Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
Job Description:
AI Hive is seeking a highly autonomous Staff Systems Administrator to serve as the technical owner of enterprise IT infrastructure within a dedicated operational environment.
This is a senior individual contributor role responsible for end-to-end infrastructure ownership — spanning on-premises systems, cloud platforms, endpoint environments, identity services, and local engineering support. The Staff Systems Administrator operates with significant independence, defining priorities, executing improvements, and ensuring operational resilience with minimal oversight.
This role requires a self-starter who can design, implement, support, and continuously improve infrastructure in a secure, performance-driven environment while also maintaining hands-on ownership of end-user systems and service delivery.
You will function as the accountable infrastructure lead for your environment, ensuring it remains secure, compliant, scalable, and highly available — while continuing to deliver responsive support to engineering and business teams.
This role is based in India and supports the AI Hive entity.
What you'll do:
Infrastructure Ownership (On-Prem & Cloud):
Own and operate on-premises and cloud infrastructure, including servers, virtualization, storage, identity platforms, and core enterprise services.
Administer Azure/AWS environments, ensuring availability, performance, monitoring, backup, and disaster recovery readiness.
Maintain secure system configurations, patching, vulnerability remediation, and infrastructure hardening.
Operate effectively within a controlled, security-sensitive environment with segmented systems and defined access boundaries.
Identify risks and independently drive modernization, scalability, and resilience improvements.
Identity, Security & Operational Excellence:
Administer Active Directory and Entra ID (Azure AD), enforcing role-based access and secure configuration standards.
Ensure compliance with internal controls, documentation requirements, and audit readiness expectations.
Own IT asset lifecycle management, vendor coordination, licensing oversight, and operational reporting.
Contribute infrastructure patterns and operational standards that can scale across similar environments.
End-User & Engineering Support:
Provide hands-on support across Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints, including advanced troubleshooting and escalation management.
Lead onboarding and offboarding processes, including device provisioning, access configuration, and endpoint compliance validation.
Support engineering systems, lab environments, and secure connectivity needs.
Remove operational IT friction so engineers and business teams remain focused on mission delivery.
Required qualifications:
12+ years of experience in systems administration, enterprise IT operations, or infrastructure engineering.
Demonstrated experience independently owning and operating IT infrastructure in complex environments.
Strong hands-on expertise across:
Windows, macOS, and Linux systems
Server administration and virtualization
Cloud platforms (Azure and/or AWS)
Identity platforms (Active Directory, Azure AD / Entra ID)
Experience managing infrastructure in segmented, regulated, or security-sensitive environments.
Strong networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VPN, firewall concepts).
Experience with endpoint management platforms (Intune, Jamf, or equivalent).
Experience implementing backup, disaster recovery, and monitoring solutions.
Strong documentation discipline and operational rigor.
Proven ability to work with minimal supervision and drive outcomes independently.
Preferred qualifications:
Experience supporting engineering, R&D, or defense-oriented teams.
Experience operating in startup or high-growth environments.
Familiarity with DevOps tooling (Azure DevOps, GitHub, CI/CD environments).
Scripting or automation experience (PowerShell, Bash, Python).
Experience supporting air-gapped or isolated infrastructure environments.
ITIL knowledge or certifications.
Relevant industry certifications (Microsoft, AWS, VMware, CompTIA, etc.).
Why join Shield AI:
Help build the defining defence technology company of this century.
Work at the forefront of AI, autonomy, and next-generation defence systems.
Operate in a highly entrepreneurial and mission-driven environment.
Make a direct impact on international growth and strategic defence partnerships.
Collaborate with exceptional teams solving some of the world’s most complex operational challenges.
