with the departments, with focus areas such as: Peripheral systems (PCs/laptops) / Server and virtualization/container systems / Backup and archiving / Network technologies (VPN, firewalls, etc.)

Your profile:

Technical Qualifications (Essential)

• Completed IT training (e.g., Fachinformatiker*in Systemintegration) or equivalent practical experience
• Proven experience with Active Directory and Microsoft domain services (GPO, PowerShell, etc.)
• Solid understanding of: Server, storage, and network infrastructure / Virtualization or container environments (e.g., Docker, Proxmox) / Database, license, and print server administration / Network services: DNS, DHCP, VPN, WLAN, firewalls / System scripting and automation (e.g., Bash, PowerShell, Python)

Desirable Skills

• Familiarity with MacOS environments
• Experience with client/content management systems
• Exposure to cloud computing environments (e.g., Azure, AWS)
• Knowledge of service management principles (e.g., ITIL)

Soft Skills

• High level of initiative, independent work, and reliability / Enthusiasm for working in a scientific, international environment
• Strong teamwork and communication skills / A **service-oriented mindset** and ability to translate technical language for users

Language Requirements

• Very good command of English (spoken and written)
• Good knowledge of German (minimum B2 level or willingness to reach it soon)

We offer:

• Extensive training and professional development opportunities
• A varied sports program with around 100 sport disciplines and the university's own gym
• Discounts for bike rental systems and bike purchases
• 30 days paid vacation/year
• Paid time off on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve
• Annual one-off special payment
• Company pension scheme
• Flexible working hours and the option for partial remote work
• A position at one of the largest universities in Germany, with excellent infrastructure
• Qualified onboarding and mentorship
• A highly appreciative team culture, close collaboration, and room to grow

Further information:

The position is salaried and based on the collective agreement of the Länder (TV-L). If the personal and collective agreement requirements are met, the employee will receive pay grade E10 TV-L.

Further information can be found at https://oeffentlicher-dienst.info/ (in German).

The place of work is Ruhr University Bochum.

Contact persons for further information:

Prof. Dr. Caspar M. Schwiedrzik +49 234 32 15220

Travel costs, accommodation costs and loss of earnings or other application costs for job interviews can unfortunately not be reimbursed.

We look forward to receiving your application via our online application portal by 2025-09-07. Please make sure to mention the reference number ANR 4779.

Online application

RUHR-UNIVERSITÄT BOCHUM

44801 Bochum

Universitätsstraße 150