Head of IT

CX2 is a next-generation defense technology company founded to deliver spectrum dominance for the United States and our allies. CX2’s AI-enabled hardware and software platforms detect, disrupt and defend the electromagnetic spectrum across land, air, sea and space domains.
As an early-stage company, CX2 operates with urgency and adaptability, building mission-critical capabilities in complex and highly regulated environments. We combine deep technical innovation with a strong commitment to security, reliability, and operational excellence in support of national defense objectives.
CX2 is seeking a Head of IT to define, build, and lead our security and corporate IT strategy from the ground up. This is a foundational leadership role responsible for securing our systems and building the IT and security capabilities, processes, and operating model required to support the company, while also owning the IT and security capabilities that enable the company to operate across R&D, corporate, production, and customer adjacent environments (collectively the enterprise environment), including establishing and enforcing security, risk, and compliance standards, including authority to require changes to systems and processes to meet security and regulatory requirements, that govern how those environments are designed, accessed, and operated, and supporting customer, audit, and regulatory requirements both CONUS and OCONUS.
This is a hands-on leadership role. You will actively design and implement systems, stand up infrastructure, and solve problems directly. Security and IT are not separate functions—you will own identity, endpoints, internal systems, and the controls that protect them, while driving the implementation of security, risk, and compliance practices across the enterprise. This role requires end-to-end ownership, including strategy, risk, implementation, and execution of all IT programs in a resource constrained environment.
This role requires operating effectively in the ambiguity of an early-stage startup, setting direction without complete information, and building scalable systems and processes from first principles across the enterprise environment.
The Head of IT will own strategy, roadmap, risk, compliance, architecture, international and data residency considerations, and major IT decisions. The Head of IT will own compliance and security program direction, including CMMC readiness associated controls execution, and the ongoing development of CX2’s security posture across the enterprise.
Key Responsibilities

• Define and own CX2’s overall security and corporate IT strategy. You will own the IT roadmap, priorities, and long-term operating model
• Own IT and security risk management, policy direction, and control decisions across the enterprise
• Design, build, and operate core IT and security capabilities, including identify, endpoints, networking, SaaS, and cloud environments
• Design, implement and manage security controls across systems and environments
• Lead and execute programs aligned with CMMC, ISO 27001, and related frameworks
• Drive audit readiness, certification efforts, and ongoing compliance sustainment
• Own vendor selection, tooling strategy, and buy-versus-build decisions for IT and security capabilities
• Build and mature risk management, incident response, vulnerability management, and resilience programs
• Serve as the decision-maker and project owner for enterprise wide IT and security initiatives, including customer and compliance driven requirements
• Own architecture, standards, and governance for identity, endpoints, networking, SaaS, and internal systems
• Partner with engineering to align systems and environments with security, risk, and compliance requirements, and drive implementation across the enterprise
• Develop a roadmap for scaling the security and IT team
• Own decisions related to domestic and international operations, data residency, and regulatory constraints across the enterprise, including operations in CONUS and OCONUS environments
• Establish and operate security monitoring, detection, and incident response capabilities appropriate to a defense environment
• Own budget planning, tooling strategy, and final vendor or product decisions
• Own decisions related to international operations, data residency, and regulatory constraints across the enterprise

Required Qualifications

• Defense industry experience required
• Experience with CMMC, ISO 27001, and related compliance frameworks, including implementation and/or audit readiness
• Ability to build and operate IT and security systems in a hands-on early-stage environment
• Experience with IAM, endpoint management, networking, SaaS administration, segmentation, partitioning, and cloud infrastructure
• Strong cross-functional communication, influence, and decision-making skills
• Strong judgment in balancing speed, risk, and compliance in a regulated environments
• Experience making buy-versus-build and automation decisions

Highly Desired

• Early-stage startup experience
• Familiarity with NIST 800-171, FedRAMP, and related government security requirements
• Experience standing up IT and scaling IT and security functions from initial build to operational maturity
• Experience supporting customer audits, regulatory reviews, or compliance documentation in a defense or government environment
• Experience operating across an enterprise environment which includes global expansion

What Success Looks Like

• Achieve and maintain compliance certifications and audit readiness
• IT and security capabilities are established, scalable, and operating effectively across the enterprise
• Strong internal and external confidence in CX2’s security posture, including readiness for customer, audit, regulatory scrutiny, and incident response

ITAR Regulations

• To conform to U.S. Government technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), applicant must be a US Citizen, Green Card holder, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary, stock options and benefits, including health, vision and dental
• 401K enrollment at 90 days
• Generous PTO + most Federal Holidays observed
• Collaborative and inclusive work environment
• Access to the latest tools and technologies
• High levels of responsibility and autonomy
• Professional growth and development opportunities
• Access to the hardest problems in electronic warfare

CX2 is a next-generation defense technology company securing spectrum dominance for the United States and its allies. We build AI-enabled hardware and software platforms to detect, disrupt, and defend the electromagnetic spectrum across land, air, sea, and space. Our systems are deployed in the most contested operational environments in the world. We’re backed by leading venture investors in the defense ecosystem and led by founders with track records at Meta, SpaceX, Epirus, and the U.S. Department of Defense.
Equal Opportunity Employer
CX2 is committed to equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in compliance with the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.
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