SENIOR IT SYSTEMS ENGINEER
Freeform builds AI-native manufacturing systems that unify software, hardware, and physics to produce industrial-scale parts at the speed of human ideation. By treating manufacturing as a single integrated system, we unlock a new era of innovation where complex hardware is designed, built, and scaled without limits.
As a Senior IT Systems Engineer, you will build the systems that connect our people, our factory, and our data: identity and endpoints, servers and storage, cloud and Kubernetes, the network, and the security layer over all of it. IT here is part of the technology we build, so it gets the same appetite for custom solutions to problems nobody has solved yet. Freeform is scaling rapidly across headcount, locations, and new technology coming online, so we’re looking for someone who’s excited to move fast and build the plane as we fly it. We want someone with broad skills, a “no job too big or small” mentality, and a taste for building.
Responsibilities:
Run Microsoft 365, Entra ID, and Azure in a hybrid setup with on-prem Active Directory, including Entra Connect, conditional access, RBAC, and licensing
Manage the device fleet in Intune: enrollment, compliance, app deployment, Autopilot, and patching
Build and maintain Windows Server (AD DS, DNS, DHCP, Group Policy, RADIUS/NPS) and hardened Ubuntu and Red Hat servers
Run virtualization and SAN storage (Pure Storage, HPE 3PAR over iSCSI and NFS), from provisioning and replication to capacity planning
Run and manage AWS infrastructure, including EKS, S3, IAM and VPC networking, with ownership of access control, monitoring and cost.
Administer Kubernetes both on-prem and in EKS: cluster builds and upgrades, networking and ingress, storage, RBAC, and troubleshooting workloads.
Design and maintain the Layer 2/3 network and own segmentation across user, server, management, OT, and guest zones
Operate Defender XDR, Sentinel, and pfSense firewalls: tune detections, investigate incidents, and drive vulnerability remediation and least-privilege access
Design and build custom solutions where off-the-shelf tools fall short, and automate repetitive work
Act as the senior escalation point for infrastructure incidents and lead root-cause analysis
Document what you build in runbooks and diagrams, and mentor junior IT staff
Join the on-call rotation and planned after-hours maintenance windows
Basic Qualifications:
7+ years in systems administration or infrastructure engineering, 3+ in a senior or lead role, owning a mixed Windows, Linux, cloud, and network environment
Experience with the below technologies including administering and troubleshooting
Hybrid Microsoft 365, Intune, and Azure: on-prem AD synced to Entra ID, hybrid join, co-existence, and migration
Windows Server DNS, DHCP, and RADIUS/NPS in production
Ubuntu and Red Hat: systemd, storage, networking, hardening, and command-line troubleshooting
vSphere, Hyper-V, or OpenShift, plus SAN storage over iSCSI and NFS (hands-on with Pure Storage and HPE 3PAR)
AWS (EKS, S3, IAM) / Azure / GCP
Kubernetes (on-prem and in the cloud)
Layer 2/3 networking: VLANs, ACLs, segmentation, MLAG, and LACP
Defender XDR, Sentinel, and pfSense administration
PowerShell and Bash scripting experience
Clear written communication with technical and non-technical audiences
Nice to Have:
Experience with HashiCorp Vault and Argo CD
Experience with Ansible
Python scripting experience
Experience administering Siemens Teamcenter
Experience with Microsoft SQL Server administration
Hands-on experience deploying physical security systems (DVR/NVR, CCTV, access control)
AI fluency: practical use of AI tools for scripting, troubleshooting, and documentation, with sound judgment on data handling
Degree in computer information systems, computer science, or computer engineering
Location:
Based in Hawthorne, our vertically integrated facility brings technology development, R&D, and production together under one roof. We operate at the center of LA's deep tech ecosystem, surrounded by some of the most ambitious hardware innovation happening anywhere in the country.
Our fast-paced, cross-functional environment is built on close collaboration, and as such, this role requires full-time onsite presence (five days a week), with very limited exceptions.
Why Freeform?
We have an inclusive and diverse culture that values collaboration, learning, and making deliberate data-driven decisions
We offer a unique opportunity to be an early and integral member of a rapidly growing company that is scaling a world-changing technology
Benefits
Significant stock option packages
100% employer-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance (premium PPO and HMO options)
Life insurance
Traditional and Roth 401(k)
Paid vacation, sick leave, and company holidays
Generous Paid Parental Leave and extended transition back to work for the birthing parent
Free daily catered lunch and dinner, and fully stocked kitchenette
Casual dress, flexible work hours, and regular catered team building events
Compensation
As a growing company, the salary range is intentionally wide as we determine the most appropriate package for each individual taking into consideration years of experience, educational background, and unique skills and abilities as demonstrated throughout the interview process. Our intent is to offer a salary that is commensurate for the company’s current stage of development and allows the employee to grow and develop within a role.
In addition to the significant stock option package, the estimated salary range for this role is $160,000 - $215,000 per year. The upper end of the range is reserved for individuals who demonstrate exceptional experience, deep domain mastery, and a proven history of high performance and impact.
Freeform is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values diversity; employment with Freeform is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability sttus, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.