Manager, IT Engineering

FDH Aero; Commerce (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

FSA

401k matching

Wellness programs

Training & career development

Job summary

FDH Aero is seeking an IT Engineering Manager to lead a 650-person organization across multiple sites. You will guide infrastructure, cloud, and networking teams while remaining hands-on in hybrid environments (on-premises and Azure).

Strong focus on compliance with NIST and CMMC, and management of Azure services, M365, Intune, Defender, and SIEM. You will mentor three engineers, manage budgets and vendor contracts, and drive security, continuity, and operational excellence across global

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, or equivalent work experience.
• 7+ years of IT infrastructure experience.
• 3+ years in a management or lead role overseeing technical teams.
• Hands-on expertise with Microsoft Azure, M365, Intune, and Defender.
• Strong knowledge of NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC compliance frameworks.
• Experience managing ITSM platforms (Freshservice or equivalent).
• Experience in Aerospace is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage hybrid IT infrastructure across on-premises and Azure cloud environments.
• Administer and optimize Windows Server, Hyper-V, VMware, and Active Directory/Entra ID environments.
• Oversee Meraki networking infrastructure including switches, wireless access points, firewalls, and SD-WAN.
• Ensure infrastructure reliability, performance, and capacity planning across global locations.
• Lead backup strategy, disaster recovery planning, and business continuity operations.
• Architect and manage Microsoft Azure services including IaaS, M365, Intune, Defender, and cloud backup solutions.
• Drive adoption, optimization, and governance of the Microsoft 365 and Azure platform.
• Maintain Intune-based device management and Defender security posture across the organization.
• Maintain and improve security posture aligned with NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC Level 2 requirements.
• Manage SIEM operations using Microsoft Sentinel and incident response.

Skills

Leadership

Cloud expertise

Security compliance

Vendor management

Team mentoring

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Azure

M365

Intune

Defender

Freshservice

Microsoft Sentinel

VMware

Hyper-V

Windows Server

Cisco Meraki

Active Directory

Entra ID

Job description

Who Are We?

FDH Aero is a trusted global supply chain solutions partner for aerospace and defense companies, helping to shape the industry by simplifying the supply chain. With over 60 years serving as a leading independent industry partner, FDH specializes in hardware, electrical, consumables and expendables, licensed products, and value-added services for global OEM and aftermarket customers. FDH is headquartered in Commerce, California, and has operations across the Americas, EMEA and APAC. FDH Aero – named a Best Places to Work in Aviation in 2024 – has locations in 14 countries across the globe, with more than 1,500 best-in-industry employees and over 650,000 square feet of inventory space.

FDH Aero is a trusted global supply chain solutions partner for aerospace and defense companies, helping to shape the industry by simplifying the supply chain. With over 60 years serving as a leading independent industry partner, FDH specializes in hardware, electrical, consumables and expendables, licensed products, and value-added services for global OEM and aftermarket customers. FDH is headquartered in Commerce, California, and has operations across the Americas, EMEA and APAC. FDH Aero – named a Best Places to Work in Aviation in 2024 – has locations in 14 countries across the globe, with more than 1,500 best-in-industry employees and over 650,000 square feet of inventory space.

Why Work Here?

At FDH Aero, we understand that the strength of our brand comes from our people.

We invest in driven, diverse and experienced professionals who are naturally curious, courageous and motivated towards action. We value tempering confidence with humility, and a mission that always starts with service-first.

Our Values Guide Everything We Do

We Are Service First - We act with agility and intelligence to solve our partner’s most pressing needs. We safeguard our trusted relationships by communicating with clarity and unmatched follow through.

We Are Respectful - We behave with dignity, fairness, and acceptance. We thrive by prioritizing empathy, humility, and connection to our collective community.

We are Amplifiers - We invest in driven, diverse and experienced professionals, businesses and partners. We fuel the entrepreneurial spirit by providing autonomy, authority and a clear mission.

We Are Open-Minded - We communicate with intention, curiosity, and diversity of thought. By actively contributing with courage and candor, we challenge the status quo and innovate together.

We Are Accountable - We own responsibility for our outcomes. We set expectations, embrace critique, and empower every employee to take immediate actions on challenges they encounter.

We Value Our People - That’s why we offer competitive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), 401k matching, and wellness programs. We invest in training, mentorship, and career development to empower our employees to reach their full potential. Our commitment to culture and excellence has earned us recognition as one of Aviation Business News' Best Places to Work in Aviation.

As a team member at FDH Aero you are trusted to deliver, to innovate, and to drive next-generation solutions for tomorrow’s supply chain demands. Ready to make an impact? We proudly pursue top talent with a diverse and global set of experiences and backgrounds.

We Are Looking For

The Manager, IT Engineering, is a working manager responsible for leading infrastructure and cloud operations across a 650-person, multi-site aerospace organization. This role operates at both a strategic and technical level, guiding a team of three specialized systems engineers while remaining hands‑on across hybrid infrastructure, Microsoft Azure, and enterprise networking. The ideal candidate brings strong technical depth, proven leadership experience, and a clear understanding of compliance requirements under CMMC and NIST frameworks.

What You’ll Do (Responsibilities)

• Own and manage hybrid IT infrastructure across on‑premises and Azure cloud environments (60/40 split)
• Administer and optimize Windows Server, Hyper‑V, VMware, and Active Directory/Entra ID environments
• Oversee Meraki networking infrastructure including switches, wireless access points, firewalls, and SD‑WAN
• Ensure infrastructure reliability, performance, and capacity planning across global locations
• Lead backup strategy, disaster, recovery planning, and business continuity operations
• Architect and manage Microsoft Azure services including IaaS, M365, Intune, Defender, and cloud backup solutions
• Drive adoption, optimization, and governance of the Microsoft 365 and Azure platform
• Maintain Intune‑based device management and Defender security posture across the organization
• Maintain and improve security posture aligned with NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC Level 2 (or higher) requirements
• Manager Microsoft Sentinel SIEM‑ tune detection rules, investigate alerts, and oversee incident response
• Partner with leadership on security risk assessments, audits, and remediation activities
• Ensure compliance controls are implemented and documented across infrastructure and cloud services
• Directly manager three systems engineers with dedicated focuses in networking, cloud, and general infrastructure
• Set clear goals, provide mentorship, and drive professional development for each team member
• Build a high‑performance team culture focused on operational discipline, continuous improvement, and accountability
• Conduct regular 1:1s, performance reviews, and career development planning
• Own vendor relationships across infrastructure, cloud, networking, and tooling providers
• Manage IT infrastructure budget including forecasting, procurement, and cost optimization
• Evaluate and negotiate contracts, renewals, and SLAs with key technology partners
• Administer and optimize Freshservice for ITSM – including ticketing, change management, and asset tracking
• Establish and enforce change management processes and operational runbooks
• Drive automation and process improvements to increase team efficiency and reduce manual toil Perform other duties as assigned

What You Bring (Qualifications & Skills)

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, or equivalent work experience
• 7+ years of experience in IT infrastructure, systems administration, or related engineering roles
• 3+ years in a management or lead role overseeing technical teams
• Hands‑on expertise with Microsoft Azure, M365, Intune, and Defender
• Strong working knowledge of Windows Server, Hyper‑V, VMware, and Active Directory/Entra ID
• Experience with Cisco Meraki networking – LAN/WAN, SD‑WAN, wireless, and firewall management
• Demonstrated knowledge of NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC compliance frameworks
• Proficiency with SIEM platforms; Microsoft Sentinel experience strongly preferred
• Experience managing ITSM platforms (Freshservice or equivalent)
• Proven ability to own budgets, manage vendors, and negotiate contracts
• Strong communication skills – able to translate technical concepts for non‑technical leadership
• Experience working in Aerospace preferred
• Hybrid Infrastructure & Cloud expertise – strong technical capability across on‑premises and Azure cloud environments, including Microsoft 365, virtualization, and enterprise systems
• Deep understanding of NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC frameworks with ability to maintain secure, compliant IT environments and manage SIEM operations
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop technical teams
• Expertise in ensuring system performance, uptime, disaster recovery, and business continuity across multi‑site environments
• Strong experience with IT service management platforms, change management, and automation to improve operational efficiency

Special Requirements

• U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) required.
• ITAR requirement
• 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

FDH Aero is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.