--- title: 'Senior Systems Administrator at Mariana Minerals' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-systems-administrator-mariana-minerals-san-francisco-t93c8xavrzp1' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-11' --- # Senior Systems Administrator at Mariana Minerals - **Company:** Mariana Minerals - **Location:** San Francisco, CA - **Compensation:** $130k–$200k - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-08-26 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-11 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/marianaminerals/0962868f-6ea6-474f-8378-6d047b2d3d83 ## Job description ## About Mariana Minerals Mariana Minerals is a software-first, vertically integrated minerals company on a mission to supply the critical minerals powering modern energy, AI, and defense technologies. We’re reimagining the minerals supply chain by combining deep industry expertise with advanced software, automation, and data-driven decision-making. ## The Role We are hiring a Senior Systems Administrator to take primary ownership of hands-on systems administration, infrastructure implementation, and day-to-day user support across Mariana's corporate, field, and industrial sites, freeing the Senior IT Manager to focus on architecture, budget, and cross-organizational strategy. This is a foundational, builder-oriented role rather than a purely operational one. Core capabilities such as device management, centralized authentication, backup and disaster recovery, incident response, and change management are still being established, and this person will help build them, not just run them. Because Mariana operates a live mine, a greenfield construction site, and growing pilot facilities at the same time, the role requires close coordination with Controls/OT engineering, Software Engineering, HR, managed service providers, and on-site stakeholders to deliver urgent requirements while ensuring they support longer-term infrastructure direction. ## What You'll Do - Administer Microsoft 365, Entra ID, and centralized authentication/SSO across corporate and field sites - Own the technical layer of SharePoint (permissions, architecture, governance) and manage user access, device provisioning, and onboarding/offboarding with HR. - Maintain software and SaaS license management, including renewals, entitlements, and cost optimization. - Establish end-to-end hardware lifecycle management — procurement, provisioning, tracking, and retirement — across offices, pilot facilities, and field sites. - Configure and support routers, switches, firewalls, VPNs, and wireless networks across a multi-site environment, and drive network monitoring, segmentation, and IT/OT boundary improvements. - Build and document backup/disaster recovery plans, security controls, vulnerability management, and a formal incident response and change management process. - Coordinate and hold accountable managed service providers and consultants - Serve as the primary escalation point for complex user and site support issues, and develop help desk process, documentation, and SLAs. - Mentor junior IT staff and build documentation/training that grows the team's overall technical depth. Desired Qualifications - 5+ years in systems and network administration with end-to-end ownership of infrastructure projects, not just ticket-based support. - Deep hands-on experience with Microsoft 365 and Entra ID, including centralized authentication and SSO configuration. - Strong networking fundamentals — VLANs/segmentation, firewalls, VPNs, wireless, routing/switching — with direct enterprise hardware experience. - Working proficiency in PowerShell or similar scripting for administration and automation. - Experience managing organization-level software/service licensing, including renewals and vendor coordination. - A track record of building processes, systems, or tools from scratch, and comfort operating with incomplete documentation and ambiguity. - Experience coordinating or overseeing managed service providers or outside consultants. - Preferred: experience in industrial/mining/OT-adjacent environments, familiarity with NIST SP 800-171/CMMC/ISO 27001, and experience with Apple/Mac devices and Ubiquiti networking. - This role requires approximately 25% travel to Mariana’s other offices and project sites. Our culture is built on four principles: Everyone Gets Home Safe. We never put speed or cost ahead of people. Extreme Ownership. We take full responsibility for outcomes, relentlessly driving toward solutions. Engineer Out Requirements, then Automate. We simplify, optimize, and then automate for scale. Share Your Legos. We collaborate openly, share knowledge, and empower each other to build bigger, better solutions. Join us as we build the future of responsible mineral sourcing and supply! ## About Mariana Minerals ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Mariana Minerals is a software-first, vertically integrated minerals company focused on supplying the minerals critical to modern energy, AI, and defense technologies. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series A, $85M funding in July 2025) - **Headquarters**: San Francisco, California, United States - **Founded**: Not publicly available - **Founders**: Turner Caldwell (Co-Founder & CEO) ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Metal Ore Mining / Critical Minerals - **Target customers**: B2B – energy, AI, and defense supply chains (including downstream manufacturers and government entities) - **Mission or purpose**: "Create a future of critical mineral abundance" by reimagining the global minerals supply chain with software, automation, and data-driven decision making. ## Products & Services - **Copper One (formerly Lisbon Valley Copper Mine)**: World’s first autonomous mine, located in Utah. Produces copper using integrated automation and software control. Restarted production in April 2026. - **Lithium One**: Lithium project (on the roadmap or early development). - **Other mineral projects**: Graphite, Uranium, Rare Earth Metals, Cobalt, Nickel, Aluminium – at various stages (stealth or roadmap). - **CapitalProjectOS**: Internal software platform for capital project management (mentioned in leadership bio). - **Technology Stack**: React, dbt, TypeScript, Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, microservices, SCADA, Autodesk, and many others – indicating a strong software engineering backbone. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private company) - **Key Metric**: Total funding – $85M Series A (July 2025, 1 investor) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Lead investor not publicly disclosed (Andreessen Horowitz was pitched but not confirmed as an investor). Partners include Bot Auto, WeRide, Pronto, Atoms (based on LinkedIn mentions). Also works with UMA (Utah Mining Association). - **Growth Signals**: Headcount grew 3,575% YoY to 107 employees (as of mid-2026). 73 active job postings. Opened the world’s first autonomous mine (Copper One) in April/May 2026, generating significant industry news and social media engagement. ## Competitive Advantages - **Software-first approach**: The company builds automation and data systems from the ground up, rather than layering tech onto legacy mining operations. This enables fully autonomous mining. - **Vertical integration**: They develop, own, and operate mineral projects, controlling the entire value chain from extraction to processing. - **Deep tech stack**: Use of AI/ML (TensorFlow, PyTorch), simulation, and real-time control systems to optimize mining operations. - **First-mover in autonomous mining**: Copper One is claimed to be the world’s first autonomous mine, giving them a significant lead in operational efficiency and safety. ## Strategic Focus - Scale autonomous mining operations beyond copper (lithium, graphite, uranium, etc.) - Secure domestic supply of critical minerals for U.S. energy, AI, and defense needs. - Continue aggressive hiring across engineering, operations, and field roles. - Expand from Utah to additional sites (Houston engineering office, potential new projects). ## Why Work Here - **Culture principles**: "Extreme Ownership", "Engineer Out Requirements, Then Automate", "Share Your Legos" – emphasizing accountability, simplification, and collaboration. - **Work environment**: High-growth startup with a mission-driven focus on critical infrastructure. Offices in San Francisco (HQ), Houston (Engineering), and La Sal, Utah (mine site). Hybrid/remote policy not explicitly stated, but multiple office locations suggest flexibility for field vs. office roles. - **Notable perks**: Opportunity to work on cutting-edge autonomous systems and AI in a traditional industry. Strong engineering culture with modern tech stack (React, Python, ML). Rapid career growth due to company expansion. - **Talent sources**: Attracts talent from Tesla, Redwood Materials, Lilac, ExxonMobil, Amazon Web Services, and other tech/energy companies – indicating a high-caliber peer group. ## Sources 1. [marianaminerals.com](https://marianaminerals.com/) 2. [marianaminerals.com/careers](https://marianaminerals.com/careers) 3. [marianaminerals.com/about](https://marianaminerals.com/about) 4. [jobs.ashbyhq.com/marianaminerals](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/marianaminerals) 5. [linkedin.com/company/mariana-minerals](https://www.linkedin.com/company/mariana-minerals) ## Other roles at Mariana Minerals - [Sr./Staff Process Engineer - Detailed Engineering and Plant Design](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-staff-process-engineer-detailed-engineering-and-plant-design-mariana-m9xewg6hdcc5) — Houston, TX - [Industrial Electrician](https://feeny.ai/job/industrial-electrician-mariana-minerals-moab-snerjqgb4qbh) — Moab, UT - [Sr. Technical Recruiter](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-technical-recruiter-mariana-minerals-san-francisco-hr9b2676c4vw) — San Francisco, CA - [R&D Metallurgist](https://feeny.ai/job/r-d-metallurgist-mariana-minerals-san-francisco-2y0a92fe9ese) — San Francisco, CA - [Maintenance Mechanic](https://feeny.ai/job/maintenance-mechanic-mariana-minerals-moab-bc9jcgbeg61b) — Moab, UT - [Process Maintenance Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/process-maintenance-technician-mariana-minerals-moab-c6pyeb53jmef) — Moab, UT - [Mobile Maintenance Supervisor](https://feeny.ai/job/mobile-maintenance-supervisor-mariana-minerals-moab-0zyyzma9tm1n) — Moab, UT - [Sr./Staff Pyrometallurgical Process Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-staff-pyrometallurgical-process-engineer-mariana-minerals-houston-dpv5c9qyznbb) — Houston, TX - [Electrician](https://feeny.ai/job/electrician-mariana-minerals-east-50vs2farzxq5) — East, TX - [Staff Process Controls Engineer - Networking and Systems Administration](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-process-controls-engineer-networking-and-systems-administration-mariana-yysg2twzjx6r) — San Francisco, CA