Senior Systems Support Engineer

Sharp Decisions; Pleasanton (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Sharp Decisions seeks a Senior Systems Support Engineer to service client instruments and networked systems in Pleasanton and Santa Clara, CA, with external site visits. The role emphasizes installation, qualification, PMs, and network troubleshooting, including FortiGate configuration and IP management.

You will troubleshoot hardware/software, document activities, and collaborate with IT, R&D, and training labs while maintaining a strong customer focus and professional communication.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience servicing medical/laboratory equipment and/or supporting networked systems in an R&D, hospital, or clinical laboratory setting.
• Hands-on experience with networking fundamentals (IP addressing/subnetting, VLANs, switches, routers, firewalls).
• Direct experience configuring and troubleshooting FortiGate or similar firewall/network security appliances.
• Awareness of FDA and ISO regulations related to instrument support and qualification.
• Meticulous documentation of all activities to ensure quality support.

Responsibilities

• Perform preventative maintenance (PMs).
• Install, qualification, and repairs of instruments and software.
• Map and manage IP addresses; establish and troubleshoot network connections for remote access.
• Configure and maintain FortiGate firewall devices for secure connectivity.
• Document all service activities and coordinate service requests via ServiceNow.

Skills

Networking fundamentals

Instrument service

Root cause analysis

Education

Associate's degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, CS, IT with networking focus

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, CS, IT, or related field

Tools

FortiGate firewall

ServiceNow

IP addressing/subnetting

Job description

A Senior Systems Support Engineer provides service on client instruments and networked systems used for Research, Development, and Clinical Operations activities located both internally at client campuses in Pleasanton and Santa Clara, California, and at external sites.

This role is responsible for the installation/deinstallation, qualification, preventative maintenance, and repair of client instruments and software, with a strong emphasis on the networking infrastructure that supports these systems, including IP address mapping, FortiGate firewall configuration, and network troubleshooting.

Under guidance from senior team members, the Senior Systems Support Engineer troubleshoots instrument hardware/software problems and network connectivity issues by using service software, reviewing system-generated problem reports and error codes, and performing root cause analyses.

Being a team player is essential, as this position interfaces daily with coworkers, internal stakeholders, and various interdisciplinary functional areas within the organization. The Senior Systems Support Engineer must be committed to customer satisfaction, with outstanding interpersonal skills and sound judgment.

Essential Job Functions & Major ContributionsInstrument & Systems Support

Senior Systems Support Engineer

Job Overview

A Senior Systems Support Engineer provides service on client instruments and networked systems used for Research, Development, and Clinical Operations activities located both internally at client campuses in Pleasanton and Santa Clara, California, and at external sites.

This role is responsible for the installation/deinstallation, qualification, preventative maintenance, and repair of client instruments and software, with a strong emphasis on the networking infrastructure that supports these systems, including IP address mapping, FortiGate firewall configuration, and network troubleshooting.

Under guidance from senior team members, the Senior Systems Support Engineer troubleshoots instrument hardware/software problems and network connectivity issues by using service software, reviewing system-generated problem reports and error codes, and performing root cause analyses.

Being a team player is essential, as this position interfaces daily with coworkers, internal stakeholders, and various interdisciplinary functional areas within the organization. The Senior Systems Support Engineer must be committed to customer satisfaction, with outstanding interpersonal skills and sound judgment.

• Perform preventative maintenance (PMs).
• Perform installation and operational qualifications (IOQs).
• Troubleshoot, replace parts, and perform repairs on instruments.
• Install, deinstall, and relocate instruments and computer control units.
• Install or upgrade system and application software.

• Establish, maintain, and troubleshoot network connections for remote access to internally and externally placed instruments.
• Map and manage IP addresses for networked laboratory instruments and systems.
• Configure, maintain, and troubleshoot FortiGate firewall devices to ensure secure and reliable connectivity for client systems.
• Diagnose and resolve network connectivity issues involving VLANs, switches, routing, DNS/DHCP, and related technologies.
• Provide IT hardware and networking support for R&D and training laboratories.
• Work closely with Systems and Software Development subject matter experts (SMEs) to learn client instrumentation, software, and networking functionality, including advanced troubleshooting techniques.

• Document all service and support activities accurately and in a timely manner in the electronic equipment management database and/or other applicable software tools according to approved procedures.
• Coordinate and triage onsite and/or remote network service requests using ServiceNow and communicate status updates to the service requestor.
• Build effective customer and stakeholder relationships through solution-oriented communication and service, providing onsite or remote support as needed.
• Attend and contribute updates during team huddles and other meetings, escalating issues as needed.
• Provide IT support for in-house laboratory instruments and the secure data repository as needed.

• Train with team members and Development colleagues to acquire client instrument service, networking, and troubleshooting skills, with self-initiative to pursue additional training.
• Under guidance from senior team members, learn to solve a variety of instrument, software, and networking problems by reviewing service documentation and consulting with SMEs.
• Interface with high-level technical support from other functional areas, including Global Customer Support (GCS) and Systems Development Engineers, to obtain expertise for difficult or recurring issues.
• Learn how to execute qualification documents (IQ/OQ).
• Once sufficient skill and knowledge are acquired, provide training or guidance to other team members on networking, instrument service, or internal processes.

• Comply with client safety policies, practices, and procedures at all times.

Education

Required: Associate's degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology with a networking focus, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.

Preferred: Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.

ExperienceRequired

• 5+ years of experience servicing medical/laboratory equipment and/or supporting networked systems in an R&D, hospital, or clinical laboratory setting.
• Hands-on experience with networking fundamentals, including IP addressing/subnetting, VLANs, switches, routers, and firewalls.
• Direct experience configuring and troubleshooting FortiGate or similar firewall/network security appliances.

Preferred

• 4+ years of experience working in an IVD GMP/ISO-regulated environment, servicing medical devices and supporting IT/networking infrastructure within R&D, hospital, or clinical laboratory settings.
• Industry networking certification such as CompTIA Network+, Fortinet NSE, or Cisco CCNA.

Other Qualifications

• Working knowledge of networking concepts including TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, VPN, and firewall rules, with the ability to apply this knowledge to troubleshoot instrument connectivity issues.
• Awareness of FDA and ISO regulations related to instrument support and qualification.
• Meticulous attention to detail to accurately document all activities and ensure quality support internally and at external sites.
• Strong organizational, multitasking, and time management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new skills, software, and networking tools rapidly.
• Ability to be flexible with changing work priorities and follow procedures and manager instructions with a cooperative attitude.
• Strong work ethic and communication skills.
• Comfortable working both independently and collaboratively with IT and network teams.

Work Location

Pleasanton, California, with occasional local travel to the Santa Clara campus as needed for system and networking support.