Position OverviewThe Systems Administrator III is a senior, hands-on technologist responsible for the availability, security, and performance of the infrastructure that powers our laboratory, corporate, and customer-facing operations. As a global biotechnology company with presence in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, we depend on a high-ownership IT team where every member operates with autonomy and end-to-end accountability. This role has real scope and real impact from day one.
Based in our Houston, Texas headquarters, this role administers servers, cloud services, networking, and end-user systems across all three regions, serving as the senior escalation point for the most complex technical issues, including those affecting laboratory production systems. The right candidate brings urgency and a solutions-first mindset: when systems are down, they move fast, communicate clearly, and drive issues to resolution - then follow through with root-cause fixes and automation so the same problem never surfaces twice.
Accountabilities and Responsibilities- Infrastructure Operations & Administration
- Administer, patch, and maintain Windows Server environments as the primary focus, with supporting administration of Linux systems, both on-premises and in the cloud (Microsoft 365 and Azure).
- Manage virtualization platforms, storage, Active Directory / Entra ID, and identity and access management across US, UK, and Australia sites.
- Maintain network infrastructure including firewalls, switching, wireless, VPN, and site-to-site connectivity between global offices.
- Monitor system health and capacity proactively, resolving issues before they affect the business rather than waiting for tickets.
- Security, Backup & Compliance
- Implement and maintain security controls: endpoint protection, hardening standards, vulnerability remediation, and least-privilege access.
- Own backup and disaster recovery operations, including regular restore testing and documented recovery procedures.
- Support compliance and audit activities relevant to a regulated genetic testing environment (e.g., HIPAA, CLIA/CAP), providing evidence and remediating findings with urgency.
- Respond to security events as a first line of technical action, escalating and containing quickly per incident procedures.
- Laboratory & End-User Systems Support
- Serve as the senior (Tier 3) escalation point for complex incidents, including laboratory instrument connectivity, LIMS-adjacent infrastructure, and executive support.
- Prioritize laboratory production systems, understanding that instrument and sample-processing downtime carries direct customer and revenue impact.
- Deliver responsive, solutions-first support to employees across all time zones, communicating status clearly and closing the loop every time.
- Manage onboarding/offboarding technology workflows so new hires are productive on day one.
- Automation & Continuous Improvement
- Script and automate repetitive administration tasks (PowerShell, Bash, or similar) - in a lean environment, manual work that can be automated should be.
- Maintain accurate, current documentation of systems, configurations, and runbooks so knowledge is never trapped with one person.
- Identify and champion improvements to reliability, cost efficiency, and user experience, bringing solutions rather than problems.
- Projects & Vendor Management
- Lead and execute infrastructure projects end-to-end: upgrades, migrations, office moves/buildouts, and new-system deployments.
- Manage relationships with managed service providers, telecom carriers, and hardware/software vendors, holding them to committed timelines and service levels.
- Coordinate with UK and Australia teams on global initiatives, ensuring changes land smoothly across regions and time zones.
Position Requirements- Skills and Knowledge
- Advanced administration of Windows Server
- Working knowledge of Linux administration sufficient to support and troubleshoot Linux-based systems
- Active Directory / Entra ID, Microsoft 365, and cloud platforms (Azure and/or AWS)
- Virtualization (VMware, Hyper-V, or equivalent) and enterprise storage
- Networking fundamentals: TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, VPN, firewalls
- Additional scripting languages and automation a plus (Bash, or Python)
- Backup, disaster recovery, and monitoring tooling
- Strong sense of urgency, ownership, and a solutions-first mindset - comfortable being the person who makes things work in a lean, fast-moving environment
- Clear, proactive communication with technical and non-technical audiences alike
- Experience
- 7+ years of progressive systems administration experience, with demonstrated senior-level (Tier 3) ownership
- Experience supporting multi-site and/or global environments across time zones preferred
- Experience in a regulated environment (healthcare, laboratory, life sciences) strongly preferred
- Track record of leading infrastructure projects from planning through completion
- Education
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
- Relevant Microsoft certifications (e.g., Azure Administrator Associate, Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate) are a plus; Linux (e.g., RHCSA), CompTIA Security+, or ITIL certifications are also valued
- Required Travel
- Travel may be required as needed in the surrounding Houston area. Work is expected to be performed from our Houston HQ.
Key Relationships / Stakeholders- Internal Stakeholders
- Director, Information Technology and IT team members across all regions
- Laboratory operations and scientific teams (Houston laboratory)
- Software engineering and product teams
- Executive leadership team, including direct support of executive technology needs
- All employees across the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia as end users
- External Stakeholders
- Managed service providers and outsourced support partners
- Hardware, software, and cloud vendors
- Internet, telecom, and connectivity carriers
- Auditors and compliance assessors
- Security partners and incident response resources
Decision Making- Decisions this role makes alone
- Day-to-day system configuration, maintenance scheduling, and patching within approved change windows
- Troubleshooting approach and technical resolution path for escalated incidents
- Ticket prioritization and workload sequencing based on business impact
- Standard access provisioning and deprovisioning in line with established policy
- Selection of scripting/automation methods for routine administrative tasks
- Decisions this role makes under guidance or escalates
- Major architecture changes or introduction of new platforms (jointly with Director, Information Technology)
- Capital purchases and vendor contracts above approved spending thresholds
- Changes affecting laboratory production systems (jointly with Laboratory Operations)
- Declared security incidents and breach response (escalated per incident response plan)
- Exceptions to security, access, or compliance policy
Comprehensive Benefits- Medical & Health Savings: Choice of 3 medical tiers generously sponsored by the company, with a monthly $50-$100 employer HSA contribution based on plan type and dependent level.
- 100% Covered Dental & Vision: No premium costs for employees or dependents.
- 401(k) Matching: Generous 50% company match up to 6% of annual base salary.
- Diverse PTO Framework: Structured time off incorporating vacation, sick leave, mental health days, personal days, company holidays, and a flexible floating holiday.
- Income Protection & Family Leave: Full company sponsorship of Short-Term and Long-Term Disability (STD/LTD) alongside Paid Family Leave offerings.
