Director of Operational Technology

Ladders; United States; Remote; USD 175,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company-paid medical, dental, and visi

401K with company match

Paid sick leave, vacation, andholidays

Discretionary bonuses

Job summary

Ladders is seeking a Director of Operational Technology to lead manufacturing OT and IT operations for a leader in the Aerospace & Defense space. This is a hands-on, cross-functional role focused on securing production environments, OT governance, and reliable data flow between systems while balancing security, uptime, and manufacturing execution in a regulated setting.

Location: Remote. Compensation: $175,000 – $195,000 annually.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in information or operational technology.
• 4+ years leading teams and managing budgets.
• 5+ years of experience in discrete manufacturing, preferably aerospace or defense.
• Hands-on experience in OT environments, including machine-tool networks and PLCs.
• Direct experience with NIST SP 800-171 controls and CMMC assessments.
• Knowledge of DFARS, SPRS scoring, and ITAR in IT/OT contexts.
• Experience managing ERP operations in manufacturing, especially with Epicor or similar systems.
• Bachelor's degree in IT, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field; equivalent experience accepted.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage the full manufacturing technology and IT operations environment.
• Maintain an accurate inventory of OT assets to support security and compliance.
• Design and enforce network segmentation for secure operations across plant-floor zones.
• Manage legacy controllers with documented controls and isolation strategies.
• Control the flow of NC code and inspection data between engineering and the shop floor.
• Define technology requirements for new equipment purchases, ensuring security compliance from the outset.
• Oversee OT business continuity and ensure recovery objectives are documented and tested.

Skills

OT leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Security vs. uptime balance

Regulated environment

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT/CS/Engineering

Tools

Epicor ERP

Job description

For our client, we are seeking a Director of Operational Technology to join the team of a leader in the Aerospace & Defense space.

This leader will own the technology operations that support manufacturing, secure production environments, and overall OT governance across the plant floor. The role is highly cross-functional, partnering with engineering, operations, and security teams to strengthen resilience, compliance, and reliable data flow between systems. It is ideal for a hands-on leader who can balance security, uptime, and manufacturing execution in a regulated environment.

Location: Remote

Compensation: $175,000 – $195,000 annually

Responsibilities

• Own and manage the full manufacturing technology and IT operations environment
• Maintain an accurate inventory of OT assets to support security and compliance
• Design and enforce network segmentation for secure operations across plant-floor zones
• Manage legacy controllers with documented controls and isolation strategies
• Control the flow of NC code and inspection data between engineering and the shop floor
• Define technology requirements for new equipment purchases, ensuring security compliance from the outset
• Oversee OT business continuity and ensure recovery objectives are documented and tested

Qualifications

• 10+ years in information or operational technology, including 4+ years leading teams and managing budgets
• 5+ years of experience in discrete manufacturing, preferably aerospace or defense
• Hands-on experience in OT environments, including machine-tool networks and PLCs
• Direct experience with NIST SP 800-171 controls and CMMC assessments
• Knowledge of DFARS, SPRS scoring, and ITAR in IT/OT contexts
• Experience managing ERP operations in manufacturing, especially with Epicor or similar systems
• Bachelor's degree in IT, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field; equivalent experience accepted

Benefits

• Company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401K with company match, subject to eligibility
• Paid sick leave, vacation, and holidays
• Discretionary bonuses

Our client is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every qualification—your background could be exactly what this team needs.