Senior IT Operations Engineer at Profluent in Emeryville, CA

Profluent is the frontier AI lab for biology. Profluent builds powerful foundation models for all of life's molecules, unlocking solutions that transform medicine, agriculture, and beyond. Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Emeryville, CA, Profluent is backed by leading investors including Altimeter Capital, Bezos Expeditions, Spark Capital, Insight Partners, Air Street Capital, AIX Ventures, and Convergent Ventures and has raised over $150M to date.
The Role
The Senior IT Operations Engineer is responsible for the design, deployment, and day-to-day management of the company's entire IT infrastructure. This role owns everything from workstation provisioning and identity/access management to network architecture, cloud environments, backups, and end-user support. The ideal candidate is a hands-on generalist who can move fluidly between strategic infrastructure planning and hands-on troubleshooting, ensuring a secure, reliable, and well-documented technology environment across the organization. This position is reporting to the Director of Security, Compliance & IT.
Key Responsibilities
Google Workspace & Productivity Applications
Administer and support Google Workspace (Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Admin Console) and other Google office applications.
Manage user accounts, groups, shared drives, permissions, and organizational units.
Configure security policies, DLP rules, and third-party app integrations within Workspace.
Rippling Platform Administration
Manage employee onboarding and offboarding workflows end to end.
Configure and maintain rule sets, policies, and automation within Rippling.
Build and maintain deployment scripting for automated device and software provisioning.
Administer Mobile Device Management (MDM) policies, compliance rules, and app deployment.
Endpoint Security
Deploy, configure, and maintain SentinelOne (or equivalent) endpoint anti-virus/EDR across all devices.
Monitor threat alerts, investigate incidents, and coordinate remediation.
Network Infrastructure (Meraki)
Plan, deploy, and optimize Meraki wireless, switching, and security appliances.
Design and maintain VLAN segmentation, Air-cabbed Lab network, firewall rules, and network security policies.
Monitor network performance and proactively resolve connectivity issues.
Physical Access control, Remote Access & Identity Security
Plan, develop, implement, and maintain keycard access control to office and lab environments.
Configure and secure VPN solutions for remote access.
Implement and manage Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) across systems and applications.
Collaboration & Cloud Platforms
Administer Slack workspace settings, integrations, and user access.
Manage and support cloud environments including GCP and Oracle Cloud infrastructure.
Storage & Backup
Maintain Synology NAS systems for storage, file sharing, and backup.
Implement and test backup/disaster recovery procedures to ensure data integrity.
Workstation & Device Lifecycle Management
Prepare, image, and deploy Mac and Windows workstations for new hires and refresh cycles.
Plan, oversee, and manage system inventory.
Provide troubleshooting and technical support for hardware and software issues.
Manage Microsoft WSUS for patch management and Microsoft Office application deployment.
Conferencing & Collaboration Equipment
Set up, maintain, and troubleshoot audio/video conferencing equipment in meeting spaces.
Software & License Management
Oversee procurement, deployment, and lifecycle of software applications and licensing.
Maintain an accurate inventory of software licenses and ensure compliance.
Qualifications
Bachelor Degree in Information Technology
8+ years in a similar IT Operations role; at least 2-3 years in a high-growth startup or solo environment.
Proven track record and experience in transitioning off an external MSP or managing a solo IT environment at a high-growth startup.
Profound knowledge of Google Workspace and Google office applications.
Experience in supporting SOC 2 Type 2 efforts, collecting and providing evidence and log records, review and reporting cadence.
Hands-on experience with Rippling (or comparable HRIS/IT platform) for onboarding, rules, deployment scripting, and MDM.
Experience with endpoint protection platforms such as SentinelOne.
Strong knowledge of Meraki networking (wireless, VLAN, firewall/security).
Experience configuring and securing VPN and MFA solutions.
Familiarity with Slack and Jira administration.
Working knowledge of cloud platforms, particularly GCP and Oracle Cloud.
Experience with Synology NAS storage and backup systems.
Proficiency preparing, deploying, and troubleshooting both Mac and Windows workstations.
Experience with Microsoft WSUS and Microsoft Office application deployment and support.
Experience setting up and maintaining audio/video conferencing systems.
Strong understanding of software license management and compliance.
Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to manage multiple priorities independently.
Strong communication skills, a customer-service and healthy security mindset.
Preferred Skills
Relevant certifications (e.g., CompTIA, Meraki/Cisco, Google Workspace Administrator, Microsoft certifications).
Experience in a fast-growing or multi-office environment.
Demonstrates a highly collaborative approach to problem-solving by analyzing challenges and presenting multiple viable solutions to key stakeholders.
Scripting/automation experience (e.g., Bash, PowerShell, or similar) to support deployment workflows.
What We Offer
High-growth opportunity with meaningful impact on the future of protein design
Competitive compensation package with equity participation
401(k) with a strong employer match
Comprehensive benefits including health/dental/vision insurance
Generous PTO policy and commitment to work-life balance
Professional development opportunities in a cutting-edge field at the intersection of AI and biology

Profluent Bio, Inc is an equal opportunity employer promoting diversity and inclusion in the workspace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), sex (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding), genetic information, taking or requesting statutorily protected leave, or any other basis protected by law.
Work Authorization Requirement

Applicants must have ongoing work authorization in the United States that does not require employer sponsorship. Sponsorship will not be provided now or at any time in the future for this position.
Employment Eligibility Verification

Legal authorization to work in the United States is required. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired must verify their identity and work eligibility and complete the required employment verification form upon hire.
Hiring Salary Range
$167,000—$205,900 USD
NOTICE TO STAFFING AND SEARCH FIRMS: Profluent does not accept unsolicited candidate submissions. We ask that agencies refrain from sending resumes to our careers inbox, hiring managers, or any Profluent employee. Any resume submitted without a signed agreement and an active search request from our Talent team will be treated as the property of Profluent, and no placement fee will be owed.