What are the responsibilities and job description for the IT Service Desk Manager position at Astrolab?
Application Deadline: 2 June 2026
Department: IT
Location: Hawthorne, California
Compensation: $152,000 - $180,000 / year
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.
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
- 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
- Must be able to bend, crouch, reach, and crawl on occasion (I.e. running network cables and installing hardware)
- 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
Salary : $152,000 - $180,000