Senior Manager, Space C2 Infrastructure

Mission

Space missions fail at the infrastructure layer before they fail at the application layer. This role exists to ensure they don’t. As Head of C2 Infrastructure, you own the physical compute and networking substrate that our space C2 systems run on — from hardware design and procurement through deployment, maintenance, and operational support across classified and unclassified environments. You are the single point of accountability for edge compute nodes and network architecture across the Space team’s program portfolio. You will build and lead a small, high-leverage team that keeps programs on schedule by ensuring infrastructure is never the long pole.

What You’ll Do

Edge Compute

• Design and evolve compute node configurations for edge deployment in operationally constrained environments (SWaP-aware, ruggedized, air-gapped capable)
• Own and maintain Bills of Materials for all node variants; drive component selection trades across performance, availability, cost, and export control constraints
• Maintain node configurations on the commercial price list; coordinate with business development on pricing and availability
• Partner with program Technical Program Managers to scope, procure, and deliver compute hardware on program timelines
• Develop and maintain maintenance protocols, training documentation, and lifecycle management plans for fielded hardware

Networking

• Serve as the Space team’s networking authority — provide subject matter expertise and direct support to programs navigating complex network architectures
• Design and support network topologies for both unclassified development environments and classified operational enclaves
• Address cross-domain, bandwidth, latency, and security requirements at the infrastructure level before they become application-level problems

People

• Lead a team of 4–5 infrastructure engineers; set technical direction while owning career development, hiring, and performance management
• Establish team processes, standards, and tooling that scale across a growing program portfolio without scaling headcount linearly

Required Qualifications

• 4+ years in infrastructure engineering, systems engineering, or platform engineering — with at least 2 years in a defense or IC environment
• Direct experience designing, procuring, and deploying compute hardware for edge or tactical environments (not just cloud/data center)
• Working knowledge of classified network architectures, accreditation boundaries, and the constraints they impose on system design
• Demonstrated ability to manage hardware BOMs, vendor relationships, and procurement timelines simultaneously
• Prior people management or tech lead experience with direct reports (not just matrix/dotted-line)
• Comfort operating at the boundary between engineering and program management — you can translate technical constraints into schedule and cost impacts for non-technical stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

• Existing familiarity with our C2 infrastructure stack — you’ve deployed it, maintained it, or cursed at it
• Experience with our internal hardware configuration and deployment tooling
• Background in space ground systems, SATCOM, or mission management infrastructure
• Understanding of how containerized mission applications interact with the underlying compute and network substrate
• Active TS/SCI clearance
• You already work here and are looking for the role that matches what you’ve been doing informally

This role is location-flexible. If you’ve been the person programs call when nodes won’t boot or networks won’t route, this is the job you’ve already been doing. Now it has a title and a team.