IT Manager

About the role

This role is 100% in office at least 5 days a week - no remote or hybrid work available. Candidates must live within driving distance of Newport News, VA.

The IT Manager will serve as the primary internal technology resource for employees across the company while working closely with Aery’s outside Managed Service Provider and other third-party vendors. This role requires a hands-on, responsive, and technically capable professional who can resolve user issues, maintain equipment, support Microsoft network infrastructure, assist with cybersecurity requirements, and ensure the company’s IT environment supports business operations, government contracting requirements, and defense contractor compliance expectations.

The ideal candidate will have experience in a Microsoft-based business environment, understand the expectations of a government contractor, and be familiar with CMMC Level 2, NIST 800-171, controlled unclassified information, secure network practices, endpoint security, and general cybersecurity controls.

Who We Are Looking For

Aery Aviation is seeking an experienced IT Manager to support and manage the company’s internal technology environment from our Newport News office. This position is responsible for day-to-day IT support, internal technology coordination, hardware and software management, cybersecurity support, network monitoring, and coordination with outside IT service providers.

What You Will Be Doing

Internal IT Support and Help Desk

• Provide hands-on technical support to employees across the company, including troubleshooting laptops, desktops, printers, mobile devices, Microsoft 365, email, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, VPN, network connectivity, and other business applications.
• Respond to employee IT issues in a timely, professional, and service-oriented manner to minimize disruption to business operations.
• Set up, configure, deploy, maintain, and troubleshoot company-issued computers, phones, tablets, peripherals, printers, conference room technology, and other technology assets.
• Support onboarding and offboarding of employees, including user account creation, access provisioning, equipment issuance, system setup, access removal, device collection, and coordination with HR and management.
• Maintain accurate records of IT hardware, software licenses, assigned equipment, user access, and other company technology assets.
• Assist employees with secure and effective use of company systems, including Microsoft 365, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, and other internal applications.

Microsoft Network and Systems Administration

• Support and help administer Aery’s Microsoft-based technology environment, including Microsoft 365, Azure/Entra ID, Active Directory, Exchange, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, Intune, endpoint management, and related systems.
• Assist with user permissions, group policies, role-based access, multi-factor authentication, conditional access, endpoint compliance, and secure account management.
• Support network infrastructure, including firewalls, switches, wireless access points, VPN access, VLANs, network segmentation, and connectivity between offices, hangars, remote users, and operational areas.
• Work with the outside Managed Service Provider to monitor network health, server performance, backups, endpoint protection, patching, alerts, and security events.
• Assist with technology planning, system upgrades, software rollouts, user migrations, equipment refresh cycles, and process improvements.
• Help maintain Microsoft 365 governance, including file access, SharePoint structure, Teams administration, document permissions, retention considerations, and secure collaboration practices.

Cybersecurity and Defense Contractor Compliance

• Support Aery’s cybersecurity program and help maintain alignment with defense contractor requirements, including CMMC Level 2, NIST 800-171, CUI handling expectations, DFARS-related cybersecurity requirements, and secure business practices.
• Assist with implementation, monitoring, and documentation of IT controls related to access management, endpoint protection, vulnerability management, audit logging, incident response, system configuration, and security awareness.
• Help enforce company IT and cybersecurity policies, including acceptable use, device management, authorized software, password and MFA requirements, remote access, data protection, incident reporting, and secure handling of company information.
• Support internal reviews, audits, assessments, and compliance documentation related to IT systems, cybersecurity posture, network controls, and government contracting requirements.
• Maintain or assist in maintaining system documentation, network diagrams, asset inventories, approved software lists, access control records, security procedures, configuration records, and evidence required for cybersecurity and compliance reviews.
• Monitor and escalate cybersecurity concerns, suspicious activity, phishing attempts, endpoint alerts, unauthorized software, device issues, and other potential security incidents.
• Assist in developing and improving IT procedures, cybersecurity documentation, employee guidance, and repeatable processes that support Aery’s compliance posture.

MSP and Vendor Coordination

• Act as Aery’s primary internal liaison with the company’s Managed Service Provider and other IT vendors.
• Coordinate tickets, escalations, system changes, projects, compliance support, network improvements, hardware needs, software issues, and cybersecurity activities with outside providers.
• Ensure the Managed Service Provider is meeting company expectations for responsiveness, documentation, service quality, security, compliance support, and issue resolution.
• Work with internal leadership to prioritize IT projects, system needs, security improvements, and technology investments.
• Assist in evaluating technology vendors, software platforms, hardware purchases, licensing needs, renewals, service agreements, and cybersecurity tools.
• Translate business needs from internal departments into clear IT requirements for outside vendors, service providers, and internal implementation.

Hardware, Software, and Infrastructure Management

• Maintain and support company laptops, desktops, mobile devices, printers, scanners, monitors, docking stations, conference room systems, network devices, and other technology assets.
• Support installation, configuration, updating, troubleshooting, and lifecycle management of company hardware and software.
• Manage or support software licensing, renewal tracking, user assignments, approved software lists, and compliance with company software policies.
• Assist with backups, disaster recovery planning, endpoint protection, patch management, device encryption, and asset retirement.
• Ensure company technology assets are properly configured, secured, documented, assigned, tracked, and recovered when no longer needed.
• Coordinate hardware purchases, equipment refreshes, repairs, warranty claims, and replacement planning.

Business Operations Support

• Partner with department leaders to understand technology needs across operations, finance, HR, flight operations, maintenance, engineering, business development, program management, and executive leadership.
• Support employees in office, hangar, maintenance, engineering, and operational environments.
• Assist with IT support related to new contracts, new business initiatives, employee growth, facility changes, customer requirements, and defense contractor compliance needs.
• Help improve internal workflows through better use of Microsoft 365, Teams, SharePoint, document management, permissions, automation, and secure collaboration tools.
• Provide practical user training and guidance on common technology systems, cybersecurity expectations, file management, secure communications, and company IT procedures.
• Participate in IT planning for company growth, new facilities, new programs, compliance requirements, and operational improvements.

You Must Have

• Minimum of 5 years of hands-on IT support, systems administration, network administration, or IT management experience.
• Experience supporting a Microsoft-based business environment, including Microsoft 365, Active Directory or Entra ID, Exchange, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, and endpoint management.
• Working knowledge of network infrastructure, including firewalls, switches, wireless networks, VPN, VLANs, endpoint security, and basic network troubleshooting.
• Experience managing end-user hardware, software, mobile devices, printers, and business technology assets.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity best practices, including MFA, role-based access, least privilege, patching, endpoint protection, phishing prevention, backups, logging, and incident escalation.
• Familiarity with CMMC Level 2, NIST 800-171, CUI, or similar defense contractor cybersecurity frameworks.
• Ability to work effectively with an outside Managed Service Provider while also taking ownership of internal IT responsibilities.
• Strong troubleshooting, communication, documentation, organization, and customer service skills.
• Ability to support both technical and non-technical employees in a professional, patient, and responsive manner.
• Must be able to work on-site in Newport News, Virginia.

Nice To Have's

• Experience working for a defense contractor, government contractor, aerospace company, aviation company, manufacturing organization, or other regulated business environment.
• Experience supporting CMMC, NIST 800-171, DFARS, ITAR, CUI, or similar compliance efforts.
• Experience with Microsoft Intune, endpoint management, Azure/Entra ID, conditional access, Defender, Purview, SharePoint administration, or related Microsoft security tools.
• Experience with firewall and network environments such as Barracuda, UniFi, Cisco, Fortinet, SonicWall, or similar platforms.
• Experience maintaining IT documentation, asset inventories, access control records, security policies, network diagrams, system inventories, and compliance evidence.
• Relevant certifications such as CompTIA Security+, Network+, Microsoft 365 Administrator, Azure Administrator, CISSP, CISM, or similar are preferred but not required.
• Hands-on, practical, and willing to solve problems directly.
• Strong sense of ownership, urgency, and accountability.
• Service-oriented and able to work well with employees at all levels of the organization.
• Comfortable balancing user support, cybersecurity, compliance, business operations, and vendor coordination.
• Able to operate in a fast-paced aviation, defense, and government contracting environment.
• Professional, approachable, and clear in communication.
• Organized and disciplined in documentation, follow-up, task tracking, and issue resolution.
• Able to communicate effectively with executives, department leaders, technical vendors, outside service providers, and end users.
• Understands that cybersecurity, CMMC compliance, and IT discipline are core business requirements for a defense contractor.

Physical and Work Environment Requirements

• This position is primarily based in the Newport News office and may require occasional support in hangar, maintenance, engineering, or operational environments.
• Must be able to lift, move, and set up standard IT equipment such as computers, monitors, printers, network equipment, and peripherals.
• Occasional after-hours support may be required for urgent system issues, network outages, cybersecurity events, business-critical needs, or planned maintenance windows.

Aery Aviation job descriptions are meant as summarizations only. They do not necessarily reflect all duties and responsibilities of a position.

If this opportunity excites you, come join our team! For Aery Aviation, the question isn’t: “Can we?” When others are limited in the common approach, Aery Aviation jumps into higher gear asking, “How can we do this?” and then proceeds into problem-solving for customers. This is what customers appreciate most about Aery Aviation - avid tenacity. It’s not cookie cutter production that Aery Aviation is cultivating; it is projects that inspire the Aery Aviation work-family to come together and brainstorm, excited to come to work every day because there is always something inventive and interesting to work on.

Our Benefits:
We offer the right candidate the chance to join a forward-thinking organization, supported by a competitive compensation and benefits package. Learn more about Aery Aviation, LLC at www.aeryaviation.com.
 
Aery Aviation, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Aery Aviation, we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.