Head of Facilities

Job description

**Who We Are** GITAI is a vertically integrated space and defense company building the next generation of hardware for low-Earth-orbit missions. At our core is the space robotics technology that has defined GITAI from the beginning. A small, highly capable engineering team applies that foundation across satellite buses, in-orbit servicing robotics, and mission hardware for applications such as Earth observation. Today, a major focus of our work is supporting U.S. national security missions, particularly through proliferated LEO satellite constellations and other next-generation space systems. We design, build, integrate, and test much of our hardware in-house. Electrical, mechanical, software, manufacturing, integration, and test teams work closely together, allowing a small team to own complete systems rather than isolated components. This vertical integration helps us move quickly, learn directly from hardware, and shorten the path from architecture to a working system. We are still early. The systems, the company, and the market are all being built at the same time. Requirements change, technical problems are often ambiguous, and many answers do not yet exist. We are looking for exceptional engineers and operators who want broad ownership, can work across disciplines, and are willing to stay close to the hardware until the mission succeeds. **Your Mission** As Head of Facilities, you will build the physical foundation for GITAI’s next stage of growth, owning the infrastructure that enables us to scale engineering, manufacturing, integration, and testing across our offices, manufacturing environments, remote test sites, and facilities supporting U.S. government programs. This is initially a senior individual-contributor role with no direct reports. You will work directly with Engineering and Operations leadership and serve as the central owner across internal teams, contractors, consultants, landlords, utilities, regulatory authorities, government stakeholders, and security teams. Many of the environments GITAI needs do not yet exist, and requirements will often be incomplete or based on assumptions. You will seek primary information yourself, get close to the hardware and the people doing the work, identify the real constraint, and determine what should actually be built. You will turn those needs into working physical environments, making practical decisions across facilities, equipment, utilities, layout, permitting, security, cost, and schedule. The work will include technically demanding and highly regulated environments involving explosives, energetic and hazardous materials, and U.S. government security requirements. As GITAI grows, you may eventually build a facilities team, but this will remain a hands-on role. Your mission is to build the launchpad that enables GITAI’s engineers to move faster, test more, solve harder problems, and deliver their best work. **What You’ll Drive** - Own GITAI’s facility strategy and execution across offices, engineering and manufacturing environments, remote test sites, and facilities supporting U.S. government programs. - Translate technical and operational needs into practical infrastructure decisions across space, power, HVAC, utilities, equipment, safety, security, manufacturing areas, laboratories, and test environments. Challenge assumptions when a simpler or more effective solution exists. - Lead site selection, facility due diligence, lease-related coordination, renovations, buildouts, permitting, inspections, construction, commissioning, and major infrastructure upgrades from initial need through completion. - Own the facility-side path through regulatory, permitting, and security requirements, including those associated with explosives, energetic materials, hazardous materials, fire and life safety, environmental constraints, classified or cleared spaces, and operations at remote or government-controlled locations. - Serve as the central hub across internal stakeholders and external partners. Define scope, manage budgets and schedules, negotiate with vendors and contractors, and drive decisions across landlords, brokers, consultants, general contractors, utilities, regulatory authorities, government stakeholders, and security teams. - Stay close to the work. Walk the floor, inspect prospective sites and construction, review drawings and bids, investigate infrastructure problems yourself, and drive issues through closure. **What We’re Looking For** - 8+ years of experience in facilities, construction, industrial infrastructure, facilities engineering, manufacturing operations, or a closely related field. - Experience owning significant facility buildouts, expansions, relocations, test-site development, or infrastructure projects in a technically demanding environment such as aerospace, defense, propulsion, robotics, advanced manufacturing, automotive, energy, or laboratories. - Strong practical understanding of industrial building infrastructure and facility development, including electrical power, HVAC, utilities, building systems, permitting, inspections, and construction. - Demonstrated experience navigating permits, regulations, and approval processes for technically complex facilities. Experience with explosives, energetic materials, hazardous materials, or similarly regulated operations is required. - Demonstrated experience developing, modifying, or operating facilities subject to U.S. government security requirements, including classified or cleared work environments, physical security requirements, controlled access, and coordination with security stakeholders. - Strong judgment under ambiguity. You can separate the real requirement from assumptions and turn incomplete engineering or operational needs into a practical solution. - Strong commercial and execution judgment across scopes of work, budgets, schedules, contractor selection, negotiations, and project delivery. - A hands-on operating style. You actively seek primary information and are comfortable moving between executive-level decisions, regulatory and security discussions, contractor coordination, and physical problems on the floor, at a construction site, or at a remote test site. - U.S. citizenship is required due to the nature of GITAI’s work with U.S. government customers and programs. This role may require eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance. Strong plus: - Experience building or scaling facilities at an early-stage hardware company. - Experience developing or operating remote test sites, field facilities, or infrastructure on government or highly regulated sites. - Experience with specialized technical environments such as machine shops, laboratories, clean or controlled areas, high-power equipment, environmental testing, or propulsion test infrastructure. - General Contractor license, PE, PMP, or other relevant professional qualification. **Location and Position Type** - Location: Torrance, CA - Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt - Work Arrangement: Onsite, five days per week - Travel**:** Approximately 25–30% travel is expected, primarily within Southern California. This role will regularly support remote test sites and other project locations, including recurring overnight stays. Travel frequency may increase temporarily during facility buildouts, construction, testing, or commissioning activities. - Typical Work Hours: Monday to Friday, approximately 9:00am to 6:00pm. Flexibility is expected based on construction schedules, facility issues, test activities, permitting and inspection schedules, security requirements, and program needs. **Compensation** The annual base salary range for this position is expected to be $150,000 to $200,000. Actual compensation will be determined based on relevant experience, demonstrated ability to lead complex facility and infrastructure projects, experience supporting technical hardware environments, and other job-related factors. This position is also eligible for stock options and company benefits. **Benefits** - Comprehensive Healthcare: 100% paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees, with 90% coverage for dependents, plus life insurance - Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with a company match - Equity Opportunities: Stock options in a rapidly growing startup, giving you a stake in our success - Relocation Support: Financial assistance for relocation is available for candidates residing outside the Los Angeles area - Paid Time Off: 12 days of paid time off (PTO) and 12 company holidays annually - Office Perks: Enjoy free snacks and drinks, plus regular social events to foster team spirit *GITAI does not accept unsolicited resumes from staffing or recruiting agencies. We work only with recruiting partners that have been specifically engaged by GITAI. No fees will be paid for resumes submitted without a prior agreement.* Compensation may include base salary or hourly pay and, depending on the position, equity. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, skillset, and other job-related factors. LA salary range $150,000—$200,000 USD **Important Notice** - Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. - To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), GITAI Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. - GITAI USA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment with GITAI USA is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.