Systems Engineer Contractor

job summary:
As a Systems Engineering Contractor on the Operational Technology (OT) team, you will do the hands-on engineering work to prepare and migrate the virtual machines that run our clinical laboratory instruments and automation systems to updated operating system versions. Ahead of each migration, instrument firmware and vendor software on these platforms must be brought up to versions that are compatible across both the current and target operating systems, so that migrations happen without breaking instrument connectivity or production workflows. You will assess the current state of each platform, plan and execute firmware and software upgrades, and methodically test that instruments, automation, and integrations still work correctly after each change. These systems run as virtual machines on VMware vSphere/vCenter, with user access brokered through Keeper Connection Manager, so hands-on familiarity with that stack is a strong plus. This is a hands-on, execution-focused contract role for an engineer who is comfortable working through a large fleet of systems carefully and consistently in a fast paced, regulated environment. Expect to work alongside a talented and highly motivated team that moves quickly.

This is a contract position. The role is based on-site in Durham, North Carolina, Monday through Friday, and may occasionally require off-hours or weekend work to align with laboratory maintenance windows and minimize impact to production operations.

location: Durham, North Carolina
job type: Contract
salary: $45 - 55 per hour
work hours: 8 to 4
education: Bachelors

responsibilities:

• Inventory and assess the current firmware and software versions on lab instrument and automation VMs to determine what must be upgraded for compatibility across operating system versions.
• Plan, sequence, and execute firmware and vendor software upgrades on lab platforms, bringing each to a version supported across the current and target operating systems.
• Coordinate upgrade and migration activities around laboratory maintenance windows to minimize disruption to production, working closely with lab operations and systems engineering.
• Develop and execute structured test plans to verify instrument connectivity, automation behavior, data flow, and platform integrations before and after each change.
• Perform functional and regression testing on upgraded and migrated systems, documenting results and confirming that instruments and automation operate as expected.
• Identify, document, and troubleshoot compatibility issues, hardware or driver conflicts, and integration failures, escalating and driving them to resolution.
• Validate that upgraded platforms are ready for migration and clearly document any known limitations, vendor dependencies, or blockers.

 
qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Physics, Mathematics or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 2+ years of hands-on experience in systems engineering, desktop/endpoint engineering, IT support, or a similar technical role.
• Practical experience upgrading firmware, drivers, and vendor software on Windows-based systems.

#LI-TD1

skills: IT Systems Validation


Equal Opportunity Employer: Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, National Origin, Age, Genetic Information, Disability, Protected Veteran Status, or any other legally protected group status.

At Randstad, we welcome people of all abilities and want to ensure that our hiring and interview process meets the needs of all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation to make your application or interview experience a great one, please contact View email address on randstadusa.com.


Pay offered to a successful candidate will be based on several factors including the candidate's education, work experience, work location, specific job duties, certifications, etc. In addition, Randstad offers a comprehensive benefits package, including: medical, prescription, dental, vision, AD&D, and life insurance offerings, short-term disability, and a 401K plan (all benefits are based on eligibility).


This posting is open for thirty (30) days.