Lead, IT Systems Engineer - AI & Automation

As the Lead IT Systems Engineer at Thumbtack, your main responsibilities will include designing and managing internal systems, leveraging automation across various platforms, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance business efficiency. You will also be responsible for monitoring system health, ensuring security compliance, and managing integrations with tools such as Okta, Google Workspace, and Atlassian.

Ideal candidates for the Lead IT Systems Engineer position at Thumbtack should have at least 5 years of experience in an enterprise IT environment. You should demonstrate a proven track record in designing, integrating, and automating processes, with proficiency in key tools like Okta and cloud services. Familiarity with scripting languages such as Python is also important.

The Lead IT Systems Engineer contributes significantly to Thumbtack's mission by optimizing IT systems and leveraging AI and automation to make processes more efficient and effective. By ensuring that internal tools are reliable and scalable, you help empower Thumbtack employees to deliver unmatched services to homeowners looking to improve their properties.

The salary range for the Lead IT Systems Engineer position at Thumbtack varies based on location. For candidates in areas like San Francisco or New York City, it falls between $180,000 to $220,000. In other locations like Austin or Washington D.C., it ranges from $162,000 to $198,000. For all other areas, the expected salary is $153,000 to $187,000.

Successful candidates for the Lead IT Systems Engineer role at Thumbtack should be excellent communicators with strong analytical and problem-solving skills. A teammate mentality is essential, as you will mentor others and work closely with various teams to drive continuous improvement in IT systems. Familiarity with security compliance and the ability to make informed technical proposals are also highly valued.

When answering this question, focus on specific projects where you successfully automated workflows using tools such as Okta Workflows or AWS Lambda. Discuss the processes you improved, how you collaborated with team members, and the tangible outcomes achieved due to your efforts.

Your response should include your methodology for understanding system requirements, collaborating with stakeholders, and ensuring scalability and security in your designs. Providing a real example where your approach led to successful system deployment can enhance your answer.

Discuss your familiarity with security compliance methodologies, such as implementing least-privilege access and handling security incident responses. Explain how you keep up with industry standards and provide an instance where you successfully navigated compliance challenges.

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to articulate your response. Outline the issue, explain your role in addressing it, and detail the outcome. Highlight your problem-solving abilities and teamwork.

Mention any conferences, online courses, or professional networks you engage with to stay informed about emerging technologies. Sharing specific recent tools or methodologies you've learned and applied in your work can show proactive engagement.

Provide details about the cloud platforms you've worked with, including AWS, and describe specific projects that involved deploying and securing services in the cloud. Include how these experiences enable you to understand scalability and performance.

Illustrate your approach to collaboration by explaining how you build relationships with different teams and ensure effective communication. You might want to share an example where you successfully led a cross-department project.

Detail a significant project you led, focusing on your initial goals, the steps you took throughout the project, the hurdles encountered, and how you delivered value to the business at its conclusion.

Share your preferred tools for project management and system monitoring, such as Jira, Confluence, or custom dashboards. Discuss how these tools help you track progress, manage risks, and maintain system health.

Discuss AI's potential to automate routine tasks, enhance decision-making with predictive analytics, and improve efficiency in IT operations. You might want to provide an example of how you've implemented AI in your past roles.