IT Systems Engineer

SpaceXSI; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 162,000 - 226,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceXSI in Palo Alto, CA is seeking an IT Systems Engineer to build, deploy, and manage on-premises Microsoft Windows Server infrastructure, including AD, VMware Horizon VDI, and Windows VMs running SQL Server. You will work with cross-functional teams to deliver scalable, reliable solutions in a fast-paced environment.

The role emphasizes automation with PowerShell, storage management (NetApp), and proactive troubleshooting to ensure high availability.

Qualifications

• Deep understanding of Microsoft infrastructure management and automation.
• 3 to 5 years of experience in corporate Microsoft infrastructure and large Windows Server environments.
• On-premises Active Directory administration with VMware vSphere and Horizon experience.
• SQL Server on Windows VMs, NetApp storage, and performance metrics development.
• Strong automation mindset with PowerShell and related tooling.

Responsibilities

• Build, manage, and support complex application stacks on Windows Server.
• Administer on-premises Active Directory (domain controllers, GPO, identity, access).
• Deploy, configure, and support VMware vSphere (vCenter, ESXi).
• Deploy, configure, and support VMware Horizon Windows VDI environments.
• Manage Windows VMs hosting SQL Server, including patching and availability.
• Provide Windows Server troubleshooting and hands-on support.
• Manage and support scalable storage solutions, preferably NetApp.
• Automate Windows infrastructure using PowerShell and related Microsoft tooling.
• Work with engineering teams and vendors to implement scalable solutions.
• Ensure compliance with internal audit and compliance teams.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures.
• Participate in 24/7 on-call rotation.
• Install, configure, test, and maintain Windows OS and system management tools.
• Proactively ensure high availability and reliability.
• Monitor and optimize Windows performance; coordinate with developers on fixes.
• Write and maintain scripts to improve efficiency and automation.

Skills

IT Systems Engineer

Windows Server

Active Directory

VMware vSphere

VMware Horizon

SQL Server

PowerShell

Automation

Networking basics

Documentation

Tools

NetApp

SCCM/MECM

Intune

Job description

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today, SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of making life multiplanetary and expanding consciousness to the stars.

SpaceXSI is building Super Intelligence to help humanity understand the universe. Our teams are building the full Super Intelligence stack: from our Colossus supercomputers, to Grok models, to our suite of applications, including Grok Bot, Grok Build, Grok Imagine, Grok Voice, and X. We're creating a powerful flywheel where more compute trains better models, better models power more useful products, and what we learn from people using those products shapes what we build next.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The IT Systems Team at 𝕏 manages a dynamic and evolving virtual infrastructure that provides secure, high-performance, and reliable corporate resources for business-critical users and applications. This role focuses on building, deploying, and managing on-premises Microsoft Windows Server infrastructure, including Active Directory, VMware Horizon Windows VDIs, and Windows VMs running SQL Server, while collaborating with other teams to deliver scalable, reliable solutions.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Build, manage, and support complex application stacks on Windows Server
• Administer on-premises Active Directory (domain controllers, Group Policy, identity, and access)
• Deploy, configure, and support VMware vSphere technologies, including vCenter and ESXi
• Deploy, configure, and support VMware Horizon Windows VDI environments
• Manage Windows VMs hosting Microsoft SQL Server, including patching, performance, and availability
• Provide Windows Server troubleshooting and hands-on technical support
• Manage and support scalable storage solutions, preferably NetApp, in support of Windows workloads
• Automate Windows infrastructure using PowerShell and related Microsoft tooling
• Work with engineering teams and third-party vendors to implement scalable solutions
• Ensure compliance by collaborating with internal audit and compliance teams
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures
• Participate in a 24/7 on-call support rotation
• Install, configure, test, and maintain Windows operating systems and system management tools
• Proactively ensure high levels of system availability and reliability
• Monitor and optimize Windows application and infrastructure performance, identify bottlenecks, and partner with developers on fixes
• Write and maintain scripts to improve system efficiency and automation

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

You are a highly skilled IT Systems Engineer with a deep understanding of infrastructure management and automation. You thrive in a collaborative and fast-paced environment, leveraging your expertise to enhance system performance and reliability. The ideal candidate will also have:

• Deep understanding of Microsoft infrastructure management and automation
• 3 to 5 years of experience in the following:
  • Systems engineering for corporate Microsoft infrastructure
  • Managing large-scale Windows Server environments
  • On-premises Active Directory administration
  • Virtualization at scale with VMware vSphere (vCenter, ESXi)
  • VMware Horizon Windows VDI administration
  • Supporting SQL Server on Windows VMs
  • Managing scalable storage solutions, preferably NetApp
  • Developing and maintaining performance metrics for systems
• Strong understanding of basic networking concepts as they apply to Windows and VMware environments
• Proficiency with PowerShell for automation and configuration management
• Ability to translate business needs into technical solutions
• Outstanding analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience writing technical design documents and maintaining documentation
• Familiarity with working in a source-controlled environment
• Experience with VMware data center virtualization and VMware Horizon

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience with Windows Server clustering, failover, and high availability
• Familiarity with Microsoft configuration and deployment tooling (e.g. SCCM/MECM, Intune, or equivalent)
• Knowledge of storage best practices for SQL Server and VDI workloads on NetApp

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

$162,000 - $226,000

Base salary is just one part of our total rewards package at 𝕏, which also includes equity, comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short & long-term disability insurance, life insurance, and various other discounts and perks.

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here .

Can you confirm that you can be on-site, 5 days/week at our Palo Alto, CA office? This is a requirement for this role.If not, please confirm what office you prefer between: New York, Austin, DC. * Select...