IT Operations & Systems Specialist

Meadowhawk Biolabs is seeking an enthusiastic and highly motivated IT Operations & Systems Specialist to work within our Operations & IT team at our Marlborough, MA location, supporting the day-to-day technology needs of a fast-growing contract research organization. The ideal candidate is a versatile, hands-on IT generalist who enjoys variety — someone equally comfortable troubleshooting a laptop, administering a hybrid Microsoft 365 / Active Directory environment, and reviewing security alerts. This key position offers unique opportunities for the successful candidate to build broad technical ownership across help desk support, systems administration, security operations, and compliance documentation — including exposure to evaluating and implementing new technology and AI initiatives as Meadowhawk grows. Along the way, they’ll expand their knowledge base through participation in multidisciplinary teams and advance their career in capabilities and responsibilities. Position Summary The IT Systems Specialist plays a key role in keeping Meadowhawk’s IT environment secure, reliable, and running smoothly across our Marlborough, MA and Hayward, CA locations. This position works closely with the VP of Operations & IT and our Managed Service Provider (MSP) to deliver responsive end-user support, administer user accounts and systems, monitor and respond to security alerts, and help build the documentation that supports Meadowhawk’s compliance and audit readiness. This is a majority on-site role based at our Marlborough, MA location. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys a mix of hands-on technical support and higher-level systems and security work in a fast-paced, growing life sciences environment. Key Responsibilities Serve as an internal point of contact for employee IT support requests; triage, resolve, document, or escalate tickets in coordination with our MSP. Troubleshoot hardware, software, and connectivity issues for laptops, desktops, and peripherals. Support onboarding and offboarding processes, including account provisioning, deprovisioning, and device setup and deployment. Administer user accounts and access within Microsoft 365, Entra ID, and other business applications. Partner with our Managed Service Provider (MSP) to support planning, testing, implementation, and documentation of enhancements to Meadowhawk’s hybrid Microsoft 365 / Active Directory environment. Monitor and review alerts and logs generated by our SIEM (security information and event management), EDR (endpoint detection and response), ITDR (identity threat detection and response), and other security monitoring tools; assist with investigating potential security incidents and take approved initial response actions. Support the VP of Operations & IT in building and maintaining IT compliance documentation, including backup validation, incident response, access control, and change management records. Maintain and update IT knowledge base articles, runbooks, and standard operating procedures. Serve as a day-to-day liaison with our MSP for ticket escalation, scheduled maintenance, and infrastructure changes. Provide first-line support for laboratory and scientific computing systems. Provide remote technical support to employees at our Hayward, CA site and to remote staff. Perform other related duties as assigned. Qualifications Required Working knowledge of Microsoft 365 and Active Directory (Entra ID) administration in a hybrid environment, Windows endpoint support, and basic networking concepts. Ability to troubleshoot and resolve common technical issues across hardware, operating systems, applications, and connectivity. Familiarity with endpoint management and security monitoring tools (e.g., SIEM, EDR, ITDR) and the ability to interpret alerts and logs to identify potential security incidents.Strong customer-service orientation with a commitment to responsive, professional support of employees at all levels. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to document work clearly. Demonstrated ability to take ownership of a project or process area and drive it to completion with minimal oversight. Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across teams and with an outsourced MSP. Preferred Experience with Microsoft 365 administration, Entra ID, Intune, or other endpoint management tools. Experience with ticketing systems and IT asset/inventory tracking. Experience supporting backup validation, incident response, or other IT compliance documentation. Certifications such as CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, Microsoft 365 Fundamentals, or Microsoft endpoint administration credentials. Prior experience at a Managed Service Provider (MSP) supporting multiple client environments. Experience in a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, CRO, or other regulated laboratory environment. Education and Experience Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered. High School Diploma/Associate Degree with 5+ years of relevant experience Bachelor’s Degree with 4+ years of relevant experience Master’s Degree with 2+ years of relevant experience Ph.D. with 1+ years of relevant experience Compensation: The target base salary for this position is between $95,750 - $126,000 per year. The specific rate for this position may vary and will be based upon factors including, but not limited to, the individual’s experience, education, and skills. In addition to wages, Meadowhawk Biolabs provides a full benefits package upon hire date. About Meadowhawk Biolabs: Meadowhawk Biolabs is a well-funded CRO founded by industry veterans over 4 years ago with operations based in the two dominant US Biohubs – Boston & San Francisco. Driven by a set of clear company values, Meadowhawk Biolabs seeks to make a difference and be the partner of choice with its pharmaceutical and biotech clients in their quest to bring new therapeutics and treatments to market. We seek to provide our clients with the highest quality data with fast turnaround time and unrivaled client service while maintaining a focus upon technology, scientific and operational innovation. At Meadowhawk Biolabs, our ultimate success is dependent upon building the best possible team of employees. We seek to create an environment where we celebrate our differences and value the power of diversity among our employees. We embrace cultural, social, cognitive, and professional diversity because we understand that ultimately our success is enabled by working together. #J-18808-Ljbffr Meadowhawk Biolabs, Inc.