Systems Administrator/Technical Lead – Process Control Systems

Role: Systems Administrator / Technical Lead – Process Control Systems

Location: Foster City, Onsite (5 days a week)

Job Summary:

We are seeking an experienced Systems Administrator / Technical Lead to support and administer process control and environmental monitoring systems in a GMP-regulated manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for the day-to-day administration, maintenance, and technical support of Rockwell FactoryTalk-based and Inductive Automation Ignition-based automation systems, ensuring high availability, security, compliance, and performance.

The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience deploying, configuring, patching, and troubleshooting industrial automation platforms, working closely with the System Manager, IT Infrastructure, Automation Engineering, and Validation teams. This role plays a critical part in system lifecycle management, change control, and maintaining compliance with FDA regulations, including 21 CFR Part 11.

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform periodic system maintenance activities such as System Maintenance, Server Maintenance, System Audit Trail Review, User access reviews and coordinating with IT and drive completion of server maintenance.
• Conduct system health checks and proactively monitor system performance, availability, and reliability. Identify performance bottlenecks and collaborate with the System Manager to implement improvements to system stability, usability, and UI/UX.
• Validate compatibility of OS patches, antivirus updates, and security hardening with automation applications. Coordinate with IT for patch deployment and perform post patch verification testing. Evaluate, install, and document application patches and hotfixes for FactoryTalk and Ignition platforms. Support Validation Engineers with regression testing following patching or upgrades.
• Administering system security and access control such as creating, managing and updating user accounts within the system environments per applicable procedures.
• Collaborating with the System Manager to create and maintain training content and provide training to users requesting access.
• Troubleshoot and resolve hardware, software issues and collaborate with IT to resolve network-related issues impacting system availability and performance.
• Provide technical support during change management and assist automation engineers and/or system integrators in deploying changes to systems.
• Provide technical support for validation engineers performing annual backup and restore testing as well as disaster recovery testing.
• Assist validation engineers in installation, operational and performance testing as well as perform IQ/OQ/PQ testing, when required.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Engineering, Industrial Automation, Information Technology, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 5–7+ years of experience in administering or integrating process control systems in a production environment.
• Hands-on experience with:
• • Rockwell FactoryTalk (View SE, AssetCentre, FactoryTalk Directory, Historian)
  • Inductive Automation Ignition (Gateway administration, Perspective/Vision, Tag Historian, Alarm Management)
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with technical and non-technical teams.
• Experience deploying and configuring systems in a production environment. Strong troubleshooting skills with the ability to diagnose and resolve complex technical issues efficiently.
• Demonstrated experience working in a GMP-regulated environment with a thorough understanding of FDA regulations (e.g., 21 CFR Part 11).
• Familiarity with system validation, change control, and documentation practices in a regulated setting.
• Experience in authoring and executing change control for implemented GMP systems.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
• Keen attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining compliance with regulatory standards.

Preferred Skills:

• Windows Server administration: basic familiarity with Linux is a plus.
• Experience with virtualized environments (VMware, Hyper-V).
• Working knowledge of industrial networking, including VLANs, firewalls, and domain integration.
• Familiarity with scripting or automation (e.g., PowerShell, Python) is a plus.
• Experience with backup and restore strategies, system monitoring tools, and cybersecurity practices for OT systems