IT and Cybersecurity Operations Manager

About Urban Sky: 

Urban Sky is a venture-backed aerospace startup on a mission to pioneer humanity’s routine, easy access to the stratosphere and the value locked within it. We design, build, operate, and sell stratospheric balloon systems. The data we collect supports a wide range of applications, from real-time wildfire monitoring to urban mapping. Our technology is also employed by government customers including the Department of Defense (DoD), NASA, and others. Urban Sky sends flight vehicles to the stratosphere on a weekly basis. 

Our team consists of engineers, makers, developers, and doers who believe in the power of human potential when passion meets utility within a small, supportive team. At Urban Sky we strive to create a team culture grounded in candor, inclusion, respect and empowerment. 

We aim to build the next chapter of stratospheric history in Denver and are seeking self-starting, open-minded, and hard-working team members. 

About The Role: 

We are seeking an experienced and versatile IT Engineer and cybersecurty specialist to take ownership of our IT and network infrastructure. This is a hands-on role where you will manage everything from on-site network configurations to building servers that process petabytes of aerial and weather data. The first major task of the role would be bringing our systems up to a state where they meet the requirements laid out in NIST 800-171. The networks and systems you maintain will directly support high-stakes missions around the world, including stratospheric vehicle operations and critical data processing tasks.

You will be the first hire in a growing team, responsible for establishing best practices and scalable solutions. Your work will be crucial in ensuring robust IT security and compliance to support engagements with branches of the US Military and multinational corporations.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Lead IT security initiatives to achieve NIST 800-171 and other relevant compliance standards.
• Manage physical machines on-site ensuring reliability and security.
• Implement and maintain network configurations, firewalls, and secure communication systems.
• Monitor and troubleshoot network and system performance to ensure uptime and efficiency.
• Develop and document IT infrastructure policies and procedures, including disaster recovery and incident response. 
• Collaborate with engineers, data scientists, and mission control teams to support technical needs and address emerging challenges.

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 5+ years of experience in IT infrastructure management, networking, and systems administration.
• Strong knowledge of networking protocols, hardware (e.g., routers, switches, firewalls), and configuration best practices.
• Proven experience managing servers and computing clusters, including both on-premises and cloud environments.
• Demonstrated expertise in IT security practices, with familiarity in NIST 800-171 compliance.
• Proficiency in scripting and automation (e.g., PowerShell, Bash).
• Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to innovate in ambiguous situations. 

Nice-to-Haves/Preferred Skills: 

• Experience in a fast-paced, startup, or rapid growth environment preferred.
• Experience with administration of cloud-based applications (Office365, AWS, Slack, Zoom, VPNs).
• Exposure to high-security networks, risk management and cybersecurity practices typical for secured networks.

Requirements: 

• Must be US Citizen 

• Must be located near Denver, CO or willing to relocate to Denver, CO
  • Our office is at 4800 Race St. In Denver, CO and this role is on-site 

Benefits: 

• Salary $100,000 - $150,000 per year  

  • We are required to post this salary range per Colorado law. Your salary will be determined based on your abilities and experience. 

• Stock Options 

• Medical, Vision and Dental 

• Unlimited Vacation Days 

• Cell Phone Bill Stipend 

NOTE: Research suggests that women and BIPOC individuals may self-select out of opportunities if they don’t meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage anyone who believes that they have the skills and the passion necessary to succeed here to apply for this role. 

This position may require the candidate to deal with commodities, software, technology, defense articles, and/or technical data which are subject to the Export Administration Regulations and/or the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Additional information may be requested so as to determine whether export authorization is required from the Bureau of Industry and Security and/or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. If authorization is required, employment will be contingent upon the Company successfully obtaining such authorization from the relevant government agency. 

Urban Sky is an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.