Head of IT

Key Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end management of corporate IT infrastructure: physical networks, endpoint management, and SaaS management, maintaining successful compliance with strict security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53

• Develop and enforce IT policies and access control aligned with defense sector norms and requirements.

• Own and manage identity provider (IdP) systems according to role-based access control, principle of least-privilege, and Just in Time (JIT) principles.

• Establish secure endpoint device management (MDM), endpoint detection and response (EDR), and fleet lifecycle processes designed for device trust and conditional access authentication workflows.

• Architect and maintain secure physical network infrastructure across office, lab, and production environments

• Lead vendor selection and contract management across IT, security, and infrastructure tooling

• Partner with Engineering to support high-performance cloud computing, lab systems, and specialized environments.

• Evaluate logging, detection, and incident response (LDR) posture and improve capabilities for IT systems

• Act as a key stakeholder in security audits, compliance readiness, and regulatory inspections.

• Facilitate business continuity and disaster recovery planning

• Own and streamline IT elements of employee lifecycle, including automating critical aspects of onboarding / offboarding

• Support the security and maintainability of corporate web hosting systems including DNS.

You Will Be Successful in This Role If You

Take high ownership and accountability

Have a security-first approach while still enabling rapid execution

Can operate in ambiguity and make high-quality decisions quickly

Use strong judgment balancing speed, cost, and risk

Are a clear communicator with both technical and non-technical teams

Have a builder mentality: you aren’t afraid to roll up your sleeves and create new systems or integrations when legacy ones aren’t working

Basic Qualifications

8+ years of experience in IT infrastructure, IT operations, or IT systems engineering

Deep experience with cloud infrastructure management, particularly with Google Cloud and AWS

Familiarity with implementing MDM (Jamf/Iru, Intune) and EDR solutions.

Experience implementing and automating identity systems systems (Okta, Azure AD, or similar) in highly regulated environments.

Strong understanding of physical network architecture, including VPNs, firewalls, routes, and segmentation

Proven track record of automation and user lifecycle improvements in enterprise IT systems in a fast-paced environment

Must be eligible to work in the United States

Ability to receive and maintain access to export-controlled information (ITAR/EAR)

This role is hybrid on-site and requires close collaboration with engineering and lab environments

Preferred Skills and Experience

Experience operating in ITAR, EAR, or other export-controlled environments

Familiarity with NIST 800-171, CMMC, and/or similar compliance frameworks

Background in IT management for aerospace, defense, energy, or deep tech startups

Experience supporting hardware labs, manufacturing environments, or secure facilities

Prior experience in scaling IT from early-stage to growth-stage company status.

What We Offer

Competitive salary

Equity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced aerospace company

Comprehensive medical benefits

401(k) with company contribution + Roth IRA

Free daily lunch provided onsite

Flexible time-off policy

3 months of paid parental leave

Employee assistance program with 24/7 support

High-impact startup environment with significant ownership and autonomy

Opportunities for rapid career growth and internal advancement

You’ll work with a motivated, kind, and highly skilled team

You'll help shape and define our company culture and values

You'll help build and scale a new category of aerospace / logistics technology