Full-Time

Head of IT

Elroy Air

Elroy Air

11-50 employees

Autonomous cargo VTOL for middle-mile logistics

Compensation Overview

$200k - $270k/yr

+ Equity ownership

No H1B Sponsorship

Byron, CA, USA

Hybrid

Hybrid on-site work is required for close collaboration with engineering and lab environments.

Category
IT & Security (1)
Required Skills
Incident Response
High Performance Computing (HPC)
Microsoft Intune
Computer Networking
AWS
Google Cloud Platform

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Requirements
  • At least 8 years of experience in IT infrastructure, IT operations, or IT systems engineering.
  • Deep experience managing cloud infrastructure, particularly Google Cloud and Amazon Web Services.
  • Familiarity with implementing mobile device management solutions such as Jamf, Intune, or similar tools, and endpoint detection and response solutions.
  • Experience implementing and automating identity systems such as Okta, Azure Active Directory, or similar systems in highly regulated environments.
  • Strong understanding of physical network architecture, including virtual private networks, firewalls, routes, and network segmentation.
  • A proven track record of automating enterprise IT systems and improving user lifecycles in a fast-paced environment.
  • Must be eligible to work in the United States.
  • Ability to receive and maintain access to export-controlled information under ITAR or EAR.
  • Ability to work in a hybrid on-site role and collaborate closely with engineering and laboratory environments.
Responsibilities
  • Own end-to-end management of corporate IT infrastructure, including physical networks, endpoint management, and software-as-a-service management, while maintaining compliance with security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53.
  • Develop and enforce IT policies and access controls aligned with defense-sector norms and requirements.
  • Own and manage identity-provider systems using role-based access control, least-privilege principles, and just-in-time access principles.
  • Establish secure endpoint device management, endpoint detection and response, and fleet lifecycle processes for device trust and conditional-access authentication workflows.
  • Architect and maintain secure physical network infrastructure across office, laboratory, and production environments.
  • Lead vendor selection and contract management for IT, security, and infrastructure tooling.
  • Partner with Engineering to support high-performance cloud computing, laboratory systems, and specialized environments.
  • Evaluate logging, detection, and incident-response posture and improve capabilities for IT systems.
  • Act as a key stakeholder in security audits, compliance readiness, and regulatory inspections.
  • Facilitate business continuity and disaster recovery planning.
  • Own and streamline IT elements of the employee lifecycle, including automation of critical onboarding and offboarding processes.
  • Support the security and maintainability of corporate web-hosting systems, including Domain Name System services.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience operating in ITAR, EAR, or other export-controlled environments.
  • Familiarity with NIST 800-171, CMMC, or similar compliance frameworks.
  • Background in IT management for aerospace, defense, energy, or deep-tech startups.
  • Experience supporting hardware laboratories, manufacturing environments, or secure facilities.
  • Prior experience scaling IT from an early-stage to a growth-stage company.

Elroy Air builds autonomous cargo aircraft for middle-mile logistics. Its Chaparral is a hybrid-electric VTOL unmanned system that carries 300–500 pounds up to 300 miles, autonomously handling modular cargo pods for pickup and drop-off without the need for runways or charging infrastructure. It sells aircraft to commercial and government customers through an OEM model, backed by partnerships with Kratos for U.S. production and active defense programs, including a multi-year Army contract. The company aims to scale safe, autonomous aerial delivery globally, reducing dependence on ground transport and reshaping supply chains.

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

$270M

Headquarters

South San Francisco, California

Founded

2016

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • August 18, 2026 Army contract added $46 million and expanded payload delivery testing.
  • July 20, 2026 Kratos deal set first production aircraft for late 2026.
  • March 11, 2026 USDOT selected Elroy Air for Louisiana Gulf Coast operations.

What critics are saying

  • SPAC closing in Q4 2026 depends on SEC approval, shareholder votes, and PIPE investors.
  • Late-2026 production depends on Kratos; a slip delays revenue and Army credibility.
  • If Chaparral fails contested-logistics trials, defense demand evaporates and Elroy Air's thesis collapses.

What makes Elroy Air unique

  • Chaparral lifts 300-500 pounds, flies 300-450 miles, and needs no runway.
  • Elroy Air targets both Army contested logistics and commercial middle-mile cargo.
  • Kratos exclusively manufactures U.S. Chaparral aircraft, giving Elroy Air production scale.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Paid Parental Leave

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Mental Health Support

Company Equity

Flexible Work Hours

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

-2%

1 year growth

-2%

2 year growth

-4%
Tendernews.com
Aug 19th, 2026
U.S. Army Awards Elroy Air $46M for Autonomous Hybrid-Electric Cargo Aircraft.

* you are here * home * U.S. Army Awards Elroy Air $46M for Autonomous Hybrid-Electric Cargo Aircraft. U.S. Army Awards Elroy Air $46M for Autonomous Hybrid-Electric Cargo Aircraft. [Dated: 19 Aug 2026] The U.S. Army awarded Elroy Air a $46 million multiyear contract to develop the Chaparral autonomous hybrid-electric VTOL cargo aircraft into a more capable system for resupplying forces in contested, Some of its valuable clients. Quick links. Communication. Business with tendernews. Policy statements. Quick contact. * info(at)tendernews.com

Associated Press
Aug 10th, 2026
Elroy Air files for $1B SPAC merger to fund autonomous cargo drone production

Elroy Air and Columbus Circle Capital Corp II have confidentially submitted a draft registration statement with the SEC for their proposed business combination. The transaction values Elroy Air at $800 million pre-money, with an expected enterprise value of approximately $1.0 billion following closing. The deal includes more than $165 million in committed PIPE capital, which will fund commercial-scale production of Elroy Air's Chaparral autonomous cargo drone. The company will manufacture the aircraft with partner Kratos Defense & Security Solutions. Upon closing, expected in the fourth quarter of 2026, the combined company will trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "ELRY". Chaparral is a vertical takeoff and landing drone capable of carrying 500-plus pounds of cargo up to 450 miles, serving defense, commercial logistics, and rapid response markets. The transaction is subject to regulatory and shareholder approval.

Defense Daily
Jul 29th, 2026
Elroy Air demonstrates multiple unattended delivery modes with cargo drone.

Elroy Air demonstrates multiple unattended delivery modes with cargo drone. Wednesday, July 29th, 2026 Elroy Air on Wednesday said it recently demonstrated three modes of autonomous cargo delivery for the Army using the company's fixed-wing hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. The demonstration at the company's California headquarters included two payload drops in a single flight on July 15 of a 68-pound payload in a close-in hover and a 70-pound release from 65 feet during forward flight without personnel required at the delivery points. A separate ground delivery involved the aircraft releasing the payload... Not a subscriber or registered user yet? Please contact us at [email protected] or call us at 888-707-5814 (Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. and Friday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET.), to start a free trial, get pricing information, order a reprint, or post an article link on your website.

SupliiChain
Jul 29th, 2026
Army drone delivers cargo in autonomous demo.

Army drone delivers cargo in autonomous demo. A developer of autonomous heavy-cargo drones for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) said its latest model can now deliver payloads in three ways: precision airdrop from a hover, precision airdrop in A developer of autonomous heavy-cargo drones for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) said its latest model can now deliver payloads in three ways: precision airdrop from a hover, precision airdrop in forward flight, and ground delivery, each executed without personnel or ground infrastructure at the receiving site.Byron, California-based Elroy Air announced those new unattended delivery modes for its Chaparral drone, developed under contract with the U.S. Army. The private firm is planning to g Why this matters. An autonomous drone, designed for heavy cargo, has successfully demonstrated new delivery capabilities. It can now drop payloads from a hover, while in forward flight, or deliver them directly to the ground. All these methods operate without human intervention or ground support. This advancement has significant implications for e-commerce. Imagine a scenario where a surge in demand for a product occurs. Traditional delivery times, often around 5-7 days, can lead to stockouts. With autonomous drone delivery, potentially reducing last-mile transit times to under 3 hours for certain high velocity items, brands could bypass congested logistics networks. This means less reliance on extensive safety stock and more responsive inventory management. SupliiChain recommends brands begin evaluating their high-demand SKUs for drone deliverability by mapping their current lead times against potential drone transit times. Utilize the drone feasibility analyzer to identify which product categories could benefit most from this future logistics innovation, allowing for proactive adjustments to reorder points and inventory holding strategies. industry news dc velocity demand-planning By SupliiChain Team Updated: July 29, 2026

Associated Press
Jul 20th, 2026
Kratos to manufacture Elroy Air's autonomous cargo aircraft as demand pipeline exceeds 1,400 units worth $5B

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions will manufacture Elroy Air's Chaparral autonomous cargo aircraft at its expanding Sacramento, California facility. The company expects to increase its current workforce of over 450 high-tech employees by more than 50 as production ramps up. The Chaparral is a hybrid-electric, vertical takeoff and landing autonomous cargo aircraft designed to transport over 500 pounds of payload up to 450 miles without traditional airport infrastructure. It serves both commercial middle-mile logistics and military resupply operations. Kratos is the exclusive US manufacturer of the Chaparral, with first production aircraft planned for late 2026. Elroy Air recently announced a demand pipeline exceeding 1,400 aircraft, representing over $5 billion in potential revenue from customers including Bristow Group, FedEx, and others. The expanded Sacramento facility will create positions across aircraft technicians, composite manufacturing specialists, assemblers, engineers, and quality assurance, bringing Kratos' regional workforce to over 500 employees.