IT MANAGER - Onsite

IT Manager

“Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. At this time, Daniel  Defense is unable to sponsor or support employment-based visas for applicants. Candidates must possess valid work authorization that does not require current or future visa sponsorship in order to be considered for this position.”

Department: Information Technology  

At Daniel Defense Only the Best Build the Best…  

Daniel Defense engineers and manufactures the world’s finest weapon systems and accessories. Our mission to Honor God and Defend Freedom is accomplished by serving customers and providing top quality solutions to our military, law enforcement and civilians that are seeking premium firearms for home defense, hunting, and sport shooting. 

As an IT Manager, you are responsible for overseeing the organization’s information technology operations, ensuring the reliability, security, and performance of all systems, infrastructure, and technical services. This role leads the IT team, manages vendor relationships, implements technology initiatives, and aligns IT strategy with business goals. The ideal candidate is a proactive leader and problem-solver with strong technical expertise and effective communication skills.

In this role, you will guide and mentor IT staff, manage escalations, optimize IT workflows, and lead initiatives that strengthen the organization’s technology ecosystem. Acting as a critical liaison between business stakeholders and the IT department, you will ensure that IT services are aligned with organizational goals and delivered at enterprise-class quality and scale.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership

• Responsible for demonstrating commitment to and leadership of environmental health and safety principles, policies and procedures.
• Provide strategic leadership, direction, and coaching to IT personnel.
• Conduct performance evaluations, provide feedback, and support staff development planning.
• Manage staffing levels, schedules, and resource allocation to ensure proper coverage for 24/7 support operations.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and growth-focused IT culture.
• Participate in organizational IT planning, contributing insights that drive technology modernization and operational excellence.
• Administer IT management platforms, service desk tools, and related technologies.
• Participates in the company’s efforts to continuously improve Safety, 6S, Quality, Delivery and Productivity.
• Expected to be a contributor to the company standards on high integrity, safety, fair and equitable treatment and a positive work environment.
• Other responsibilities as deemed appropriate or necessary by management.

Infrastructure & Systems Management

• Oversee the design, implementation, and maintenance of servers, networks, storage, and cloud environments.
• Ensure high availability and optimal performance of critical business systems (ERP, CRM, communication tools, etc.).
• Manage system upgrades, patching, and lifecycle planning for all hardware and software assets.
• Maintain robust documentation for systems, configurations, and processes.

Security & Compliance

• Implement and maintain cybersecurity best practices, including firewalls, endpoint protection, identity management, and monitoring tools.
• Conduct regular security assessments, audits, and incident response drills.
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulatory frameworks, internal policies, and industry standards.
• Manage backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning.

Service Desk Operations

• Triage, assign, prioritize, and escalate tickets to maintain service level agreements (SLAs).
• Monitor ticketing system (e.g., InvGate, ServiceNow, Jira Service Desk) to ensure SLAs and KPIs are met.
• Provide hands-on support for escalated or critical issues.
• Act as a point of escalation for complex or high-impact support issues.
• Coordinate with third-party vendors for support or hardware/software provisioning.
• Analyze trends and recurring issues; implement solutions to reduce ticket volume.
• Analyze service desk metrics from the ticket system to generate actionable performance reports that drive continuous improvement and strategic decision-making.
• Recommend and implement automation to increase efficiency.
• Maintain and improve IT support processes and workflows.
• Maintain the IT knowledge base and ensure the availability of accurate, up-to-date documentation.

Project Management

• Lead IT projects such as system implementations, network upgrades, cloud migrations, and application rollouts.
• Define project scope, timelines, resource needs, and deliverables.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams and external partners to ensure successful execution.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Required

• B.S. in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a combination of related experience, education and/or training to sufficiently and successfully perform the essential functions of the job.
• 5 years in a supervisory or lead role.
• 10 years of experience in IT operations, system administration, or network management.
• Experience with Microsoft 365, Active Directory, endpoint management, and remote support tools.
• Strong knowledge of networking (LAN/WAN, VPN, firewalls), virtualization, cloud infrastructure, and server technologies.
• Familiarity with virtualization platforms (VMware, Hyper-V) and enterprise storage solutions.
• Experience managing Microsoft environments (Active Directory, M365, Azure), Linux systems, or hybrid environments.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity frameworks, SIEM tools, and identity/access management solutions.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strategic thinker with hands-on execution capability.
• Travel requirements: Up to 10% of the year.  Air travel may be necessary.
• Demonstrated ability to recognize and work with our Company Values.

Preferred

• Experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment with shop-floor systems and IT/OT integration.
• Background with Microsoft Azure, Intune, Defender, and cloud-first security architectures.
• Prior experience managing ERP systems (Infor, SAP, Epicor, NetSuite, etc.) and supporting cross-functional business processes.
• Knowledge of NIST, CMMC, or other security compliance frameworks relevant to defense/manufacturing.
• Project management certifications such as PMP, ITIL, or CompTIA Project+.
• Experience leading or supporting digital transformation initiatives, automation, or modernization projects.
• Experience managing multi-site IT operations with distributed teams and infrastructure.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to lift and carry awkward items weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Requires intermittent standing, walking, sitting and bending throughout the work day.
• Must be able to work in a manufacturing environment, to include working in and around machinery, exposure to noise and chemicals, lights/lasers, etc.
• Must be able to wear appropriate Personal Protection Equipment as required by your position and/or Company policy.

Daniel Defense is an EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability employer and promotes a "Drug Free Workplace".

Note:  The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by those assigned to the job.  This list is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel in this job.  Responsibilities are subject to change at the discretion of the employer and do not establish a contract of employment – Daniel Defense is an at will employer.

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