Head of Information Technology

Encore Talent Solutions; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Equity potential

Onsite in Hawthorne, CA

Job summary

Encore Talent Solutions is seeking an experienced Head of IT to lead the company’s technology strategy, enterprise infrastructure, cybersecurity, and data center operations. The role focuses on designing scalable IT environments to support growing manufacturing and AI‑driven initiatives, with hands‑on leadership and strategic oversight.

The ideal candidate will have deep Linux‑, Kubernetes‑, and cloud‑savvy expertise, demonstrated in building and guiding high‑performing IT teams, managing

Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressive experience in enterprise IT, infrastructure engineering, or technology operations.
• Minimum 2 years of experience leading IT or infrastructure teams.
• Strong hands‑on experience with data center infrastructure (compute, storage, networking).
• Deep technical expertise with Linux‑based infrastructure and systems administration.
• Hands‑on experience implementing and managing Kubernetes environments.
• Experience with on‑premises, cloud, and hybrid environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the company's IT strategy and technology roadmap.
• Lead and mentor IT professionals while building a scalable technology organization.
• Manage IT budgets, investments, and vendor relationships.
• Provide executive leadership with regular reporting on security posture and availability.
• Oversee data center architecture, compute, storage, networking, power, and cooling.
• Ensure infrastructure availability, reliability, and disaster recovery.

Skills

IT strategy

Leadership

Cybersecurity

Kubernetes

Linux

Cloud platforms

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/CE/IT

Tools

Kubernetes

Linux systems

Cloud platforms

Job description

Encore Talent Solutions is seeking an experienced, hands‑on Head of IT for a rapidly growing, innovative technology company specializing in advanced manufacturing and AI‑driven systems. This individual will lead the organization's IT strategy, enterprise infrastructure, cybersecurity, data center operations, and technology initiatives supporting its expanding manufacturing capabilities.

Reporting directly to executive leadership, the Head of IT will play a critical role in designing, building, and scaling the technology infrastructure required to support advanced manufacturing operations. A primary focus will be leading the development of dedicated data center and infrastructure environments for new manufacturing facilities, establishing a scalable model for future expansion.

The ideal candidate combines strategic IT leadership with deep technical expertise across enterprise infrastructure, Linux, Kubernetes, cloud technologies, networking, and cybersecurity. This is a highly technical leadership position requiring someone comfortable making architectural decisions, managing teams, and remaining actively involved in implementation and troubleshooting.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the company's IT strategy and technology roadmap aligned with business objectives and manufacturing expansion.
• Lead and mentor IT professionals while building a scalable technology organization.
• Manage IT budgets, technology investments, vendor relationships, and infrastructure planning.
• Provide executive leadership with regular reporting on system availability, security posture, operational risks, and technology initiatives.

Infrastructure & Data Center Management

• Lead the architecture, development, and commissioning of dedicated data center infrastructure supporting manufacturing operations.
• Oversee compute, storage, networking, power, cooling, and edge‑computing infrastructure.
• Design and manage high‑performance infrastructure capable of supporting petabyte‑scale manufacturing and engineering data.
• Manage Kubernetes environments, virtualization technologies, and Linux‑based systems across on‑premises and cloud platforms.
• Establish scalable infrastructure standards and deployment practices for future manufacturing facilities.
• Ensure infrastructure availability, reliability, performance, and disaster recovery capabilities.

Cybersecurity & Compliance

• Develop and oversee enterprise cybersecurity programs, policies, and operational controls.
• Manage vulnerability assessments, security monitoring, incident response, and risk mitigation.
• Ensure compliance with NIST 800-171, CMMC, ITAR, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Implement network segmentation and security controls across corporate, production, operational technology, and guest environments.
• Support security audits, customer assessments, and compliance reporting.

Enterprise IT Operations

• Oversee corporate IT services, including identity and access management, endpoint management, collaboration platforms, and end‑user technology.
• Establish IT policies, operational standards, change management processes, and technology governance.
• Manage cloud service providers, infrastructure vendors, and hardware suppliers.
• Evaluate technology solutions and make strategic build‑versus‑buy and cloud‑versus‑on‑premises decisions.
• Provide hands‑on technical leadership during architecture reviews, implementations, and complex troubleshooting.

Required Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressive experience in enterprise IT, infrastructure engineering, or technology operations.
• Minimum 2 years of experience leading IT or infrastructure teams.
• Strong hands‑on experience with enterprise data center infrastructure, including compute, storage, and networking.
• Deep technical expertise with Linux‑based infrastructure and systems administration.
• Hands‑on experience implementing and managing Kubernetes environments.
• Strong understanding of on‑premises infrastructure, cloud platforms, and hybrid technology environments.
• Experience designing and supporting highly available, scalable enterprise infrastructure.
• Demonstrated experience developing technology strategies, managing budgets, and overseeing vendor relationships.
• Strong technical troubleshooting, architectural decision‑making, and problem‑solving capabilities.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate with engineering teams and executive leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building or scaling IT organizations within startup or high‑growth technology companies.
• Background supporting manufacturing, industrial technology, engineering, or high‑performance computing environments.
• Experience with operational technology (OT), industrial control systems (ICS), and manufacturing network security.
• Familiarity with high‑bandwidth networking technologies, including InfiniBand.
• Experience implementing or maintaining NIST 800‑171, CMMC, or ITAR compliance programs.
• Knowledge of Microsoft enterprise technologies alongside Linux‑based engineering infrastructure.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a technically strong IT leader who has successfully designed, implemented, and managed complex infrastructure environments while maintaining responsibility for broader enterprise technology operations.

This individual should be comfortable operating in a fast‑paced, engineering‑focused organization where technology infrastructure is directly connected to manufacturing performance and business growth.

Successful candidates will demonstrate a combination of strategic leadership, infrastructure architecture expertise, cybersecurity knowledge, and the ability to remain hands‑on while building and mentoring a growing IT team.

Work Location: Hawthorne, California. Full-time onsite presence is required, with very limited exceptions.

Compensation: Competitive compensation package based on experience and qualifications, including potential equity participation.

Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings options, paid time off, parental leave, and additional employee benefits.

Employment Eligibility: Due to ITAR‑controlled information and technology, candidates must qualify as a U.S. person under applicable ITAR requirements.