Senior Director Information Technology

Cambium is dedicated to the development of next generation, high-performance advanced materials needed across land, air, sea and space, for defense and commercial applications.

There is a need for new material solutions that either enable products to be made better, faster, or cheaper. For example, the defense industrial base is seeing a generational shift from large, complex, manned platforms to autonomous, networked systems built around massed production resulting in the emergence of new platforms like UAVs supported by lightweighting capabilities. The emergence of hypersonics is challenging both the performance of materials needed to withstand extreme temperatures and their resulting supply chains. Commercial sectors from space exploration to renewable energy likewise have unique material challenges. Simply put, each requires material solutions and resulting supply chains that enable products to be made easier, faster, and cheaper. Cambium’s mission is to advance these solutions.

Cambium’s innovation platform is vertically integrated to enable rapid development of solutions, from computational material discovery at the front-end through to rapid prototyping and eventual domestic production of advanced composites. To do this, Cambium leverages state-of-the-art advances in every field of relevance, from biological, chemical and material discovery, through to advanced fabrication of composite structures. Its early product pipeline, ranges from supporting the development of hypersonic flight vehicles to enhanced survivability unmanned aerial vehicles to laser-protective eyewear and optics. For example, its activities in thermal protection are designed to better protect various hardware against extreme conditions such as heat, fire and rapid-heating impacts, and from severe aerodynamic heating and pressure loads experienced during flight.

With its completed $19.7M Series A round and supported by nearly $30M in multi-year DoD contracts, Cambium is rapidly building out its team, pilot-scale facilities, and associated commercial capabilities. Its team is growing to around 35 this year and to 50 by the end of 2025. We have just move into a new 25,000 square feet HQ in El Segundo, CA where R&D is predominantly located and where various pilot manufacturing lines will be constructed. Additionally, it has over 10,000 square feet at the Mojave Air and Space Port, CA for rapid prototyping and live demonstrations.

Cambium is positioned for significant growth and impact in various sectors that employ high-performance advanced materials for a wide range of defense and commercial markets. As the company continues to expand its research and development efforts, Cambium is poised to shape the future of materials engineering, driving progress towards more resilient, efficient, and environmentally conscious hardware solutions.

Overview: Cambium is seeking an experienced and pragmatic Senior Director of IT to lead and manage all IT operations, infrastructure, and security functions within our fast-paced, venture-backed organization. The company is developing high-performance materials for extreme environments in defense, aerospace, and personal protection. We use AI, machine-learning, synthetic chemistry, and advanced manufacturing to deliver the future of materials. We are passionate about our delivering ground-breaking products, supporting our extraordinary colleagues, and having fun while we do it.

The Senior Director of IT will be responsible for the architecture, implementation, and management of enterprise software, networking, and cloud computing resources, as well as the development and compliance with information security policies and procedures.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in IT operations and management within a scientific or technology-driven environment, with expertise in Azure cloud services, enterprise software applications, security policies, and scientific computing resources.

Key Responsibilities:

IT Strategy and Leadership:

• Develop and implement IT plans aligned with the company's goals, operations, and growth.
• Collaborate with business and scientific leadership to define solutions to evolving IT needs.
• Report on IT and security operations, plans, and progress to executive stakeholders.

Enterprise Software and Cloud Computing:

• Architect, implement, and maintain enterprise software applications (both on-premises and cloud-based) for business and scientific operations.
• Manage scientific compute resources on Azure and other cloud platforms, optimizing performance, scalability, and cost-effectiveness.
• Oversee system integrations to ensure seamless operations between applications and platforms.
• Manage database administration and ensure data integrity, availability, and security.
• Ability to implement a LIMS (composite & chemistry testing) & linking data generated to appropriate formats/databases. This includes multiple (>10) different pieces of specialist laboratory equipment
• At a future date, lead the implementation of an ERP system, which would be linked to the LIMS system

Information Security and Compliance

• Develop, implement, and enforce information security policies and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with relevant security standards and regulations (e.g., NIST 800.171, CMMC, ITAR).
• Conduct security assessments and audits to identify risks and implement mitigation strategies.

Infrastructure Design and Operations

• Establish security monitoring, incident response protocols, and lead the investigation and resolution of security incidents.
• Implement backup and disaster recovery strategies to protect critical data and systems.
• Oversee the management of the company's network infrastructure, ensuring optimal performance, security, and reliability.

IT Training and Support:

• Provide training, and support to staff across the organization on the effective use of IT resources.
• Foster a culture of IT security awareness across all levels of the organization.

Team Management and Development:

• Lead and manage the IT team, providing mentorship, a collaborative work environment, and professional development opportunities.
• Oversee recruitment, performance management, and retention of IT staff.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of IT management experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and project management skills.
• Proven experience in enterprise software architecture, system integrations, and cloud computing (preferably Azure).
• Strong background in information security, compliance, and incident management.
• Strong understanding of database administration, networking, and backup systems.
• Experience managing scientific compute resources or working in a scientific or technology-focused environment is a plus.

Other Desirable Qualifications:

• DoD 8570 Level II or above approved certification (Sec+, CISSP)
• Experience with Microsoft GCC High environments for Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Export Controlled data
• Experience in DoD, DOE, other government agencies, defense technology startups, or prime contractor organizations (CMMC Compliance)
• Experience with hybrid organizations requiring both on-prem and virtual network security controls

Compensation: $140-180k