Systems Administrator

About Whisper Aero

Whisper Aero is a next-generation electric propulsion and air movement company designing cleaner, quieter, and more efficient thrust for aviation and beyond. Backed by world-class talent from NASA, major aerospace firms, and leading innovators, we operate with startup speed to disrupt traditional paradigms in aerospace and air management. To maintain our rapid pace of engineering innovation, we are looking for a sharp, proactive System Administrator to scale, secure, and future-proof our IT infrastructure.

Position Summary

We are seeking a versatile and security-conscious System Administrator with 4+ years of hands-on experience managing robust hybrid IT environments. In this role, you will own the administration and lifecycle management of our corporate users and IT systems. You will bridge the gap between heavy-duty engineering requirements and secure enterprise IT, automating provisioning, securing endpoints, and hardening our cloud and on-premise infrastructure against modern cyber threats.

Key Responsibilities

Identity, Access Management & Endpoint Security

• Cloud & Hybrid Identity: Administer Microsoft 365, Azure, Entra ID (Azure AD), and Active Directory. Enforce strict multi-factor authentication (MFA) and design intelligent Conditional Access Policies.
• Modern Device Management: Drive Windows OS (10 and 11) and Windows Server (2019+) fleet management via Microsoft Intune and Autopilot, alongside Mobile Application Management (MAM) policies.
• Identity Provisioning & SSO: Implement and optimize Single Sign-On (SSO), SCIM provisioning, and automated identity management across cloud platforms including Slack, Atlassian tools (Jira/Confluence), and others.
• Automation: Build streamlined automation pipelines for employee on-boarding and off-boarding, drastically reducing manual IT friction.

Infrastructure & Operations

• Server & Virtualization Management: Deploy, patch, and maintain Windows Servers and Hyper-V virtualization environments.
• OS & Third-Party Patching: Execute comprehensive vulnerability patch management strategies for operating systems and third-party software applications.
• Backup & Disaster Recovery: Architect, execute, and routinely test a robust backup strategy designed to defend against malware and ransomware, ensuring swift and predictable disaster recovery.

Security & Compliance

• Cyber Resilience: Deploy proactive threat prevention, malware/ransomware defense protocols, and incident response/disaster recovery workflows.
• Framework Familiarity: Support hardening initiatives aligned with NIST guidelines or Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements (preferred).
• AI-Assisted Operations: Leverage modern AI tools and LLMs creatively to troubleshoot complex IT issues, script automation logic, and analyze infrastructure logs efficiently.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Experience: Minimum 4+ years of professional experience in a System Administrator or corporate IT engineering role.
• Core Microsoft Stack: Deep expertise in MS 365, Azure, Entra ID, Active Directory, GPO, and MFA configuration.
• Systems & Virtualization: Proven experience with Windows Servers (2019+), Windows 10/11 endpoints, Hyper-V, and Windows server deployment methodologies.
• Endpoint Management: Hands-on experience with Microsoft Intune, Autopilot, and MAM policies.
• Identity & SaaS Administration: Working knowledge of SSO, SCIM, and automated user provisioning (Slack, Atlassian, etc.).
• Security & Resilience: Demonstrated history of managing robust backup strategies, vulnerability patching, malware/ransomware prevention, and disaster recovery planning.
• Automation mindset: Experience scripting (PowerShell, Python, etc.) to automate repetitive IT workflows (on/off-boarding).
• AI & Modern Tools: Curiosity and working knowledge of leveraging AI to diagnose IT problems and streamline operations.

Preferred / Nice-to-Have Skills:

• Linux administration experience (Ubuntu/RHEL).
• Familiarity with defense or aerospace compliance frameworks (NIST SP 800-171, CMMC).
• Experience in fast-paced startup or high-growth engineering environments.