Head of IT

Job description

As we enter our next phase of growth and scale the Chaparral aircraft from flight testing into full rate production, Elroy Air is seeking a Head of IT to build and lead secure, scalable, and high-performance IT systems across the company. This role is responsible for architecting and operating our internal IT infrastructure, including corporate IT, identity and access management (physical and digital), endpoint systems, networking, and compliance frameworks required for export-controlled environments. You will be a foundational leader and doer, working directly with engineering, security, legal, and leadership to ensure our systems are robust, compliant, and enable rapid successful execution without compromise. This is not only a maintenance role. You will shape and build the systems that allow the company to mature and operate efficiently as we scale. ### 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