Director of Information Technology in SAINT PAUL, Minnesota at ForwardEdge ASIC LLC

At ForwardEdge ASIC we specialize in best-in-class ASIC technology, 100% domestically traceable microelectronic solutions designed for performance in commercial, aerospace, defense, and security sectors. FEASIC operates a full-scale ASIC design shop with cross-disciplinary fluency between digital logic, analog/mixed-signal design, and physical layout, and sits at the intersection of advanced ASIC, FPGA, and microelectronics design.

As a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, we combine the agility of a startup with the stability and scale of a Fortune 100 leader. We operate in a nimble, fast-paced environment of 80+ highly experienced and specialized engineers with over 25 years of ASIC/FPGA experience and more than 300 patents.

Position Summary

ForwardEdge ASIC is seeking a Director of Information Technology to provide strategic leadership, operational oversight, and architectural direction for the enterprise IT function supporting advanced ASIC and microelectronics design. This role is accountable for ensuring that IT infrastructure, services, and security directly enable engineering innovation, regulatory compliance, and long-term business growth.

The Director of IT leads the design, evolution, and governance of mission-critical IT environments, balancing highly specialized engineering requirements with enterprise-grade reliability, security, and scalability. This position partners closely with executive leadership, engineering management, and external stakeholders to align IT strategy with business objectives and national security obligations.

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Key Responsibilities

IT Strategy, Leadership & Governance

• Define and execute a multi-year IT strategy and roadmap aligned with corporate goals, engineering priorities, and regulatory requirements.
• Serve as the senior IT leader and trusted advisor to executive management on technology investments, risks, and opportunities.
• Establish and enforce IT governance frameworks, policies, and operating standards across infrastructure, security, and service delivery.
• Lead, mentor, and develop IT staff and technical leaders, building depth, succession, and organizational resilience.

Engineering Design Environment & Core IT Operations

• Provide executive oversight of the end-to-end IT environments supporting ASIC and microelectronics design, including:
• Predominantly Linux-based systems
• High-performance computing (HPC) and compute grids
• Large-scale storage and data protection platforms
• Middleware and services enabling EDA tools and workflows
• Ensure enterprise-level availability, scalability, performance, and resilience in environments that routinely stress system limits.
• Partner with engineering leadership to anticipate future design needs and proactively evolve infrastructure capabilities.

Enterprise Architecture & Infrastructure Development

• Own the enterprise IT architecture across:
• On-premise environments
• Cloud and hybrid architectures
• Export-controlled and classified systems
• Approve technologies, platforms, and architectural patterns that balance innovation, security, cost, and long-term sustainability.
• Lead architecture reviews, technical risk assessments, and modernization initiatives to ensure scalability and compliance.
• Drive standardization while enabling flexibility for project-specific engineering requirements.

DevOps, Automation & Operational Excellence

• Establish and mature DevOps and automation strategies across infrastructure and platform services.
• Ensure configuration management, testing, and deployment practices support reliability, auditability, and rapid recovery.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives that increase operational efficiency and reduce friction for engineering teams.
• Ensure high-quality documentation, runbooks, and operational processes.

Lifecycle Management & Service Reliability

• Oversee full infrastructure lifecycle management, including:
• Hardware and platform deployment
• Systems testing and validation
• Maintenance, repair, and refresh planning
• Ensure robust data storage, backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity strategies are defined, tested, and maintained.
• Maintain accountability for root cause analysis and systemic issue prevention.

Cybersecurity, Risk & Compliance

• Provide executive ownership of IT security posture and risk management, in alignment with corporate and governmental requirements.
• Coordinate cybersecurity efforts, including external Virtual CISO partnerships.
• Ensure secure operation of export-controlled and classified environments.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate technology risks across infrastructure, operations, vendors, and processes.

Vendor, Financial & Service Management

• Own IT vendor strategy, contracts, and performance management, ensuring SLAs align with business and security needs.
• Manage IT budgets, forecasting, and cost optimization initiatives.
• Oversee shared and externally provided IT services, including corporate Windows-based environments.

Communication, Change & Organizational Impact

• Communicate clearly with executives, engineers, and non-technical stakeholders on IT strategy, risks, and changes.
• Lead technology change management and organizational readiness efforts.
• Provide transparency through reporting on performance, roadmaps, risks, and outcomes.

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Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or equivalent experience
• 10+ years of progressive IT experience, including senior technical leadership
• Proven success leading enterprise infrastructure, architecture, and security programs
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex technical issues into business decisions
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills

Security Requirements

• Must be eligible for and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance
• U.S. citizenship required

Technical & Leadership Background

• Enterprise Linux and Windows environments (Linux-focused)
• High-performance and compute-intensive infrastructure
• IT security, identity, and access management
• Storage, backup, and disaster recovery platforms
• Cloud and hybrid architectures
• Vendor and contract management
• Experience supporting engineering or R&D-intensive organizations strongly preferred

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What We Offer

• Work-Life Balance: Flexible 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off
• Competitive Comp & Benefits: Healthcare and medical coverage options, 401(k) retirement benefits with company contribution, generous holidays and PTO
• Incentives: Eligibility for short-term and long-term incentive programs

Join ForwardEdge ASIC and be part of a team that thrives on innovation and excellence in ASIC design. Together, we build the technology that enables a safer, more resilient world.