At McMaster University, our people are our most valuable asset. We strive to attract, develop, and retain the best faculty and staff, and to foster an inclusive community which values the strengths, perspectives and contributions of everyone. McMaster’s profile and stature have evolved to one of the Top 100 Universities in the World and recognition as Canada’s Most Research-Intensive University. McMaster is a diverse and complex institution, home to almost 30,000 graduate and undergraduate students who study across six faculties and employing approximately 14,000 individuals annually in more than 20 unique employee groups. McMaster has been continuously recognized as one of the top employers in the Hamilton / Niagara region, and one of Canada’s Top Diversity Employers.
Our University Technology Services team mission is to provide exceptional customer service and a high level of support to the McMaster community. Critical to the success of this role we stand by and value integrity, mutual respect, collaboration and cooperation in support of the University’s IT Strategic Vision of a connected One IT community.
The Systems Integration Specialist is part of the Networks team in University Technology Services (UTS) and plays a key role in delivering and advancing the University’s enterprise network infrastructure, with a strong and specialized focus on campus-wide Wi-Fi services. Reporting to the Senior Manager, IT Networks, this role leads the design, implementation, and optimization of high-performance wireless environments, ensuring reliable, secure, and seamless connectivity across academic, research, and administrative spaces. Working closely with campus partners and IT teams, the role supports the full lifecycle of network initiatives while driving continuous improvement in Wi-Fi coverage, capacity, and user experience.
This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about delivering reliable, high-performance wireless connectivity in a dynamic campus environment. As a key contributor to McMaster’s enterprise Wi-Fi services, you will help support and enhance a large-scale wireless network spanning more than 5,000 access points across academic, research, residential, and administrative spaces. You enjoy working collaboratively and will partner closely with stakeholders across campus to plan upgrades, evaluate coverage and capacity needs, and ensure a seamless wireless experience for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. You thrive in environments where problem-solving, planning, and continuous improvement are part of the day-to-day. This role also suits someone who is flexible and understands the operational realities of enterprise infrastructure, including participating in occasional after-hours maintenance windows to support major upgrades or changes.
Opportunities also exist to contribute to long-term wireless strategy—helping drive modernization efforts, enhance performance, and support the adoption of emerging Wi-Fi technologies.
Demonstrated experience supporting and integrating enterprise network infrastructure, with hands-on expertise in large-scale wireless environments.
Strong understanding of Wi-Fi technologies, including RF fundamentals, wireless design principles, and performance optimization in high-density campus settings.
Experience configuring, operating, and troubleshooting Cisco wireless solutions, including access points, controllers, and related management platforms.
Ability to analyze wireless coverage, capacity, and client performance issues using diagnostic tools, monitoring systems, and spectrum analysis.
Solid knowledge of core networking concepts (routing, switching, VLANs, DHCP, DNS, QoS) and how they integrate with wireless infrastructure.
Proven ability to collaborate with stakeholders to assess requirements, plan deployments, and support the full lifecycle of network initiatives.
Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to manage priorities, respond to incidents, and contribute to continuous improvement in a dynamic IT environment.
Effective communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
The Systems Integration Specialist acts as a lead technical and consulting resource to various University departments and units with respect to the planning, implementation, and maintenance of information technology systems. Supports the University's research, academic and administration departments by acting in a functional capacity in all phases of the Project Life Cycle for medium to large projects, including post-production support and ongoing maintenance. Continuously gains an understanding of the University's operations and processes and how systems are used in support of those operations. Creates, maintains, and manages multi-user, production quality campus-wide computing environments that involve computers, servers and associated hardware, software and facilities. Facilitates the selection of new information processing, computing technologies, information security and services across the University. Provides expertise in leading and participating in the technical architecture planning and acquisition of development projects and the documentation, final preparation, and introduction of new systems and services into the production environment.
Act as an on-site project manager, responsible for managing projects from inception to completion.
Plan and establish project framework and identify project milestones to ensure the project is completed according to project specifications and within specified timelines.
Design, develop, implement, and evaluate functional specifications for a variety of highly complex University application systems.
Complete feasibility studies and cost-benefit analyses and translate technical flow into business terms.
Coach and mentor junior staff in order to ensure a highly motivated and technically competent team.
Participate in the development of capital project charters and cost justifications.
Lead the ongoing design and support for technology in server and related environments, data network infrastructure and related environments, datacenter technology and facilities, storage area network and other storage related environments, voice network infrastructure and related environments, and information security infrastructure and other related environments.
Critically evaluate information gathered from multiple sources, reconcile conflicts, decompose high-level information into details, abstract up from low-level information to a general understanding, and distinguish user requests from the underlying true needs.
Elicit requirements using interviews, document analysis, requirement workshops, surveys, site visits, business process descriptions, use cases, scenarios, business analysis, and task and workflow analysis.
Perform advanced levels of analysis, problem solving and research skills to formulate solutions to complex business needs.
Conduct gap analyses.
Develop strategies for implementing new services and upgrades on production systems.
Troubleshoot computer system issues that may require an end-to-end evaluation of University wide systems often spanning multiple heterogeneous hosts and locations across the University and with external service providers.
Ensure the availability and performance of the current production storage, information processing, and computing environment in assigned and related areas of the organization.
Test system architecture in order to minimize risks to the production systems.
Investigate, evaluate, compare, and demonstrate new hardware and software products, and new computing techniques which could enhance the University’s computing, information processing, and network environment.
Undertake study and pilot projects to assess and select commercial technology alternatives.
Provide technical assistance to individual user groups, user support, and operational staff in the introduction and development of specialized systems and services.
Ensure individuals conform to organizational information processing, use of network, and computing standards through the proper publication and awareness of policies.
Plan and coordinate the technology refresh for large and complex interconnected systems.
Contribute to the development of cost and time estimates for the technical architecture components of project implementation.
Deliver workshops and demonstrate new technologies to campus staff as systems are being implemented.
Prepare and present training for user support and operational staff through technical seminars and documentation.
Prepare procedures for restoring systems to full operation after hardware and software component failures on both production and test systems.
Prepare contingency plans for recovering services and operations after incidents including, but not limited to, power blackouts, water damage, or structural building failures and contribute to the planning and development of disaster recovery scenarios.
Undertake projects such as performance monitoring and capacity planning to monitor the overall reliability and effectiveness of the computing systems and information processing architecture including storage area networks.
Liaise with computer vendors, other institutions, and associated computer user groups as a means to maintain communication between all parties involved in technical projects and day-to-day operations.
Design, implement, and document support processes, procedures, and mechanisms that inter-connect heterogeneous systems in support of the integration of processes and data flow.
Gather and compile information and create reports and graphs for capacity planning, and performance metrics.
Prepare technical specifications and requests for quotes from suppliers and requests for proposals.
Participate in negotiations with suppliers to discover options and acquire the most cost effective solutions for technology requirements.
Utilize the appropriate control tools to coordinate projects according to Project Management Office methodologies.
Develop success criteria and risk assessments for projects and changes.
Develop, implement, and document best practices to align with departmental and University strategies and processes.
Work independently with users to define concepts.
Ensure that projects meet specified functionality requirements.
Prepare and review recommendations and other project initiation documents.
Document system functionality, particularly related to new enhancements.
Develop and maintain information technology process flow, methodology, and control documentation.
Assist with the development of project proposals and estimates.
Resolve problems in the test, production implementation, and post-implementation phases in coordination with other technical and business groups.
Liaise between the technology and support teams.
Communicate project, issue, and system status to others.
Communicate testing results to other stakeholders.
Facilitate effective dialog between user community and technical staff.
Follow a test script and document defects.
Use measurement methods to monitor progress toward goal attainment, tenaciously working to meet or exceed those goals, while deriving satisfaction from the process of goal achievement and continuous improvement.
Ensure that the internal and external customer perspective is a driving force behind decisions and activities.
Read and understand a complex project plan and develop simple project plans.
Remain current with relevant development and project methodologies.
Remain current with security policies and procedures and work with System Administrators to implement security changes.
Remain current with the different levels of testing and develop simple use cases and test scripts.
