IT Systems Engineer
Palo Alto, CA·Posted 9/11/2025
aiinfrastructureml
<div class="content-intro"><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">SpaceXAI’s mission is to create AI systems that can accurately understand the universe and aid humanity in its pursuit of knowledge. </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Our team is small, highly motivated, and focused on engineering excellence. This organization is for individuals who appreciate challenging themselves and thrive on curiosity. </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">We operate with a flat organizational structure. All employees are expected to be hands-on and to contribute directly to the company’s mission. Leadership is given to those who show initiative and consistently deliver excellence. Work ethic and strong prioritization skills are important. </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">All employees are expected to have strong communication skills. They should be able to concisely and accurately share knowledge with their teammates.</span></p></div><h3>ABOUT THE ROLE:</h3> <p>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 <strong>on-premises Microsoft Windows Server infrastructure</strong>, including Active Directory, VMware Horizon Windows VDIs, and Windows VMs running SQL Server, while collaborating with other teams to deliver scalable, reliable solutions.</p> <h3>RESPONSIBILITIES:</h3> <ul> <li>Build, manage, and support complex application stacks on <strong>Windows Server</strong></li> <li>Administer <strong>on-premises Active Directory</strong> (domain controllers, Group Policy, identity, and access)</li> <li>Deploy, configure, and support <strong>VMware vSphere</strong> technologies, including vCenter and ESXi</li> <li>Deploy, configure, and support <strong>VMware Horizon</strong> Windows VDI environments</li> <li>Manage Windows VMs hosting <strong>Microsoft SQL Server</strong>, including patching, performance, and availability</li> <li>Provide Windows Server troubleshooting and hands-on technical support</li> <li>Manage and support scalable storage solutions, preferably <strong>NetApp</strong>, in support of Windows workloads</li> <li>Automate Windows infrastructure using <strong>PowerShell</strong> and related Microsoft tooling</li> <li>Work with engineering teams and third-party vendors to implement scalable solutions</li> <li>Ensure compliance by collaborating with internal audit and compliance teams</li> <li>Develop and maintain standard operating procedures</li> <li>Participate in a 24/7 on-call support rotation</li> <li>Install, configure, test, and maintain Windows operating systems and system management tools</li> <li>Proactively ensure high levels of system availability and reliability</li> <li>Monitor and optimize Windows application and infrastructure performance, identify bottlenecks, and partner with developers on fixes</li> <li>Write and maintain scripts to improve system efficiency and automation</li> </ul> <h3>BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:</h3> <p>You are a highly skilled <strong>IT Systems Engineer</strong> 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:</p> <ul> <li>Deep understanding of Microsoft infrastructure management and automation</li> <li>3 to 5 years of experience in the following: <ul> <li>Systems engineering for corporate Microsoft infrastructure</li> <li>Managing large-scale <strong>Windows Server</strong> environments</li> <li><strong>On-premises Active Directory</strong> administration</li> <li>Virtualization at scale with <strong>VMware vSphere</strong> (vCenter, ESXi)</li> <li><strong>VMware Horizon</strong> Windows VDI administration</li> <li>Supporting <strong>SQL Server</strong> on Windows VMs</li> <li>Managing scalable storage solutions, preferably <strong>NetApp</strong></li> <li>Developing and maintaining performance metrics for systems</li> </ul> </li> <li> Strong understanding of basic networking concepts as they apply to Windows and VMware environments</li> <li>Proficiency with <strong>PowerShell</strong> for automation and configuration management</li> <li>Ability to translate business needs into technical solutions</li> <li>Outstanding analytical and problem-solving skills</li> <li>Strong written and verbal communication skills</li> <li>Experience writing technical design documents and maintaining documentation</li> <li>Familiarity with working in a source-controlled environment</li> <li>Experience with VMware data center virtualization and VMware Horizon</li> </ul> <h3><strong>PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: </strong></h3> <ul> <li>Experience with Windows Server clustering, failover, and high availability</li> <li>Familiarity with Microsoft configuration and deployment tooling (e.g. SCCM/MECM, Intune, or equivalent)</li> <li>Knowledge of storage best practices for SQL Server and VDI workloads on NetApp</li> </ul> <h3>COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:</h3> <p>$162,000 - $226,000</p> <p>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.</p> <h3><strong>ITAR REQUIREMENTS:<br></strong></h3> <ul> <li>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 <a href="https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/?id=ddtc_kb_article_page&sys_id=24d528fddbfc930044f9ff621f961987">here</a>. </li> </ul><div class="content-conclusion"><p><em>SpaceXAI is an equal opportunity employer. For details on data processing, view our </em><em><a href="https://x.ai/legal/recruitment-privacy-notice" target="_blank">Recruitment Privacy Notice</a>.</em></p></div>