Position Name: AWS Engineer
Reports to: Support Manager
Location/Type: Remote
Status: Non-Exempt

Atlas Technica's mission is to shoulder IT management, user support, and cybersecurity for our clients, who are hedge funds and other investment firms. Founded in 2016, we have grown 100% year over year through our uncompromising focus on service. 

We value ownership, execution, growth, intelligence, and camaraderie. We are looking for people who share our Core Values, thrive, and contribute to this environment while putting the customer first. At Atlas Technica, we offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and great perks to our global Team. We strive to maintain a professional yet friendly environment while promoting professional and career development for our Team Members. Join Atlas Technica now!

We are seeking an individual with experience in AWS to join our Service team. The goal of this team is to design, implement and support public cloud solutions for our customers.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement and support public cloud solutions for our customers
• Work with a mixture of traditional services such as virtual machines and serverless or platform as a service products to deliver custom solutions to business problems
• Provide technical guidance and support to junior team members and stakeholders on AWS-related matters
• Research and development of new solutions, implement of established solutions according to best practice/documentation, create documentation of the solutions, and provide second-line support for these solutions

Qualifications

• 2+ years of AWS experience
• Experience with EC2, S3, RDS, VPC, and IAM for high availability, security, and performance.
• Experience with AWS Organizations, IAM Identity Center and Control Tower managing multiple accounts under single organization.
• Experience implementing networks and connectivity, specifically connectivity between physical and cloud networks (VPNs, etc.).
• Experience working with development, operations, and security teams to integrate AWS solutions into existing workflows and processes.
• 1 year of experience with an automation language such as PowerShell or Python.
• Drive, willingness to learn, responsibility for one’s own work and the overall outcome.
• Ability to communicate complex technical information to different audiences.
• Active certifications in AWS. Must be at least Associate level. Active certification is a requirement.

Desirable Qualities

• Experience with working with clients in finance or alternative investment industries.
• Experience with infrastructure such as code technologies and CI/DC technologies.
• Experience with automation scripts and tools for provisioning, configuration, and monitoring of AWS resources.
• Experience with writing technical documentation
• 2-4 years of experience at a Managed Services Provider.

Position Name:Sr. Accountant
Reports to:Director, Finance
Location/Type: UA/Full-Time Contract (New York City Time Zone)

Atlas Technica's mission is to shoulder IT management, user support, and cybersecurity for our clients, who are hedge funds and other investment firms. Founded in 2016, we have grown 100% year over year through our uncompromising focus on service. 

We value ownership, execution, growth, intelligence, and camaraderie. We are looking for people who share our Core Values, thrive, and contribute to this environment while putting the customer first. At Atlas Technica, we offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and great perks to our global Team. We strive to maintain a professional yet friendly environment while promoting professional and career development for our Team Members. Join Atlas Technica now!

The Sr. Accountant position is a key member of the Finance team, reporting to the Director of Finance. The essential functions include maintaining accurate bookkeeping records, financial reporting, and compliance with accounting standards and legal requirements.

Position Responsibilities:

• Handles day-to-day accounting operations for the UK and US Entities
• Ensure compliance with accounting standards and regulations
• Maintain accurate financial records and monthly closing processes, including monthly reconciliations, accruals, and prepayments
• Assist with the invoicing if needed
• Manage financial reporting, budgeting, and forecasting
• Maintains up-to-date written policies and procedures and creates them when necessary.
• Assisting with accounting/tax/payroll questions and issues by researching technical accounting resources and managing accounting documents with new significant transactions & practice changes
• All other tasks and duties assigned by the supervisor

Requirements: 

• A bachelor’s degree in accounting or in a related field is required
• Minimum two years of experience in a similar role and minimum five years of experience in accounting or finance.
• Experience and technical proficiency with QuickBooks Online. Experience with Sage Intacct is a plus

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, clear and precise in communication
• Strong attention to detail
• Being able to work independently
• Proficient in MS Office, particularly Excel, Outlook, and Word

Desirable Qualities: 

• Experience with transitioning to the new accounting software
• Experience with Accounting Audit
• Experience with the GAAP Standards
• Experience with normalized earnings
• Experience with Transfer pricing
• Experience with technology businesses
• Experience with international entities (UK, SG, HK)
• Experience with the Power Bi

Atlas Technica is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Position Name: Network Engineer
Reports to:Network Team Manager
Location: UK/ Remote,
Status:Eligible for Overtime

Atlas Technica's mission is to shoulder IT management, user support, and cybersecurity for our clients who are hedge funds and other investment firms. Founded in 2016, we have grown 100% year over year since inception through our uncompromising focus on service.

We value ownership, execution, growth, intelligence, and camaraderie. We are looking for people who can thrive in and contribute to this environment while putting the customer first.

About the Network Engineer position

We are looking for a skilled Network Engineer who will be responsible for designing, implementing, maintaining, and supporting the network infrastructure for our growing client base and our firm. You will work within our systems engineering team.

You should have a good understanding of designing and developing scalable, maintainable, highly available network architectures. We also expect you to be a good team player and be able to meet business objectives and SLAs.

Network Engineer responsibilities are:

• Organize network maintenance and system upgrades including service packs, patches, hot fixes, and security configurations
• Install, implement and configure various types of network devices, solutions, and services, including routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers, VPN, QoS.
• Monitor system performance, ensure it is available and reliable
• Monitor system resource utilization, trending, and capacity planning
• Ensure compliance with policies and requirements and troubleshoot any issues
• Organize the implementation of security tools, policies, and procedures in conjunction with the company’s security team
• Work together with vendors and other IT personnel to resolve problems faster

Network Engineer requirements are:

• 2+ years experience as a Network Engineer
• 5+ years of IT or similar experience
• Experience with cloud-based networking (SaaS, IaaS, PaaS)
• Extensive experience with market leading vendors (Cisco, Palo Alto, Panorama, HP, Ubiquiti, Aruba)
• Working knowledge implementing VPN technologies including IPsec, SSL VPN, and encryption.
• Experience working with next-generation firewalls (application filtering, IDS/IPS)
• Significant experience with monitoring, network diagnostic and network analytics tools
• Excellent understanding of routing protocols and networking protocols (including IPSEC, HSRP, BGP, OSPF )
• Knowledge of TACACS+ and RADIUS authentication integration
• University degree in Computer Science or a related subject.
• CCNA/CCNP or similar certifications highly desirable
• Experience with AWS/Azure Networking, SDWAN, BGP, ECMP is highly desirable

Atlas Technica is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Position Name: Resource Coordinator
Reports to: Resource Coordinator Manager

Atlas Technica's mission is to shoulder IT management, user support, and cybersecurity for our clients, who are hedge funds and other investment firms. Founded in 2016, we have grown 100% year over year through our uncompromising focus on service.

We value ownership, execution, growth, intelligence, and camaraderie. We are looking for people who share our Core Values, thrive, and contribute to this environment while putting the customer first. At Atlas Technica, we offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and great perks to our global Team. We strive to maintain a professional yet friendly environment while promoting professional and career development for our Team Members. Join Atlas Technica now!

As a Resource Coordinator, your primary goal will be to ensure that engineers in the support department are being utilized to their full capacity and that any issues of scheduling and coordination of work are addressed. Specific responsibilities in support of this goal are summarized below. Other duties of a broadly organizational nature will be assigned as needed. This position reports to the Resource Coordination Manager and has growth potential in either a technical direction or a management one, depending on your aptitudes and company needs. This is a remote work-from-home position.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for scheduling engineering calendars and tickets for a global support organization across several time zones.
• Coordinating all IT resources to drive completion of tasks and ensure efficient resource utilization.
• Coordinating scheduling of work with internal resources and client contacts.
• Scheduling internal and onsite technical resources in our ticketing system (ConnectWise Manage).
• Evaluating, prioritizing and assigning IT to support requests, following up where needed to ensure completion of outstanding items.
• Monitoring service personnel schedules to ensure support coverage and lack of scheduling conflicts.
• Monitoring resource schedules to ensure prompt service delivery and time entry on service requests.

• Ensuring ticket deadlines are met
• Keeping customers informed of scheduling or service changes or outages
• Ensuring client satisfaction and resolving complaints
• Surveying clients to measure client satisfaction
• Efficiently communicate through instant messages, phone calls, and a ticketing system.

Requirements:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, specifically strong customer service skills, being able to take possibly frustrated customer calls or difficult situations and find solutions that work for everyone involved.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
• English language skills sufficient for professional communication in a business environment.
• College degree or equivalent work experience.
• Strong and stable internet connection to allow for disruption-free video and audio calls
• Quiet environment with a professional background.

Desirable Qualities:

• Experience in the MSP industry.
• Experience working with MSP tools, ticketing systems such as ConnectWise Manage or similar.
• 3 or more years of customer service experience.
• Experience as a dispatcher, resource, or service coordinator in any industry.

Atlas Technica is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Position Name: NOC Engineer
Reports to:NOC Team Lead
Location: UA/ Remote, Work-from-Home
Status:Eligible for Overtime

Shifts Offered:

• US EST Weekend Day Shift – Includes 1h unpaid lunch: Saturday-Tuesday / Sat-Sun 6 AM-7 PM & Mon-Tues 6 AM-3 PM EST
• US EST Weekend Night Shift – Includes 1h unpaid lunch: :Friday & Monday 6 PM-3 AM EST / Saturday-Sunday 6 PM-7 AM EST
• US EST Weekday Shift – Includes 1h unpaid lunch: Monday-Friday 6 AM-3 PM EST
• US EST Weekday Day Shift – Includes 1h unpaid lunch: Monday - Friday 2 PM-11 PM EST

Atlas Technica's mission is to shoulder IT management, user support, and cybersecurity for our clients, who are hedge funds and other investment firms. Founded in 2016, we have grown 100% year over year through our uncompromising focus on service. 

We value ownership, execution, growth, intelligence, and camaraderie. We are looking for people who share our Core Values, thrive, and contribute to this environment while putting the customer first. At Atlas Technica, we offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and great perks to our global Team. We strive to maintain a professional yet friendly environment while promoting professional and career development for our Team Members. Join Atlas Technica now!

The NOC Engineer role responsibility is to serve as Atlas' front line for alerts & requests. Our multinational team of NOC engineers addresses issues with end-user devices, cloud technologies, and basic network troubleshooting. The NOC offers both leadership and technical career progression opportunities. This role is a full-time (40 hours/week) contract.

Responsibilities:

• Resolve alerts, primarily consisting of user devices, circuit downs, temperature/water alerts, Cloud alerts, SOC alerts.
• Resolve requests, primarily consisting of scheduling after-hours maintenance and device/new customer onboarding.
• Communicate with vendors and customers as a point of contact; Coordinate maintenance, after-hours repair, and patch remediation.
• Projects, as assigned by managers, for the NOC and Support teams.
• Documentation, maintaining knowledge base, new articles, and content improvements.
• Recommend and improve processes to drive better outcomes.

Requirements:

• Microsoft Windows Desktop & Server OS
  • General familiarity with all currently-supported versions of Windows, with an emphasis on Desktop issues
  • OS & App Patching, OS Upgrades, Failure Remediation
  • Cloud Products & Technologies
  • Microsoft 365, Azure, SharePoint/OneDrive, Exchange Online, Amazon AWS
  • Identity Management, Authorization, and Security (Azure AD, Okta)
  • EMM/MDM tools (InTune, AirWatch)
  • Backups & Disaster Recovery
• E-Mail Technologies
  • General Mail Flow Troubleshooting, Archiving, Retention, Compliance
  • Proofpoint, Mimecast, Global Relay
• Networking
  • Comprehension of network protocols (TCP/IP, VPN, DNS, DHCP)
  • Diagnostic toolkit in Layer 1-3 functionality
• Security
  • Resolve alerts as raised by SIEM/SOC providers, Anti-Virus
• Great communicators, able to speak at a conversational English level
• 3+ years of general IT experience, primarily in server, infrastructure support, and networking/circuits
• 1+ years of NOC experience, including knowledge of ITIL-based Service Operations
• Passionate about delivering consistently positive experiences to our customers
• Strong diagnostics toolkit; approaches an incident with logic, conscientious of time spent on a given issue

Desirable Qualities:

• Experience working in an MSP/Consultancy environment
• Experience with related tools such as OpsGenie, PageR Duty, PRTG, Scripting with PowerShell, Automate Script, and Azure Functions.
• Strong knowledge of RMM tools such as ConnectWise Automate, SolarWinds, Nagios, CloudWatch, or Zabbix
• Able to design monitors to look for problem conditions in customer environments.
• Able to design scripts to address faults automatically.
• A degree in a relevant field (Computer Science/Computer Engineering)
• Certifications such as CompTIA A+, Server+, Network+ or similar

Atlas Technica is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Position Name: Project Coordinator
Location/Type: Ukraine/Remote

Atlas Technica's mission is to shoulder IT management, user support, and cybersecurity for our clients, who are hedge funds and other investment firms. Founded in 2016, we have grown 100% year over year through our uncompromising focus on service.

We value ownership, execution, growth, intelligence, and camaraderie. We are looking for people who share our Core Values, thrive, and contribute to this environment while putting the customer first. At Atlas Technica, we offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and great perks to our global Team. We strive to maintain a professional yet friendly environment while promoting professional and career development for our Team Members. Join Atlas Technica now!

Atlas Technica is seeking a Project Coordinator. The Project Coordinator is a detail oriented, coordination and administrative role responsible for providing support to the Project Team. Project Tasks are not limited and are expected to vary, depending on the overall workload of the Project Team and the specificity of each project. Tasks such as monitoring project plans, schedules, work hours, budgets and organizing and participating in stakeholder meetings as well as ensuring that project deadlines are met in a timely manner.

Responsibilities:

• Monitor and update project progress, schedules, work hours, budgets of multiple projects and discuss with other members of the team; identify possible problems/risks and escalate
• Provide detailed updates to project managers or other stakeholders
• Organize reports, invoices, contracts for easy access
• Planning meetings and organizing project logistics
• Partner and work with Atlas Technica teams and client vendors to achieve common goals
• Work with Atlas partners and vendors for the procurement of hardware, software and services for clients and Atlas internal needs.
• Ability to multi-task, ask questions, and stay abreast on industry and company technologies and standards is imperative
• Organizing, attending, and participating in stakeholder meetings
• Ability to identify important and recurring objectives
• Learn as much as you can, document as much as you can, and prove that you can reliably turn over and complete tasks that have been handed off to you with minimal supervision
• Become more and more independent with the completion of each project
• Continuous improvement and contribution to the project management team as well as firm wide initiatives.
• Job hours are from 15:00-24:00 EEST

Requirements:

• Strong communicator with excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Willingness to learn and not afraid to ask questions
• Ability to work on tight deadlines
• Proficient in Microsoft Office 365
• Strong educational background (Associates/Bachelors/Certification) preferred but not required
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team
• 1-2 years of Project Coordination/Management experience; this is an entry level to minimally experienced role
• Goal oriented individual with a positive attitude
• Proven ability to solve problems creatively
• Detail oriented
• Basic familiarity with some Project Management concepts, methodologies, and tools.
• Analytical Thinker

Desirable Qualities:

• Ability to proactively work cross functionally to build relationships and rapport amongst highly technical and non-technical co-workers and clients.
• Ability to identify quickly and easily what you do know and what you don’t know and voice that accordingly and appropriately
• Comfortable performing non-Project related tasks to reinforce strength throughout the company when and where it’s needed

Atlas Technica is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Title: Sr. Project Engineer
Reports to: Project Engineering Manager
Type: Full-Time Salaried, Exempt, Remote

Atlas Technica's mission is to shoulder IT management, user support, and cybersecurity for our clients who are hedge funds and other investment firms. Founded in 2016, we have grown 100% year over year since inception through our uncompromising focus on service.

We value ownership, execution, growth, intelligence, and camaraderie. We are looking for people who share our Core Values, thrive, and contribute to this environment while putting the customer first. At Atlas Technica, we offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and great perks to our global Team. We strive to maintain a professional yet friendly environment while promoting professional and career development for our Team Members. Join Atlas Technica now!

The Sr. Project Engineer role, at Atlas Technica, is a detail-oriented, highly visible, client-facing role focusing on onboarding new clients and is expected to deliver technical projects, respond to inbound customer queries as well as provide outbound customer advisories for technical onboarding in a rapidly growing fast-paced environment. You will be working with other Project Engineers, Sr. Project Engineers and System Engineers in a very collaborative environment which allows for very quick technical growth.

Responsibilities

• Hands-on, technical project engineer with the ability to architect and implement technical and security solutions as well as transition work plans for client startups and existing client infrastructures.
• Build out client infrastructures which would include cloud-based SaaS solutions, virtual servers, networking equipment, desktops, laptops, and other common office technology.
• Perform cloud and infrastructure assessments with the ability to make recommendations to enhance our service offering and add value to clients.
• Continuously improve process and efficiencies of implementation and integration of new and existing technologies by developing automation or utilizing known toolsets.
• Create and execute technical work plans to meet project deadlines.
• Ability to proactively work cross-functionally to build relationships and rapport amongst highly technical and non-technical co-workers and clients.
• Participate in research, design, and testing of new and existing technologies to add value to client business objectives.
• Provide technical escalation and act as a subject matter expert for existing Project Engineers and clients while in the project.
• Work with Project Managers and provide project updates on a consistent basis to various stakeholders about strategy, adjustments, and progress.
• Help cross-train, upskill, coach, and mentor engineers and interns.
• Attend client-facing meetings.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of IT Experience (Desktop Support, Systems Engineering, Systems Administration).
• 1-3 years of end-user support/desktop support: Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, desktop and mobile device troubleshooting, deployment of home networks
• 2-3 years of implementation and support of cloud products: Microsoft 365, Box, Dropbox, SharePoint / OneDrive, Azure, Intune, Conditional Access.
• 1-3 years implementing and supporting enterprise networking equipment such as Palo Alto / Cisco Firewalls, Cisco Switches, Cisco / Meraki / Ubiquiti WAPs.
• Advanced Systems Administration and Design: Strong knowledge of Microsoft Windows Server Platforms as well as Azure Active Directory, Active Directory, Group Policy, and email flow troubleshooting.
• Knowledge of Microsoft 365 and Azure licensing.
• 2-3 years implementing and supporting cybersecurity products such as Mimecast, Sophos, Symantec, or Proofpoint.
• Strong knowledge of networking: TCP/IP, LAN / DMZ / WAN, DHCP, DNS, Routing Protocols, Switching, and Firewalls.
• Proven ability to use Microsoft PowerShell scripting and/or the Microsoft Graph API to automate Microsoft 365 management tasks.
• Financial industry experience including familiarity with market vendor applications such as Bloomberg, Thompson Reuters, FactSet, CapIQ.

Desirable Qualities

• Managed Services Provider and Public Cloud experience are big pluses.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required.
• Very organized with excellent communication skills.
• Goal-oriented individual with proven ability to solve problems creatively.
• Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Proven ability to complete projects according to outlined scope, budget, and timeline.

Position Name: Systems Engineer
Reports to:NOC Team Lead
Location: UA/ Remote, Work-from-Home
Status:Eligible for Overtime

Shifts Offered:

• US EST Weekend Day Shift – Includes 1h unpaid lunch: Saturday-Tuesday / Sat-Sun 6 AM-7 PM & Mon-Tues 6 AM-3 PM EST
• US EST Weekend Night Shift – Includes 1h unpaid lunch: :Friday & Monday 6 PM-3 AM EST / Saturday-Sunday 6 PM-7 AM EST
• US EST Weekday Shift – Includes 1h unpaid lunch: Monday-Friday 6 AM-3 PM EST
• US EST Weekday Day Shift – Includes 1h unpaid lunch: Monday - Friday 2 PM-11 PM EST

Atlas Technica's mission is to shoulder IT management, user support, and cybersecurity for our clients, who are hedge funds and other investment firms. Founded in 2016, we have grown 100% year over year through our uncompromising focus on service. 

We value ownership, execution, growth, intelligence, and camaraderie. We are looking for people who share our Core Values, thrive, and contribute to this environment while putting the customer first. At Atlas Technica, we offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and great perks to our global Team. We strive to maintain a professional yet friendly environment while promoting professional and career development for our Team Members. Join Atlas Technica now!

The NOC Engineer role responsibility is to serve as Atlas' front line for alerts & requests. Our multinational team of NOC engineers addresses issues with end-user devices, cloud technologies, and basic network troubleshooting. The NOC offers both leadership and technical career progression opportunities. This role is a full-time (40 hours/week) contract.

Responsibilities:

• Resolve alerts, primarily consisting of user devices, circuit downs, temperature/water alerts, Cloud alerts, SOC alerts.
• Resolve requests, primarily consisting of scheduling after-hours maintenance and device/new customer onboarding.
• Communicate with vendors and customers as a point of contact; Coordinate maintenance, after-hours repair, and patch remediation.
• Projects, as assigned by managers, for the NOC and Support teams.
• Documentation, maintaining knowledge base, new articles, and content improvements.
• Recommend and improve processes to drive better outcomes.

Requirements:

• Microsoft Windows Desktop & Server OS
  • General familiarity with all currently-supported versions of Windows, with an emphasis on Desktop issues
  • OS & App Patching, OS Upgrades, Failure Remediation
  • Cloud Products & Technologies
  • Microsoft 365, Azure, SharePoint/OneDrive, Exchange Online, Amazon AWS
  • Identity Management, Authorization, and Security (Azure AD, Okta)
  • EMM/MDM tools (InTune, AirWatch)
  • Backups & Disaster Recovery
• E-Mail Technologies
  • General Mail Flow Troubleshooting, Archiving, Retention, Compliance
  • Proofpoint, Mimecast, Global Relay
• Networking
  • Comprehension of network protocols (TCP/IP, VPN, DNS, DHCP)
  • Diagnostic toolkit in Layer 1-3 functionality
• Security
  • Resolve alerts as raised by SIEM/SOC providers, Anti-Virus
• Great communicators, able to speak at a conversational English level
• 3+ years of general IT experience, primarily in server, infrastructure support, and networking/circuits
• 1+ years of NOC experience, including knowledge of ITIL-based Service Operations
• Passionate about delivering consistently positive experiences to our customers
• Strong diagnostics toolkit; approaches an incident with logic, conscientious of time spent on a given issue

Desirable Qualities:

• Experience working in an MSP/Consultancy environment
• Experience with related tools such as OpsGenie, PageR Duty, PRTG, Scripting with PowerShell, Automate Script, and Azure Functions.
• Strong knowledge of RMM tools such as ConnectWise Automate, SolarWinds, Nagios, CloudWatch, or Zabbix
• Able to design monitors to look for problem conditions in customer environments.
• Able to design scripts to address faults automatically.
• A degree in a relevant field (Computer Science/Computer Engineering)
• Certifications such as CompTIA A+, Server+, Network+ or similar

Atlas Technica is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.