Director, Network Infrastructure and GEP (Deputy)

Iridium Satellite•Reston, VA

About The Position

If you are passionate about space and deploying disruptive space technology, you will be excited about the Deputy Director of Network Infrastructure and Ground Entry Points (GEP) opportunity with Iridium in support of the Space Development Agency (SDA). In this role, you will provide technical and organizational leadership across Network Infrastructure and GEP functions, leading and developing a team of architects and principal engineers while driving cross-functional execution, continuous improvement, and strategic capability growth. You will be responsible for architecting and evolving scalable, secure network and ground infrastructure solutions that improve efficiency, resilience, and mission effectiveness across existing SDA programs, while also supporting new program development through early-phase architecture, requirements shaping, and integration of new capabilities into Iridium’s SDA portfolio. Success in this role requires deep experience in network infrastructure and ground systems, the ability to balance technical depth with strategic leadership, and a proven track record of guiding senior technical staff, collaborating with program leadership, and translating SDA mission objectives into executable architectures and delivery roadmaps. This position requires an active/current Top Secret/SCI U.S. Security Clearance or the ability to obtain a Top Secret/SCI U.S. Security Clearance with the ability to obtain CI Polygraph (A U.S. Security Clearance that has been active in the past 24 months is considered active.)

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in management information systems, computer science engineering or related field; or equivalent, relevant, and progressively responsible experience in lieu of a degree
15+ years of relevant experience in information technology, preferably in a Governemtn operations environment
Possess a deep understanding of networking, security, storage, compute, cloud and hybrid-cloud services, and virtualized environments
Possess a deep understanding of Ground Entry point concepts, Systems, interconnectivity between remote sites and Operations centers
Possess a detailed understanding of antenna components, services provided, site build-out needs including Civils, facility needs including power, generator, UPS, cooling, heating necessary to effectively provide direction to Engineering team
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present information, drive discussion, and respond to difficult scenarios with limited preparation across all employee groups
Capable of being a strong motivator and source of direction for your team and exemplifying commitment to your team’s goals
Have a people-oriented mentality and actively promote cross-functional team building
Able to confidently drive discussions, raise support for key ideas, and tailor your communication style to a wide range of audiences
Possess the creativity, resourcefulness, and decisiveness needed to manage risks and respond to critical situations
Have a strong sense of urgency in driving projects to completion and be motivated to achieve outcomes and results
Excellent prioritization skills and the ability to effectively coordinate the activities of multiple groups
Experience with the following:
Executive-level program management briefing and presentation skills
Ground Entry Point (GEP) design and function, including RF antennas, site civils, electrical power, and HVAC systems
Fiber-optic transport and government network interconnections
AWS cloud management and networking, including hybrid on-prem/cloud architectures
Cross-domain solutions (CDS) and multi-classification environments
KG-class / Type 1 encryption devices and secure network architectures
Virtualized computing and storage architecture environments
RHOSP, PaaS, and IaaS technologies
MPLS and TCP/IP communications
Thin client technologies in enterprise and secure environments
Linux, VMware, and Kubernetes environments
Be on call, as needed
Be able to travel up to 25%
Be a U.S. citizen

Nice To Haves

Experience with the following:
Government network standards and protocols
SIPR (Secret Internet Protocol Router), NIPR (Non-Classified Protocol Router), SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility) management and usage
Project engineering, project management, and supplier management
Certification in AWS, CISSP, CompTIA Sec+

Responsibilities

Provide technical and organizational leadership for Network Infrastructure and GEP architectural and design activities
Direct and manage a team of subject matter experts and principal engineers to ensure consistent, high-quality architectural and design outcomes
Lead and oversee architecture analysis and design efforts across network, ground, data, and integration domains, ensuring the appropriate use of methods, standards, and enterprise-aligned content are utilized
Evaluate alternatives and guide trade studies, making clear, defensible recommendations to leadership on critical design decisions that balance mission needs, cost, risk, and scalability
Establish, communicate, and enforce architectural and design standards, guidelines, and reference architectures that support SDA mission objectives and long-term program sustainability
Identify, shape, and integrate new capabilities into existing SDA programs, while supporting new program development through early-phase architecture, requirements refinement, and solution definition
Anticipate future network and ground infrastructure needs, developing forward-looking roadmaps that improve resilience, efficiency, and mission effectiveness
Serve as a senior escalation and decision authority for complex cross-functional issues, setting policies, procedures, and governance mechanisms to streamline operational workflows and improve service outcomes
Collaborate closely with program management, engineering, and finance to prepare and contribute to executive-level program documentation, briefings, and decision materials, including architecture summaries, risk assessments, and capability trade-offs
Evaluate emerging technologies and industry standards, providing strategic insight to inform investment decisions and enabling adoption of innovative solutions where they deliver clear mission value