IT Manager, Network Operations

Saronic Technologies is a leader in revolutionizing autonomy at sea, dedicated to developing state-of-the-art solutions that enhance maritime operations through autonomous and intelligent platforms.

Job Overview

We are seeking an IT Manager, Network Operations to lead the team responsible for the reliability, security and growth of our enterprise network. You will manage a team of network engineers, serve as the main escalation point for network reliability, infrastructure expansion and observability, and oversee the structured cabling and site deployment work that supports new and expanding locations. As Saronic scales, you will grow the function into dedicated network operations center (NOC), site deployment and integration teams, and drive our shift toward infrastructure as code and automation.

You are a hands-on leader who combines technical depth with people management and strategic planning. As Saronic grows, you will build the team, processes and standards that keep our network optimized and secure at scale.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of network engineers ranging from associate to staff level, with full accountability for hiring, development, performance and retention.

• Set goals and expectations, run regular 1:1s and performance reviews, and make compensation and leveling recommendations.

• Build and scale the function into dedicated NOC, site deployment and integration teams, including staffing and coverage models.

• Own operational delivery and KPIs for network operations, including SLAs, uptime, change success rate and project delivery.

• Serve as the main escalation point for network incidents, reliability and infrastructure expansion, and build incident response processes with clear severity tiers, escalation paths, runbooks and post-incident reviews to reduce time to resolution.

• Own the monitoring, alerting and observability strategy, including tooling, tuning and dashboards.

• Drive adoption of infrastructure as code and automation using tools like Terraform and Ansible (or similar), including version-controlled configuration and standardized change workflows.

• Define network configuration and design standards, and coordinate change management so that changes are reviewed, approved and communicated.

• Drive the multi-quarter network roadmap, including capacity planning, lifecycle management and compliance initiatives (such as NIST 800-171, DFARS, CMMC and ITAR) where applicable.

• Plan and oversee network expansion for new and renovated sites, working with construction, facilities and contractors from design through commissioning.

• Establish structured cabling standards and develop deployment playbooks for staging, installing and validating network equipment at new sites and during technology refreshes.

• Lead network integration for acquired companies, including on-site assessments of acquired environments, sequenced integration plans, network cutovers and a reusable integration playbook.

• Manage the team budget, vendor relationships and procurement within delegated authority, including cabling contractors and telecom vendors.

• Partner with peer managers in IT, Security and Engineering, and with senior and staff engineers on technical strategy, network segmentation, access control and security policy.

• Maintain network documentation, including topology diagrams, IP schemas and operating procedures, and support audits as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Network Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

• 7+ years of progressive enterprise networking experience, including experience leading engineers or technical teams.

• Experience with hiring, performance management and developing engineers at a range of experience levels.

• Demonstrated expertise in LAN and WAN design, routing and switching, wireless, and network security fundamentals.

• Experience overseeing network operations, including incident management and monitoring, alerting and observability platforms.

• Experience with network automation and infrastructure as code, or a demonstrated ability to drive their adoption within a team.

• Working knowledge of structured cabling and low-voltage infrastructure standards, including TIA-568 and TIA-569.

• Experience coordinating network deployments for new facilities with construction, facilities and contractor teams.

• Experience managing budgets, vendors and procurement.

• Strong project management skills across concurrent, geographically distributed projects.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including explaining technical concepts to non-technical audiences.

• Strong operational rigor and sound judgment when problem solving under pressure.

Desired Qualifications

• Industry certifications such as CCNP or equivalent, or BICSI credentials.

• Experience with IT service management platforms for ticket management and SLA reporting.

• Experience supporting network integration for acquired companies, carve-outs or multi-site consolidations.

• Background supporting global or multi-site enterprise environments.

• Experience supporting networks in hybrid or cloud environments, such as AWS/AWS GovCloud or Azure.

• Experience working in a defense, aerospace or other regulated environment, with familiarity with frameworks such as NIST 800-171 or CMMC.

• Willingness and eligibility to obtain a U.S. security clearance.

Physical Demands:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer

• Occasional standing and walking within the office

• Manual dexterity to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other office equipment

• Visual acuity to read screens, documents, and reports

• Occasional reaching, bending, or stooping to access file drawers, cabinets, or office supplies

• Lifting and carrying items up to 20 pounds occasionally (e.g., office supplies, packages)

Benefits:

Medical Insurance: Comprehensive health insurance plans covering a range of services

Saronic pays 100% of the premium for employees and 80% for dependents

Dental and Vision Insurance: Coverage for routine dental check-ups, orthodontics, and vision care

Saronic pays 100% of the premium under the basic plan for employees and 80% for dependents

Time Off: Generous PTO and Holidays

Parental Leave: Paid maternity and paternity leave to support new parents

Competitive Salary: Industry-standard salaries with opportunities for performance-based bonuses

Retirement Plan: 401(k) plan with company match

Stock Options: Equity options to give employees a stake in the company’s success

Life and Disability Insurance: Basic life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage

Pet Insurance: Discounted pet insurance options including 24/7 Telehealth helpline

Additional Perks: Free lunch benefit and unlimited free drinks and snacks in the office

Saronic CCPA Notice for Candidates and California Employees

If this role is based in the United States, it requires access to export-controlled information or items that require “U.S. Person” status. As defined by U.S. law, individuals who are any one of the following are considered to be a “U.S. Person”: (1) U.S. citizens, (2) legal permanent residents (a.k.a. green card holders), and (3) certain protected classes of asylees and refugees, as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

Saronic does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.