IT Systems Specialist

About Toyota Research Institute

Toyota Research Institute (TRI) is focused on improving people’s lives by creating new tools and capabilities that expand what humans can do. The organization is driving change in mobility through cutting-edge work in AI, robotics, driving, and materials science.

Team Overview

TRI’s IT organization supports a large research environment by keeping systems, devices, and collaboration tools running smoothly for more than 300 researchers and engineers across several locations. The team handles endpoint rollouts, identity services, collaboration platforms, and conference room audio-visual systems so technical staff can stay focused on research rather than infrastructure issues.

Role Summary

The IT Systems Specialist will provide direct technical support from the Cambridge, MA office. This is a highly visible, hands-on support position where you will help researchers, engineers, and staff with day-to-day IT needs, including hardware setup, account management, user onboarding and offboarding, and general office technology support. The role supports a technically advanced workforce using GPU workstations, multi-monitor setups, and a modern SaaS environment.

The right candidate is comfortable in a busy setting, communicates effectively with both technical and non-technical users, and follows issues through to closure. In addition to resolving incidents, the role also involves improving documentation, refining workflows, and spotting recurring problems early.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver first-line IT assistance to employees in Cambridge, headquarters, and remote sites through in-person help, chat, email, and video calls while working toward service-level targets.
• Handle employee onboarding and offboarding, including account setup, access provisioning, device allocation, and lifecycle changes across identity and collaboration systems.
• Install, configure, and support macOS, Windows, and Linux endpoints, including specialized research machines with GPUs and other high-performance components.
• Administer and troubleshoot identity, access, endpoint management, and collaboration platforms.
• Support conference room AV equipment and assist with events using video conferencing and presentation hardware.
• Track IT hardware assets by managing purchasing, deployment records, return merchandise authorizations, and retirement of equipment.
• Provide basic network troubleshooting for connectivity, VLAN, Wi-Fi, and VPN issues, escalating more complex cases when needed.
• Use the ticketing platform to record fixes, share progress updates, and route issues appropriately.
• Replenish IT supply storage, prepare systems for new hires, and coordinate hardware movement and logistics.
• Create documentation, write knowledge base content, and help train teammates on procedures and workflows.
• Work with outside vendors on equipment orders, warranty repairs, and IT-related facility needs.
• Manage a mix of support requests and project tasks by prioritizing effectively in a changing environment.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years of experience in IT support or systems administration, ideally in a technology or research setting.
• A bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related discipline is preferred; comparable experience may be accepted.
• Practical experience with endpoint management tools, identity and access management systems, and enterprise collaboration suites.
• Strong ability to deploy and troubleshoot macOS, Windows, and Linux devices, including hardware components such as GPUs, SSDs, memory, and NICs.
• Solid understanding of networking basics, including IP addressing, subnets, VLANs, DNS, DHCP, and wireless connectivity.
• Experience supporting user lifecycles across SSO, directory services, and SaaS app provisioning.
• Working knowledge of remote access tools such as VPN, RDP, and SSH.
• Clear communication skills and the ability to explain technical topics to non-technical audiences.
• Proven ability to work independently, juggle priorities, and stay organized in a fast-moving environment.
• Ability to lift computer equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with conference room AV setup, troubleshooting, and event support for Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams.
• Background with Google Workspace administration and Cisco Meraki networking.
• Familiarity with Jamf, Okta, and Active Directory or Entra ID.
• Experience managing software licensing and SaaS subscriptions.
• Exposure to AWS, GitHub, or virtual machine environments.
• Experience supporting researchers or engineers who use specialized compute hardware.

Compensation and Benefits

The expected base salary range for Massachusetts-based roles is $90,000 to $136,400 per year at the start of employment. Actual pay will depend on factors such as experience, skills, job-related knowledge, and location.

TRI provides a benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k) eligibility, paid time off such as vacation, sick leave, and parental leave, plus an annual cash bonus program. Full benefit details are shared after an offer is made.

Equal Opportunity and Additional Notices

TRI is committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative workplace and provides equal employment opportunities without regard to protected characteristics under federal, state, or local law.

In Massachusetts, employers may not require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. Violations may lead to criminal and civil penalties.

Under the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment.

TRI may use artificial intelligence tools in parts of the hiring process, such as application review, resume analysis, and response assessment. These tools support recruiters but do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people. Candidates who want more information about data processing may contact TRI directly.