Founding Lead IT Engineer
Pillar Space · Los Angeles, CA · hybrid
FOUNDING LEAD IT ENGINEER
Equity: 0.3% – 1% depending on experience
ABOUT US
We're a stealth team building space hardware at the edge of what's currently possible — high-stakes, flight-grade systems where the engineering bar is unforgiving and the upside is enormous. While we can't share full details yet, our founding and early engineering team includes talent from SpaceX, Northrop Grumman, and Impulse Space, the group includes people who've pulled off feats almost no one else on Earth has.
ROLE OVERVIEW
We are seeking a Lead IT Engineer to own our IT and security infrastructure from first principles — the identities, devices, networks, and cloud systems our engineers rely on every day, built to protect export-controlled and defense data and to meet CMMC 2.0 Level 2 requirements.
This is a senior technical leadership role. You will not only define and execute the IT and security architecture, but also help build the IT and security function, set technical standards, mentor engineers, and establish the systems, processes, and culture required to run a secure, compliant aerospace company.
This is not a narrow help-desk role. You will own the full stack: identity and access, endpoints, networks, cloud tenants and SaaS, the engineering environment (CAD/PLM, simulation compute, source control, lab and test networks), and the security program and evidence that prove it all meets NIST SP 800-171, DFARS, CMMC, and ITAR requirements. You will partner closely with engineering, operations, and leadership on how controlled technical data flows through the company, and make tradeoffs across security, usability, cost, and speed.
The ideal candidate has direct experience building IT and security programs for defense or aerospace companies, implementing NIST SP 800-171, administering secure cloud environments, and leading technical teams. We recognize that very few people have all of this. What matters most is that you have exceptional fundamentals, have built real IT environments from the ground up, have managed or mentored engineers in high-performance technical environments, and can operate independently in ambiguity while making sound engineering tradeoffs. You will have direct ownership over one of the company's core technical challenges.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Own the IT and security architecture, from initial build-out through compliance readiness, assessment, and continuous monitoring as the company scales.
- Lead the CMMC 2.0 Level 2 program: scoping, gap assessment against the 110 requirements of NIST SP 800-171, the System Security Plan, POA&Ms, the SPRS score and annual affirmations, and readiness for a C3PAO or DIBCAC assessment whenever customers or contracts require one.
- Define the CUI and export-controlled data boundary: data flow mapping, enclave versus whole-enterprise scoping, and asset inventory and categorization.
- Architect and operate a compliant cloud environment (e.g., Microsoft 365 GCC High and Azure Government, or FedRAMP Moderate–equivalent services) for email, files, collaboration, and engineering data.
- Meet DFARS cybersecurity obligations (e.g., 252.204-7012, -7019, -7020, -7021): safeguarding covered defense information, 72-hour cyber incident reporting, media preservation, and flowdown to subcontractors.
- Own identity and access management: SSO, phishing-resistant MFA, least privilege, privileged access, joiner-mover-leaver processes, and U.S.-person access controls for ITAR technical data.
- Own endpoint management and hardening across Windows, macOS, and Linux: MDM, secure baselines (e.g., CIS, DISA STIGs), patching, EDR, and FIPS-validated encryption.
- Design and run corporate, lab, and manufacturing networks: segmentation, firewalls, zero-trust remote access, wireless, and isolation for test equipment, flatsats, and operational technology.
- Build security operations: centralized logging and SIEM, audit log review, vulnerability management, monitoring and alerting, and an incident response plan that is exercised, not just written.
- Support the engineering toolchain in compliant configurations: CAD/PLM, simulation and HPC compute, source control and CI infrastructure, and license servers.
- Partner with ground software and mission operations to secure ground systems and the mission operations center.
- Manage IT vendor and supply chain risk: evaluate SaaS, MSP, and MSSP providers, verify FedRAMP equivalency and shared responsibility, and track subcontractor cybersecurity compliance with supply chain.
- Partner with operations on physical security controls: badge access, visitor management, camera systems, and protection of controlled areas.
- Partner with legal and export compliance on the technology control plan, ITAR and EAR technical data handling, and foreign person access.
- Own security awareness, CUI handling, and insider threat training for every employee.
- Own backups, disaster recovery, and business continuity for critical engineering and operations systems.
- Run day-to-day IT support, onboarding, and offboarding while building the automation and self-service that let it scale.
- Provide technical leadership across IT, security engineering, and compliance efforts.
- Help hire, manage, mentor, and develop IT and security engineers as the team grows, and manage outside providers where they make sense.
- Establish IT and security policies and procedures — access control, configuration and change management, incident response, media protection — and the records required to demonstrate compliance.
- Help define the IT and security roadmap, budget, and tooling for the company's growth.
- Work closely with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, test, mission operations, finance, HR, and legal to deliver secure systems that keep the company moving fast.
- Work closely with the founders and early team to shape the technical roadmap, engineering culture, hiring plan, and long-term IT and security strategy.
- Represent the IT and security function in customer and prime contractor security reviews, government assessments, investor diligence, and vendor discussions as needed.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Security, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
- 8+ years in IT infrastructure, systems administration, or security engineering, including 3+ years in defense, aerospace, or other regulated environments handling CUI or export-controlled data.
- Prior experience leading technical workstreams, managing engineers, mentoring junior and mid-level engineers, or building high-performing teams.
- Hands-on experience implementing NIST SP 800-171 controls and preparing for CMMC or DIBCAC assessments, including writing System Security Plans and POA&Ms.
- Working knowledge of DFARS cybersecurity clauses and of ITAR and EAR requirements for handling technical data.
- Deep experience administering Microsoft 365 and Entra ID (ideally GCC High) or comparable enterprise identity and cloud platforms.
- Experience with endpoint management and security across Windows, macOS, and Linux (e.g., Intune, Jamf, EDR platforms).
- Strong networking fundamentals: routing, switching, firewalls, VPN, VLANs and segmentation, DNS, DHCP, and wireless.
- Experience with security operations: logging and SIEM, vulnerability management, and incident response.
- Scripting and automation skills (e.g., PowerShell, Python, Bash), and infrastructure-as-code where it fits.
- Experience writing clear policies, procedures, and evidence that hold up to assessors and auditors.
- Ability to work independently with limited direction, identify the right next problem to solve, and drive technical work from ambiguity to a working, compliant system.
- Ability to make practical tradeoffs across security, compliance, usability, cost, and speed.
- Ability to lead through