About Us
Founded in 1998, Advantage Microsystems provides complete, outsourced IT departments for nonprofits and businesses with 100 to 1,000 employees across the Bay Area. Our clients are mission-driven organizations — nonprofits, behavioral health providers, and professional services firms — who rely on us as their full technology team. Our approach is built on three pillars: Service, Security, and Strategy. We don't just keep the lights on; we help clients build toward something. We're a well-established firm with strong team dynamics, a culture of mutual respect, and zero tolerance for micromanagement. We hire responsible people and trust them to do their jobs.
Advantage Microsystems is seeking an exceptional engineer to serve as a technical anchor for our clients and a collaborative force on our team. This is a role for someone who has already operated as an L3 or lead engineer — and who combines deep technical expertise with the presence and communication skills to serve as a fractional IT leader for our clients. You'll own complex architecture and escalations, but you'll also build IT roadmaps, develop technology budgets, and lead quarterly business reviews with executive stakeholders. If you can hold your own in a server room and a boardroom, we'd love to talk.
We promote to this level from within whenever possible — this is a rare external search driven by our current growth.
Why Advantage Microsystems?
Tenure – Our average employee tenure is 9.5 years. We think that speaks for itself.Compensation – Our people are well compensated with pay and benefits, because employee retention is extremely important to us.Ownership and Impact – You'll have real ownership over client outcomes, architecture decisions, and technical standards. You'll be working within a strong team and well-developed systems, with experienced colleagues and a CIO who want your expertise and judgment in the mix.Culture – Our team is great. We have each other's backs, we have fun with our work, and our clients love us. We're all learning and growing together, so input and suggestions from our engineering staff directly shape how we operate.Lifestyle – We were a work-from-home company before COVID and we'll continue to be one. That said, this role involves periodic onsite client visits — reliable transportation is a must.Transparency – As part of the interview process, you'll have the opportunity to speak directly with other AM employees and get a real feel for what it's like to work here.
What You'll Be Doing
You'll serve as a principal technical resource across a portfolio of clients, contributing to their technology strategy and owning complex projects and escalations end-to-end. This is a collaborative role — you'll work closely with fellow engineers, L1/L2 technicians, and AM's CIO to deliver outcomes that matter. Most client engagements happen remotely, with onsite visits scheduled in advance for project work, executive meetings, and major cutovers.
Client Leadership and Strategy
Serve as a fractional IT leader for assigned clients — owning technology roadmaps, annual budgets, and quarterly business reviews with executive stakeholdersTranslate complex technical concepts and risk into clear business language for non-technical audiencesLead client-facing conversations on compliance, security posture, and IT investment prioritiesTranslate business requirements into technical architecture and multi-quarter project plansArchitecture and Project Delivery
Design and lead implementation of complex projects: Microsoft 365 / Entra tenant design, Conditional Access and Zero Trust rollouts, Intune MDM/MAM deployments, server and network refreshes, cloud migrations, and M&A integrationsOwn the technical standards and reference architectures our team deploys againstLead security and compliance initiatives — SOC 2, CMMC/NIST 800-171, HIPAA — including policy development, control implementation, and audit supportEscalation and Technical Ownership
Serve as the final escalation point for the most complex client issues — the engineer who owns the problem when nobody else can solve itLead post-incident reviews and drive the remediation work that prevents repeat issuesOwn the deep-dive troubleshooting on identity, hybrid cloud, networking, and security problemsTeam Collaboration and Mentorship
Collaborate with fellow engineers and contribute to a culture of shared knowledge and continuous improvementMentor L1 and L2 technicians through technical coaching and project shadowingContribute to hiring, technical interviews, and onboarding of new engineersDrive continuous improvement of our internal documentation, runbooks, and toolingWhat You Should Bring
Required Technical Depth
Microsoft 365 / Entra ID — tenant architecture, hybrid identity, Conditional Access, Intune (MDM and MAM-WE), Defender suite, Purview/compliance, Exchange Online, SharePoint/OneDrive governanceIdentity and Access — Active Directory, Entra Connect, SSO/SAML/OIDC, privileged access management, phishing-resistant MFA (FIDO2, passkeys)Security Architecture — Zero Trust principles, endpoint protection (EDR/XDR), application allowlisting, email security, vulnerability management, incident responseNetworking — firewall administration (Meraki, Fortinet, SonicWall, or similar), VLAN design, VPN and SD-WAN, TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, routing fundamentalsServer and Virtualization — Windows Server (current versions), VMware or Hyper-V, storage (SAN/NAS), backup and DR architecture (Datto, Veeam, or similar)Cloud Platforms — Azure (required); AWS or GCP exposure a plusMSP Tooling — RMM platforms (Datto RMM, Kaseya, NinjaOne, or similar), PSA platforms (ConnectWise Manage, Autotask, HaloPSA, or similar), documentation systems (IT Glue, Hudu)Compliance Frameworks — working knowledge of at least one of SOC 2, CMMC/NIST 800-171, HIPAA, or PCIScripting and Automation — PowerShell at a production level; Graph API, Power Automate, or similar a plusExperience
8+ years in IT with at least 3 years in a lead engineer or equivalent hands-on technical capacityPrior MSP experience strongly preferred — you understand the cadence of multi-client workDemonstrated history of owning projects end-to-end, from discovery through handoffExperience developing IT roadmaps and technology budgets and presenting them to business stakeholdersExperience mentoring junior technicians and contributing to team growthRelevant certifications are valued: Microsoft (MS-102, SC-300, AZ-104, AZ-305), CISSP, CISM, CCNP, or equivalentWho You Are
Comfortable leading executive conversations and translating technical risk into business languageStrong written communication — you document what you do and explain decisions clearlyCollaborative by nature — you make the people around you better and you build on the work of your teamBackground supporting or operating within small businesses, with strong multitasking skills and comfort in dynamic, lean environments.Takes pride in excellent work; thorough, detail-oriented, and follows throughMaintains composure under pressure and handles concurrent priorities wellGenuinely enjoys mentoring and sees team growth as part of the jobBenefits
Base compensation: $100,000–$140,000 depending on experience and certificationsPaid vacation: 15 days/year to start, increasing to 20 days after 3 years and 25 days after 5 yearsPaid sick time: 40 hours per annual year9 paid holidays plus your birthday offCompany-paid health insurance (Blue Shield PPO or Kaiser — your choice), dental, and vision; dependent coverage available at a significant company subsidyLife and short/long-term disability insuranceEmployee Assistance Program (EAP)Employee Anniversary Recognition ProgramCompany-funded training materials and professional certification examsMileage and vehicle wear-and-tear reimbursement for all client visits401k with company matching (after 90 days)Virtual lab environment for self-directed learning and experimentationWe are an equal opportunity employer. This position is open to local Bay Area candidates only — no relocation benefits are available. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.
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Advantage Microsystems is looking for a seasoned Level 3 technician to serve as the senior escalation resource for our service desk. If you're the person your team turns to when a ticket has everyone else stumped, the one who owns the hardest problems end to end and levels up everyone around you, we'd love to hear from you. We're growing and we need great people!
Why Advantage Microsystems?
Tenure – Our average employee tenure is 9.5 years. We think that speaks for itself.
Compensation – Our people are well compensated with pay and benefits, because employee retention is extremely important to us.
Career Growth – We commit to putting you on a growth plan, whether that's deepening your technical specialization or moving toward lead and mentorship tracks. Your development doesn't stop when you walk in the door.
Culture – Our team is great. We have each other's backs, we have fun with our work, and our clients love us. We're all learning and growing together, so input and suggestions from employees are valued and encouraged.
Lifestyle – We were a work-from-home company before COVID and we'll continue to be one. This is a primarily remote role, though periodic client visits are part of the job — reliable transportation is a must.
Transparency – As part of the interview process, you'll have the opportunity to speak directly with other AM employees and get a real feel for what it's like to work here.
About Us
Founded in 1998, Advantage Microsystems provides complete, outsourced IT departments for nonprofits and businesses with 25 to 1000 employees across the Bay Area. Our clients are mission-driven organizations, nonprofits, behavioral health providers, and professional services firms, who rely on us as their full technology team. Our approach is built on three pillars: Service, Security, and Strategy. We don't just keep the lights on; we help clients build toward something. We're a well-established firm with strong team dynamics, a culture of mutual respect, and zero tolerance for micromanagement. We hire responsible people and trust them to do their jobs.
What You'll Be Doing
As our senior service desk technician, you'll be the final internal escalation point, the technical anchor of the team. You'll own the most complex, cross-system issues that Level 1 and Level 2 can't resolve, working problems end to end until they're solved and staying with them through vendor and manufacturer escalation when it comes to that.
Beyond resolving individual tickets, you'll lead root-cause and problem management: figuring out why something broke, not just fixing it, and getting the resolution into our documentation and standards so it doesn't come back. You'll be a go-to resource and mentor for our junior and mid-level technicians, the person they escalate to when they're blocked, and someone who helps the whole team get better.
This role is primarily remote, with the majority of your work supporting clients from home. Client visits are needed periodically, concentrated in the East Bay, San Francisco, and the Peninsula, typically for high-stakes or escalated onsite work that can't be handled remotely. Most visits are scheduled in advance, but you should be comfortable responding to the occasional urgent onsite on short notice.
When working from home, you'll start your day by 8:30am, logging into ConnectWise (our ticketing system), Datto (our RMM platform), and Microsoft Teams to connect with the team. Throughout the day you'll handle the highest-tier escalations from clients, from Level 1 and Level 2 technicians, and from our 24/7 network monitoring systems. Your day wraps at 5:30pm with a quick timesheet update and ticket review.
Your coworkers are reachable by company VOIP phone or team chat. Most client information is already documented in our systems, you'll rarely be starting from scratch.
What You Should Bring
Technical Skills
We're looking for someone with deep, hands-on MSP or IT experience who can independently resolve the toughest issues across the stack:
Advanced Windows Server, Active Directory, and Group Policy troubleshooting and administration in networked environmentsExpert-level Microsoft 365 and Entra ID — Conditional Access, Intune/endpoint management, hybrid identity, and complex tenant issuesEndpoint security / EDR platforms — tuning, threat triage, and incident responseNetworking troubleshooting depth — TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, firewall and switch behaviorRemote access solutions — VPN, Remote Desktop ServicesVirtualization and server infrastructure troubleshooting (Hyper-V, VMware)PowerShell for administration and automationEmail security and spam managementFamiliarity with HIPAA or behavioral-health security requirements is a strong plusMac experience is a plus5+ years of hands-on MSP or IT experience, with a track record of owning complex escalationsMicrosoft or other IT certifications expected — Microsoft, CompTIA Security+, advanced networking, etc.
Who You Are
The technical anchor of the team, comfortable being the person others defer to when they're stuckA problem-solver who thinks about prevention, not just closing the ticketFriendly, professional, and comfortable working directly with end users and client stakeholdersCalm under pressure and able to juggle multiple prioritiesA resourceful troubleshooter who can dig for answers independently and own problems end to endA patient mentor who takes pride in leveling up the people around themDetail-oriented and reliable, clients and teammates count on you
Benefits
Base compensation of $90,000–$110,000, commensurate with experience and certificationsPaid vacation: 15 days/year to start, increasing to 20 days after 3 years and 25 days after 5 years9 paid holidays plus your birthday offCompany-paid health insurance (Blue Shield PPO or Kaiser — your choice), dental, and vision; dependent coverage available at a significant company subsidyLife and short-term disability insuranceEmployee Assistance Program (EAP)Employee Anniversary Recognition ProgramCompany-funded training materials and professional certification examsMileage and vehicle wear-and-tear reimbursement for all client visits401k with company matching (after 90 days)Virtual lab environment for self-directed learning and experimentation
We are an equal opportunity employer. This position is open to local Bay Area candidates only, no relocation benefits are available. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.
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IT Support Technician (Level 1) – Bay Area
Advantage Microsystems is looking for a friendly, capable Level 1 technician to join our team. Whether you're just starting out or have a few years under your belt, we'd love to hear from you. We're growing and we need great people!
Why Advantage Microsystems?
Tenure – Our average employee tenure is 9.5 years. We think that speaks for itself.Compensation – Our people are well compensated with pay and benefits, because employee retention is extremely important to us.Career Growth – Our Level 3/Senior Technicians were once our Level 1/Junior Technicians. We commit to putting you on a growth plan and advancing you here. Level 3 Technicians need not apply — we only promote to this position from within.Culture – Our team is great. We have each other's backs, we have fun with our work, and our clients love us. We're all learning and growing together, so input and suggestions from employees are valued and encouraged.Lifestyle – We were a work-from-home company before COVID and we'll continue to be one. That said, this role involves client visits roughly half the time — reliable transportation is a must.Transparency – As part of the interview process, you'll have the opportunity to speak directly with other AM employees and get a real feel for what it's like to work here.About Us
Founded in 1998, Advantage Microsystems provides complete, outsourced IT departments for nonprofits and businesses with 25 to 500 employees across the Bay Area. Our clients are mission-driven organizations — nonprofits, behavioral health providers, and professional services firms — who rely on us as their full technology team. Our approach is built on three pillars: Service, Security, and Strategy. We don't just keep the lights on; we help clients build toward something. We're a well-established firm with strong team dynamics, a culture of mutual respect, and zero tolerance for micromanagement. We hire responsible people and trust them to do their jobs.
What You'll Be Doing
This role splits roughly half and half between field work and working from home. Client visits are concentrated in the East Bay, San Francisco, and the Peninsula — in that order of frequency. Most visits are scheduled in advance, but you should be comfortable responding to the occasional urgent onsite on short notice. Typical onsite work includes setting up new workstations, decommissioning old equipment, troubleshooting issues that couldn't be resolved remotely, and supporting L2/L3 technicians on system upgrades.
When working from home, you'll start your day by 8:30am, logging into ConnectWise (our ticketing system), Kaseya (our RMM platform), and Microsoft Teams to connect with the team. Throughout the day you'll handle first-line support tickets from clients and from our 24/7 network monitoring systems. Typical tickets include Outlook issues, VPN troubleshooting, printer problems, spam management, password resets, account administration, server alert triage, and security triage. Your day wraps at 5:30pm with a quick timesheet update and ticket review.
Your coworkers are reachable by company VOIP phone or team chat. Most client information is already documented in our systems — you'll rarely be starting from scratch.
What You Should Bring
Technical Skills
Windows installation and configuration in a networked environmentMicrosoft 365, Entra ID, and Active Directory user administrationEndpoint security / EDR platformsNetworking fundamentals — TCP/IP, DNS, DHCPRemote access solutions — VPN, Remote Desktop ServicesPrinter and scanner troubleshootingEmail security and spam managementMac experience is a plusMicrosoft or other IT certifications are a plus (CompTIA A+, Network+, etc.)Who You Are
Friendly, professional, and comfortable working directly with end usersA self-starter who takes pride in doing thorough, quality workCalm under pressure and able to juggle multiple prioritiesA resourceful troubleshooter who can dig for answers independentlyDetail-oriented and reliable — clients and teammates count on youBenefits
Base compensation commensurate with experience and certificationsPaid vacation: 15 days/year to start, increasing to 20 days after 3 years and 25 days after 5 years9 paid holidays plus your birthday offCompany-paid health insurance (Blue Shield PPO or Kaiser — your choice), dental, and vision; dependent coverage available at a significant company subsidyLife and short-term disability insuranceEmployee Assistance Program (EAP)Employee Anniversary Recognition ProgramCompany-funded training materials and professional certification examsMileage and vehicle wear-and-tear reimbursement for all client visits401k with company matching (after 90 days)Virtual lab environment for self-directed learning and experimentationWe are an equal opportunity employer. This position is open to local Bay Area candidates only — no relocation benefits are available. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.
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