IT Systems Administrator

About the Company

We are a fast-growing startup focused on developing next-generation silicon photonics solutions for high-speed data communications, AI infrastructure, and optical networking. Our team combines expertise in photonics, semiconductor design, and advanced manufacturing to push the boundaries of performance and efficiency.

About the Role

We are seeking a hands-on IT Systems Administrator to build, manage, and scale our IT infrastructure in a dynamic startup environment. This role supports both traditional corporate IT systems and specialized engineering/lab environments, including EDA tools, test equipment, and secure data workflows.

Responsibilities

Infrastructure & Systems Management

• Deploy, configure, and maintain servers (on-prem)
• Administer Windows, Linux, and macOS environments
• Manage virtualization platforms (Hyper-V, or Proxmox)
• Maintain network infrastructure (VPNs, Wi-Fi Sonicwall / Ubiquiti)

User & Endpoint Support

• Provide Tier 1–3 IT support for employees (engineering, operations, admin)
• Manage onboarding/offboarding, user accounts, and access control
• Support laptops, workstations, and lab-connected systems

Engineering & Lab IT Support

• Support EDA tools (e.g., Cadence, Synopsys) and license servers
• Maintain storage systems
• Interface with lab equipment networks (optical test systems, wafer processing tools)
• Ensure uptime and connectivity for manufacturing/test workflows

Security & Compliance

• Implement and enforce IT security policies (IAM, endpoint security, patching)
• Manage backups, disaster recovery, and business continuity
• Support compliance efforts (e.g., ISO 27001, SOC 2 readiness)

Cloud & DevOps Support

• Assist with cloud infrastructure provisioning and monitoring
• Support CI/CD pipelines and engineering workflows where needed
• Manage SaaS tools (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Slack, Jira, etc.)

Documentation & Process Improvement

• Create and maintain IT documentation, SOPs, and asset inventory
• Identify and implement automation to improve efficiency
• Help define scalable IT processes for company growth

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Science, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 3–6+ years of experience as a Systems Administrator in a fast-paced environment
• Infrastructure as code (Ansible, Jenkins, Etc.)
• Python (object oriented...not scripting)
• Hardware sourcing
• Experience with identity management (Active Directory, Okta, or similar)
• Strong experience with:
• Linux and Windows server administration
• Networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, VPNs)
• Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP)

Preferred

• Experience supporting semiconductor, photonics, or hardware engineering teams
• Familiarity with EDA environments and license management
• Experience with HPC clusters or GPU-based compute environments
• Knowledge of scripting/automation (Python, Bash, PowerShell)
• Exposure to security frameworks like ISO 27001
• Experience with identity management (Active Directory, Okta, or similar)

Key Traits for Success

• Self-starter comfortable in a startup environment with evolving priorities
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills
• Ability to balance speed with reliability and security
• Excellent communication skills across technical and non-technical teams