IT Support Associate

Ohalo; Watsonville (CA); On-site; USD 54,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

Ohalo is seeking an IT Support Associate to be the first point of contact for technology support across the organization, resolving hardware, software, and access issues. The role includes onboarding new hires, maintaining a secure IT environment, and supporting lab and office sites in Watsonville, with occasional travel to South San Francisco.

Entry-level position ideal for those who enjoy helping people and want to build a career in IT.

Qualifications

• 1–2 years of IT support or help desk experience.
• Proficient in macOS and Windows troubleshooting.
• Experience with Google Workspace administration and user management.
• Familiarity with MDM/UEM device management.
• Basic networking concepts (Wi-Fi, DHCP, DNS, VPN).
• Familiarity with AI services and chat/assistive tools.
• Experience with ticketing systems and ITSM processes.
• Strong written and verbal communication; able to explain tech to non-tech.
• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs and work onsite in Watsonville.

Responsibilities

• Provide frontline IT support across Slack, email, and in person.
• Troubleshoot laptops, peripherals, printers, and network issues.
• Set up and deploy new laptops; onboard/offboard employees.
• Manage user accounts and permissions in Google Workspace.
• Support SSO, MFA, and password resets.
• Assist with device management and endpoint security tasks.
• Maintain asset inventory for hardware and software licenses.
• Escalate complex issues with clear documentation.
• Create knowledge base articles to speed resolution.
• Support IT needs at lab and office sites; travel to South San Francisco as needed.

Skills

IT support

macOS troubleshooting

Windows troubleshooting

Google Workspace

MDM/UEM

Networking basics

AI tools (Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT)

Ticketing systems

Communication

Time management

Physical lifting

Education

CompTIA+

Network+

Google IT Support Certificate

Tools

Slack

Notion

Google Workspace Admin Console

Jira Service Management

Job description

The Opportunity

As an IT Support Associate, you will be the first point of contact for technology support across Ohalo. You will keep our scientists, engineers, and business teams productive by resolving everyday hardware, software, and access issues, onboarding new hires with the right equipment and accounts, and helping maintain a reliable, secure IT environment. This is an entry-level role and a strong fit for someone who enjoys helping people and wants to build a career in IT.

What You’ll Do

• Provide friendly, prompt frontline IT support across multiple channels (Slack, email, in-person), managing tickets through the full support lifecycle to ensure issues are resolved within target SLAs
• Troubleshoot laptops, peripherals, printers, conferencing equipment, and network connectivity issues
• Set up, configure, and deploy new laptops and workstations, and support the onboarding and offboarding process
• Create and manage user accounts, permissions, and group access in Google Workspace and other business applications
• Support SSO, multi-factor authentication, and password reset requests
• Assist with device management and security tasks, including patching, encryption, and endpoint compliance
• Maintain accurate asset inventory for hardware, software licenses, and accessories
• Escalate complex issues to senior IT or engineering staff with clear documentation
• Write and update knowledge base articles and how-to guides so common issues can be resolved faster
• Support IT needs at our lab and office sites, with occasional travel to South San Francisco as needed

Candidate Profile

Required

• 1-2 years of experience in IT support, help desk, or related technical experience (internships, school IT labs, and relevant personal projects count)
• Working knowledge of macOS and Windows troubleshooting
• Working knowledge the Google Workspace environment and user administration
• Familiarity with MDM/UEM device management
• Familiarity with basic networking concepts (Wi-Fi, DHCP, DNS, VPN)
• Familiarity with AI services such as Claude, Gemini, and ChatGPT
• Familiarity with ticketing systems
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical topics to non-technical colleagues
• A patient, service-oriented approach and good time management across competing requests
• Strong troubleshooting skills
• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs and work onsite in Watsonville

Preferred

• Experience with Google Workspace administration, Slack, and Notion
• Experience with Ubiquiti UniFi networks, access control, and video surveillance
• Exposure to project management and ticketing software tool Jira Service Management
• CompTIAA+, Network+, or Google IT Support certificate
• Experience with Zebra and Toshiba label printers and barcode scanning technologies
• Interest in working in or near a laboratory and greenhouse environments
• Comfort using AI tools to troubleshoot, document, and work more efficiently

The anticipated base pay range for this role is $54,000 - $67,000 per year for our Watsonville location. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.

About Ohalo

Ohalo™ aims to accelerate evolution to unlock nature's potential. Founded in 2019, Ohalo develops novel breeding systems and improved plant varieties that help farmers grow more food with fewer natural resources, increasing the yield, resiliency, and genetic diversity of crops to sustainably feed our population. Ohalo's breakthrough technology, Boosted Breeding™, will usher in a new era of improved productivity to radically transform global agriculture. For more information, visit www.ohalo.com .

No visa sponsorship is available for this position at this time.

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