Sr. Director, IT Operations

At Sierra Space, we build the missions and systems that keep our world secure in the domain above Earth.

Sierra Space team members share a spirit of innovation and collaboration and a belief that we can deliver on the boldest missions in space today. Together with our customers, we aim to safeguard our nation, sustain human presence in space, and secure the freedom of operations in low Earth orbit and beyond.

Our success is measured by the trust of those who rely on what we build and deliver, and our technologies keep the United States and its allies mission‑ready throughout space.

We are mission‑driven, and together, we are an extraordinary team.

We are seeking a highly experienced and results‑driven Senior Director of IT Operations to lead the organization's IT infrastructure, network systems, and enterprise architecture. This senior leadership role is critical to ensuring the stability, scalability, and security of IT operations while driving innovation and aligning technology initiatives with the organization's strategic goals.

The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in IT operations, network engineering, cloud architecture, and cybersecurity in highly regulated environments. They will also have a proven track record of managing enterprise IT systems, leading geographically distributed teams, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. A security clearance (TS/SCI) or eligibility to obtain one is a significant advantage.

This position will play a key role in shaping the organization's IT landscape to support mission‑critical operations.

As the Senior Director of IT Operations, you will provide strategic direction and leadership for IT operations, including infrastructure, network engineering, and enterprise architecture. This involves developing and executing a long‑term IT strategy aligned with organizational goals to foster innovation and operational excellence. As a key member of the IT senior leadership team, you will collaborate on IT strategy, planning, and execution to ensure alignment with business objectives.

In overseeing the organization's network and infrastructure, you will design, implement, and manage global IT infrastructure, cloud services, and network systems to ensure high availability, performance, and reliability. You will establish and enforce standards and best practices for infrastructure, network security, and operational efficiency while designing and maintaining secure, scalable network architectures. This includes monitoring performance and implementing emerging technologies to enhance system capabilities.

You will lead the design, deployment, and management of hybrid cloud environments, including public and private cloud solutions such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. Ensuring robust security measures to protect cloud‑based systems and data while adhering to industry standards and compliance requirements will be a key focus, along with driving initiatives to optimize cloud usage, cost efficiency, and performance.

In enterprise architecture, you will develop and implement frameworks that align IT systems with business needs and growth initiatives. By driving the adoption of modern technologies and scalable architecture, you will support innovation and operational excellence. Additionally, you will ensure IT operations comply with regulatory requirements, such as NIST, DFARS, ITAR, and CMMC 2.0, while partnering with the cybersecurity team to maintain secure systems, networks, and processes.

Leadership in disaster recovery, incident response, and business continuity planning will also be critical.

Building, mentoring, and leading a high‑performing IT operations team will be essential to fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. You will develop talent within the team to ensure future leadership and technical excellence while promoting cross‑functional collaboration with other IT and business teams. Staying informed of emerging technologies and industry trends in IT operations, cloud architecture, and cybersecurity, you will drive automation, process optimization, and continuous…