Director of Information Technology at S3 AeroDefense in Milwaukee, WI

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Information Technology provides enterprise leadership for S3 AeroDefense's technology environment across multiple facilities. This role leads the company's IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, digital transformation, data, analytics, applications, AI, automation, and technology-enabled process improvement functions under one coordinated strategy. The Director ensures technology priorities are aligned with business objectives, operational needs, regulatory obligations, and scalable growth.

The Director serves as a strategic business partner to executive and functional leaders, balancing secure and reliable day-to-day operations with innovation and scalable digital solutions. The role establishes technology governance, investment priorities, performance expectations, and risk controls while developing strong teams and ensuring technology initiatives create and deliver measurable business value.

REPORTS TO: President

POSITION TYPE: full-time, onsite, exempt

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and execute the enterprise technology strategy and roadmap, integrating infrastructure, cybersecurity, applications, data, analytics, AI, automation, and digital transformation priorities with business objectives.
• Lead, coach, and develop the IT Infrastructure Manager and Sr. Digital Transformation Manager; establish clear accountability, operating rhythms, growth plans, and team capability across both functions.
• Oversee the reliability, scalability, performance, and lifecycle management of technology infrastructure and end-user services across multiple buildings and company locations, including networks, servers, cloud environments, endpoints, business systems, backup capabilities, connectivity, and site-specific technology needs.
• Establish and maintain the enterprise cybersecurity and technology risk program, including security policies, access controls, monitoring, incident response, vulnerability management, disaster recovery, business continuity, and protection of company and customer data.
• Provide executive oversight for applicable cybersecurity, export control, customer, and regulatory requirements, including Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) readiness and the secure handling of controlled information and technical data.
• Guide digital transformation adoption, implementation, and initiatives involving AI, application development, data science, analytics, business intelligence, data governance, workflow automation, and process improvement, ensuring solutions are practical, secure, scalable, adopted by business, and enable value creation.
• Partner with executive and functional leaders to assess business needs, prioritize the technology portfolio, manage organizational change, and translate technical opportunities and risks into clear business decisions that support scalable growth across facilities, business operations, and inorganic growth across acquired companies.
• Own technology governance, architecture standards, policies, vendor relationships, contracts, licensing, service levels, project delivery practices, and performance measures across the technology function.
• Develop and manage the annual technology operating and capital budgets; evaluate investments based on risk, business value, total cost of ownership, resource capacity, scalability, and measurable outcomes.
• Monitor technology performance, security posture, project progress, adoption, and business impact; identify issues early, communicate clearly, and drive timely corrective action and continuous improvement.

REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Management Information Systems, Engineering, Business, or a related field.
• 10 or more years of progressive experience in information technology, cybersecurity, digital transformation, enterprise applications, data, or related technology functions.
• 7 or more years of leadership experience managing technology leaders and multidisciplinary technical teams.
• Demonstrated experience leading technology strategy, infrastructure operations, cybersecurity, enterprise systems, budgets, vendors, and complex cross-functional initiatives.
• Experience directing digital transformation, data and analytics, AI, automation, application development, or business process improvement programs.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Strong working knowledge of enterprise infrastructure, cloud and on-premises environments, networks, identity and access management, endpoint management, backup, disaster recovery, and IT service delivery.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity governance, risk management, incident response, vulnerability management, security controls, and compliance frameworks relevant to government contracting and aerospace/defense environments.
• Understanding of data governance, analytics, business intelligence, AI-enabled solutions, application development lifecycles, automation, and technology-enabled process improvement.
• Ability to connect technology strategy and investment decisions to business risk, operational performance, scalability, customer requirements, and financial outcomes.
• Ability to communicate complex technology, security, and risk topics clearly to executives, technical teams, employees, customers, and other stakeholders.
• Strong leadership, change management, portfolio prioritization, project governance, vendor management, budgeting, negotiation, and decision-making capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted cross-functional relationships, lead through influence, and hold teams accountable for outcomes.
• High level of judgment, discretion, integrity, and dependability when handling sensitive systems, data, security matters, and business information.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Enterprise & Strategic Thinking
• Technology, AI, and Cybersecurity Leadership
• Business Partnership, Planning and Budgeting
• Sound Judgment and Risk Management
• Change Leadership
• Team Development and Accountability
• Operational Excellence
• Innovation with Practical Execution

REQUIRED TRAINING

Employee must successfully complete all required company onboarding, leadership, compliance, cybersecurity, export control, safety, quality, and job-specific training programs, including Export & ITAR Compliance, information security and controlled information requirements, aerospace quality training, and other assigned training requirements.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Occasional travel may be required to support company locations, business meetings, customer or supplier needs, training, audits, and industry events. Estimated travel requirement is less than 20%.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Regularly performs work at a computer and participates in meetings for extended periods.
• Occasional standing, walking, bending, reaching, and movement between office and operational work areas.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry technology equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person and through electronic and virtual communication tools.

WORK SCHEDULE REQUIREMENTS

This is a full-time position. Work hours are generally scheduled during normal business operating hours; however, flexibility may be required to meet customer demands, project deadlines, operational requirements, or business objectives. Occasional evening, weekend, or holiday work may be required.

SECURITY & REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS

The employee must comply with all applicable company policies, federal, state, and local regulations. The role requires eligibility to access company systems, sensitive business information, controlled information, and export-controlled technical data as necessary. Depending on assigned responsibilities or customer requirements, access to government facilities or systems and additional security eligibility may be required.

JOB DESCRIPTION DISCLAIMER

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed and is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the position.