Principal, IT Operations 1

DIRECTV • El Segundo, CA

3d • Remote

About The Position

The Principal, IT Operations 1 is a senior technical authority responsible for shaping enterprise-wide IT operational strategy and driving large-scale infrastructure initiatives across DIRECTV's technology organization. This role serves as a recognized subject matter expert, providing strategic direction on complex, high-impact operational programs while acting as a key advisor to senior leadership and cross-organizational stakeholders. The Principal, IT Operations 1 operates with a high degree of autonomy, exercising sound judgment on ambiguous and precedent-setting issues, and plays a pivotal role in setting technical direction, governance standards, and long-term operational roadmaps that support DIRECTV's broader business and technology strategy. This position owns strategic operational programs, setting organizational standards, and influencing decisions at a departmental or enterprise level.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field; advanced degree or relevant industry certifications preferred.
• Recognized subject matter expert with deep, authoritative knowledge of DIRECTV technologies, systems, and IT infrastructure.
• Proven track record of leading large-scale, complex technology programs from strategy through execution.
• 3 – 5 years of progressive experience in IT operations, infrastructure, or a related technical discipline, with demonstrated growth into strategic leadership.
• Exceptional communication and executive presence, with the ability to influence and align senior leadership, technical teams, and external partners.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, capable of navigating ambiguous, high-stakes situations with minimal guidance.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring and developing technical talent, including senior-level staff.
• Experience managing strategic vendor relationships and complex procurement or partnership negotiations.
• May require a background check due to job duties requiring routine access to DIRECTV and DIRECTV customer’s proprietary data.
• Qualified applicants with arrest and conviction will be considered for employment in accordance with local ordinances and state law.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall management, strategic direction, administrative support, and communication for long-term disaster recovery implementation projects.
• Conduct Business Impact Analysis (BIA) and risk assessments to identify recovery gaps and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Partner with application owners and technical teams to develop, document, and maintain disaster recovery and business continuity plans.
• Serve as the primary liaison between business stakeholders, infrastructure teams, and application teams to support disaster recovery readiness.
• Defines and drives enterprise-level operational strategy, translating business goals into multi-year technology roadmaps and infrastructure investment plans.
• Leads large-scale, cross-functional programs and initiatives with significant organizational visibility, often spanning multiple teams, departments, or business units.
• Serves as principal technical advisor to senior management and executive stakeholders, providing recommendations on infrastructure architecture, operational risk, and technology investment decisions.
• Establishes and governs operational standards, policies, and best practices that guide IT operations across the organization.
• Evaluates emerging technologies and industry trends, assessing their applicability and potential impact on DIRECTV's infrastructure strategy.
• Oversees vendor and partner strategy at a program level, negotiating terms, setting performance expectations, and ensuring alignment with long-term operational goals.
• Leads root-cause analysis and resolution for high-severity, high-visibility operational issues that carry significant business risk.
• Champions continuous improvement initiatives, identifying systemic inefficiencies and architecting scalable solutions that improve reliability, performance, and cost-effectiveness.
• Mentors and develops senior and mid-level engineers and IT operations staff, fostering technical growth and succession planning across the team.
• Collaborates extensively with architecture, engineering, security, and business teams to ensure operational readiness for new initiatives and product launches.
• Represents IT Operations in governance forums, steering committees, and strategic planning sessions.
• Anticipates future operational needs and proactively identifies risks, gaps, or opportunities before they impact the business.

Benefits

• Compensation structure is designed to be market-competitive and fully supports efforts to attract and retain employees.
• Offer pay that is competitive with other employers in the local market.
• Salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location.
• Base Salary range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum target salary for each of DIRECTV's 4 (four) US Labor Market Zones.
• Individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.
• The salary ranges reflect base salary only and do not include bonus or benefits - when you consider all of these together, it represents a pretty impressive total compensation package.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior