IT Service Desk Manager
Astrolab
IT
Hawthorne, CA, USA
USD 152k-180k / year + Equity
Posted on May 24, 2026
Venturi Astrolab, Inc. (Astrolab) is pioneering new ways to explore and operate on distant planetary bodies. We are singularly focused on designing, building, and operating a fleet of multi-purpose commercial planetary rovers to extend and enhance humanity’s presence in the solar system. We are seeking motivated, creative, and exceptional people to join our world-class team.
Astrolab is looking for a hands-on IT Manager to support and execute our technology strategy in a fast-paced aerospace environment. This is an entry-level management role designed for a seasoned IT professional with 10+ years of experience and prior lead and/or supervisory experience who is ready to step into leadership. The role is responsible for delivering reliable IT operations, managing projects, and supporting business-critical systems. This role will partner closely with senior IT leadership to ensure secure, scalable, and efficient technology services across the organization.
- Application Deadline
- June 02, 2026
- Department
- IT
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Location
- Hawthorne, California
- Workplace type
- Onsite
- Compensation
- $152,000 - $180,000 / year
What you'll do:
- IT Operations
- Support day-to-day IT operations including infrastructure, endpoints, networking, and enterprise applications
- Partner up with Cybersecurity team to maintain all company endpoints
- Ensure high availability, performance, and security of IT systems
- Assist in implementing IT policies, standards, and procedures
- IT Service Management (ITSM)
- Support and improve ITSM processes (incident, request, change, and problem management)
- Drive adoption of ITIL-aligned best practices
- Monitor service metrics and help improve SLA performance
- Audio/Visual (A/V) Systems
- Oversee conference room technology, collaboration tools, and digital signage
- Ensure reliable A/V experiences for meetings, executive presentations, and events
- Troubleshoot and coordinate upgrades or deployments
- Aerospace / Regulated Environment Support
- Operate within a regulated environment (e.g., ITAR/EAR, CUI considerations)
- Support compliance and security initiatives aligned with frameworks such as NIST
- Assist with audits, documentation, and vendor reviews
- Leadership & Team Support
- Provide guidance to junior IT staff and service desk personnel
- Act as an escalation point for complex technical issues
- Foster a customer-focused IT culture
What you'll bring:
- 10+ years of experience in Information Technology
- Prior experience managing or leading IT projects
- Foundational leadership or team lead experience (formal management a plus)
- Experience working in an aerospace, manufacturing, or other regulated environment
- Strong understanding of IT infrastructure (servers, networking, cloud, endpoints)
- Experience with ITSM tools (Jira) and processes (incident, change, request management)
- Hands-on experience with Audio/Visual (A/V) technologies
- Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
Additional Responsibilities
- Must be able to bend, crouch, reach, and crawl on occasion (I.e. running network cables and installing hardware)
Benefits and Perks
- Join a team of best-in-class engineers building the foundation of planetary surface exploration
- Equity ownership in the company
- Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and mental health support
- 401(k) plan with company match
- Flexible PTO and parental leave
- Home office set up reimbursement
- Weekly lunch stipend, plus complimentary snacks and beverages on-site
- Once a month social hour on-site with food and drinks
About Astrolab
Having a strong, inclusive, and inspired team is essential to accomplishing our bold mission. Employees are our biggest asset, and we are deeply committed to them and our values. At Astrolab we…
Demonstrate and inspire trust. Interactions are direct, honest, and respectful. We are fair and transparent with what we do and why.
Thrive in balance. Balance gives us perspective and keeps us motivated and inspired. We commit to rewarding work and a fulfilling personal life.
Seek diverse perspectives. We ask questions, engage in productive debate and offer alternatives to ensure our solutions and products are robust and a reflection of our collective best.
Move with purpose. Quality and reliability are accomplished through efficient ideation and iteration. We act with a sense of urgency and deliver what we promise, always with the big picture in mind.
Make an impact. We intentionally move our community and industry into the future through our work, practices, and actions.
Our Hiring Process
Stage 1:
Application Review
Stage 2:
Recruiter Phone Interview
Stage 3:
Video Interviews
Stage 4:
On-site Interview
Astrolab is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, gender, gender identity, parental or pregnancy status, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or veteran status. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to careers@astrolab.space. We strive to remove unconscious and unnecessary barriers to build the best team. While we’ve outlined what an ideal candidate could look like, we know that you may bring something unanticipated and essential to the team. If you’re reading this and can see yourself contributing, please register below.
