Systems Administrator III

Gene by Gene • Houston, TX

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The 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.

Requirements

• 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
• 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
• 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
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience

Nice To Haves

• Additional scripting languages and automation a plus (Bash, or Python)
• 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

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Benefits

• 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.
• Generous 50% company match up to 6% of annual base salary.
• Structured time off incorporating vacation, sick leave, mental health days, personal days, company holidays, and a flexible floating holiday.
• Full company sponsorship of Short-Term and Long-Term Disability (STD/LTD) alongside Paid Family Leave offerings.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior