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IT Lead

San Mateo, CA

About Us:

At Fireworks, we’re building the future of generative AI infrastructure. Our platform delivers the highest-quality models with the fastest and most scalable inference in the industry. We’ve been independently benchmarked as the leader in LLM inference speed and are driving cutting-edge innovation through projects like our own function calling and multimodal models. Fireworks is a Series C company valued at $4 billion and backed by top investors including Benchmark, Sequoia, Lightspeed, Index, and Evantic. We’re an ambitious, collaborative team of builders, founded by veterans of Meta PyTorch and Google Vertex AI.

The Role:

As our first IT hire, you'll be the architect, operator, and everyday hero behind how our team works. You're the person who makes sure new teammates have everything they need on day one, who builds the systems that keep us secure and compliant, and who answers the "my laptop won't..." Slack message with both empathy and expertise. From managing our identity and access controls to automating workflows that eliminate repetitive asks.

This role is equal parts building and supporting. You'll triage the urgent ("I can't log in!") while designing for the future (what does our IT foundation need to look like at 3x our size?). You'll partner closely with Security to keep threats out, with HR to make onboarding and offboarding seamless, and with the entire company to make technology feel like it just works.

Key Responsibilities:

IT Support & Operations:

  • Be the first responder for all IT requests - troubleshoot hardware, software, and access issues across Slack, email, and ticketing
  • Own and evolve our ticketing process: triage, categorize, document, and close the loop quickly and clearly
  • Manage the full employee technology lifecycle - provision laptops and access for new hires, handle changes as people move roles, and offboard securely when they leave
  • Acquire, configure, and maintain our fleet of endpoints (macOS, windows, and Linux)
  • Write clear self-service documentation and how-tos so teammates can unblock themselves

Identity, Access & Security:

  • Implement and manage our core identity infrastructure (SSO, MFA, directory services)
  • Build and maintain automated workflows for onboarding, role changes, and offboarding
  • Conduct periodic access reviews and help establish foundational policies around least privilege, role-based access, and separation of duties
  • Partner with Security to ensure we're following best practices and staying compliant as we scale
  • Respond to access-related incidents and escalations; document processes to prevent recurrence

Collaboration & Growth:

  • Work closely with HR, Security, and leadership to understand needs and translate them into reliable systems
  • Identify opportunities to automate repetitive work - build the foundations now so we can scale smoothly later
  • Work with vendors to procure, track, and ship hardware globally

Minimum Qualifications:

  • 3–5 years of experience in a fast-paced technology or startup environment
  • Hands-on experience with macOS and Windows, with working knowledge of Linux
  • Familiarity with MDM platforms and endpoint management tools
  • Experience with identity and access management systems or a strong willingness to learn quickly
  • Practical understanding of IT security best practices
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills — able to explain technical concepts to non-technical teammates with clarity and empathy
  • Self-starter who thrives in ambiguity and can prioritize effectively in dynamic environments
  • Systems thinker who focuses on long-term prevention, not just immediate fixes
  • Comfortable wearing multiple hats, from troubleshooting to designing workflows
  • Adaptable and curious about evolving technology

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with compliance frameworks (SOC 2, ISO 27001) or audit preparation
  • Familiarity with SaaS administration tools (e.g., Google Workspace, Slack, GitHub)
  • Scripting or automation experience (e.g., Bash, Python, or similar)

Why Fireworks AI?

  • Solve Hard Problems: Tackle challenges at the forefront of AI infrastructure, from low-latency inference to scalable model serving.
  • Build What’s Next: Work with bleeding-edge technology that impacts how businesses and developers harness AI globally.
  • Ownership & Impact: Join a fast-growing, passionate team where your work directly shapes the future of AI—no bureaucracy, just results.
  • Learn from the Best: Collaborate with world-class engineers and AI researchers who thrive on curiosity and innovation.

Fireworks AI is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all innovators.

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