Senior IT Manager in San Diego, California at Firestorm

Firestorm is looking for a Senior IT Manager who will own and shape our IT function. You will inherit a foundation and be trusted to build on it -- implementing the technologies, processes, and systems that will carry a fast-scaling defense technology company into its next chapter. We are looking for someone who sees gaps as opportunities, builds with intention, and measures success by the lasting impact they leave behind. What You’ll Do Team Building & Operations

• Directly manage and mentor the IT team from day one; set priorities, develop their capabilities, and serve as their technical lead
• Define the IT org structure and hiring roadmap as the company scales — identify when to add headcount, what roles to hire, and how to build a high-performing team
• Establish IT helpdesk processes, ticketing workflows, and SLA standards to create a scalable, responsive support function from the ground up
• Build and maintain IT operational runbooks, SOPs, and escalation procedures — creating the documentation layer the team will rely on as it grows
• Own incident management and major incident response; coordinate root-cause analysis and corrective action
• Drive monitoring, alerting, and observability practices using tools such as CloudWatch, Azure Monitor, Microsoft Sentinel, or equivalent
• Build and continuously refine the employee onboarding and offboarding process to support rapid headcount growth

Strategy & Roadmap

• Build and own the IT roadmap, balancing operational reliability, compliance posture, and the needs of a fast-scaling company
• Manage IT vendor relationships, licensing, contract renewals, and hardware procurement lifecycle
• Contribute to IT budget forecasting and capacity planning; report to the Director of Operations on system health, project status, and team capacity
• Participate in program reviews, technical working groups, and customer meetings as the IT operations subject matter expert
• Partner with department heads and engineering teams to align IT operations with program and business objectives
• Identify and champion opportunities to modernize operations, reduce toil, and improve security posture

Infrastructure & Platform Management

• Oversee the operation, availability, and performance of Microsoft 365 GCC-High (Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams, Intune, Azure AD/Entra ID) in compliance with ITAR, DFARS, and CUI handling requirements
• Manage AWS Commercial and AWS GovCloud environments, including VPCs, IAM roles and policies, EC2, S3, RDS, and CloudTrail; enforce separation of duties between commercial and GovCloud workloads
• Administer GitHub Enterprise and/or GitLab platforms for development teams, including SSO integration, branch protection policies, runner infrastructure, and access control
• Maintain infrastructure-as-code (IaC) standards and CI/CD pipeline integrity in coordination with DevSecOps and engineering teams
• Manage and continuously improve endpoint management using Microsoft Intune (MDM/MAM) across all company devices

Security & Compliance

• Ensure all environments comply with NIST SP 800-171, CMMC Level 2/3, FedRAMP Moderate/High, and DoD IL2/IL4/IL5 requirements
• Support ATO (Authority to Operate) processes, POA&M remediation, and continuous monitoring for applicable systems
• Enforce Zero Trust principles across identity, device, network, and application layers
• Partner with the Senior Security Manager on vulnerability management, patch cycles, incident response, and audit readiness
• Manage MFA enforcement, conditional access policies, and privileged access management (PAM) across all platforms
• Maintain accurate documentation of IT systems, configurations, and access controls to support compliance audits and assessments

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Management Information Systems (MIS), Business Administration or equivalent degree. In lieu of a degree need to have 12 years of progressive relevant experience.
• U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations, with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance
• 7+ years of progressive IT experience
• 3+ years in a management and/or senior lead role
• Experience administering Microsoft 365 GCC-High or equivalent M365 Government tenants
• Experience with AWS GovCloud and AWS Commercial, including IAM, networking, and cloud security services
• Working knowledge of GitHub Enterprise and/or GitLab administration, including RBAC, CI/CD pipelines, and audit logging
• Understanding of NIST SP 800-171, CMMC, and CUI handling requirements in a defense contractor environment
• Experience supporting or leading ATO/RMF processes
• Experience building or significantly scaling an IT function at a company in rapid growth — not just inheriting and maintaining one
• Experience translating technical requirements for non-technical stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

• Certifications: AWS Solutions Architect (Associate or Professional), Microsoft MS-102 / SC-300, CompTIA Security+, CISSP, or equivalent
• Experience with GitLab Ultimate self-managed deployments in a GovCloud or restricted environment
• Familiarity with DoD Impact Levels (IL2, IL4, IL5) and the FedRAMP authorization process
• Experience with SIEM platforms (Microsoft Sentinel, Splunk) and endpoint detection tools (Defender for Endpoint, CrowdStrike)
• Background working in a CMMC Level 2 or Level 3 certified environment
• Scripting and automation experience (PowerShell, Python, Terraform, Ansible)
• Prior experience at a Series A–C startup or high-growth defense technology company

Who We Are At Firestorm, we are building the future of expeditionary defense manufacturing and autonomous systems. Modern conflict has exposed a fundamental problem: the systems needed most by operators are often too expensive, too slow to produce, and too difficult to sustain at scale. Firestorm exists to change that. We develop mission-adaptable aerial systems and deployable manufacturing infrastructure designed to put capability directly into the hands of the warfighter. From modular unmanned aircraft to xCell -- our deployable microfactory -- our goal is to make defense systems rapidly deployable, adaptable, and producible at the point of need. Backed by leading investors across defense, aerospace, and technology, Firestorm is redefining how defense capability is built, fielded, and sustained in contested environments. We are looking for builders, operators, and problem-solvers who want to work on meaningful technology with real-world impact. Work Environment

• Based onsite at our San Diego, CA. Headquarters
• We welcome candidates who are local or open to relocating; relocation assistance is available and may be included in the offer package where appropriate.
• Willingness to travel up to 10% domestically & internationally

This position typically operates in a standard office setting and manufacturing environment. This role requires use of standard office equipment and may involve exposure to loud noise, heat, cold, dust, or chemicals (with PPE). The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Ability to sit, stand, bend, reach, climb, and move about regularly throughout the day. Must have manual dexterity to operate standard office equipment. Compensation US Salary Range: $150,000-180,000 The posted salary range reflects an estimate based on a variety of compensation factors, including but not limited to relevant experience, education, certifications, specialized skills, geographic location, and business needs. Actual compensation may vary, and this range is subject to change as our compensation structure or market conditions evolve. Benefits & Perks Our culture fosters collaboration, respect, and trust, empowering passionate people to do their best work. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career growth. In addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative, collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team, we also take pride in taking care of our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation:

• We offer comprehensive medical, dental, and visions plans
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals
• Equity grants for new hires
• Unlimited PTO
• Extremely generous company holiday calendar, including a holiday hiatus in July, & December.
• Generous Parental Leave
• Lifestyle Spending Account
• FSA
• DCFSA
• HSA
• Hospital Indemnity insurance
• Critical Illness insurance
• Accident insurance
• Basic Life/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, 100% covered by Firestorm. Plus, the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your family.
• Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, are available to you as well.

Export Control Compliance To conform to U.S. government export control regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce. Equal Opportunity Statement Firestorm is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, and upholding equitable hiring practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic under federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process. Firestorm is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment. If you require accommodations or assistance during the application process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at careers@launchfirestorm.com so we can provide the support you need.