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Director Of Infrastructure Operations Jobs in California

The Sr. Director of Infrastructure will lead the strategic direction, design, and management of ICANN's on-premise, hybrid, and cloud-based infrastructure and IT operations. This leader will ensure ...

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Director Of Infrastructure Operations information

See California salary details

$33.6K

$106.3K

$177.2K

How much do director of infrastructure operations jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average yearly pay for director of infrastructure operations in California is $106,270.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $74,500.00 and $133,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a director of infrastructure operations do?

A Director of Infrastructure Operations is responsible for overseeing the planning, implementation, and maintenance of an organization’s IT infrastructure, which includes servers, networks, data centers, and cloud services. They lead teams to ensure reliable and secure technology operations, manage budgets, develop strategies for scaling and optimizing systems, and coordinate disaster recovery and business continuity plans. This role often involves collaborating with other IT leaders and business stakeholders to align infrastructure initiatives with organizational goals.

What are some common challenges faced by a director of infrastructure operations, and how can they be addressed?

A Director of Infrastructure Operations often navigates challenges such as managing rapidly evolving technologies, ensuring system uptime, and balancing business needs with budget constraints. Staying ahead of potential disruptions requires proactive planning, effective team leadership, and regular communication with stakeholders. Building robust processes for incident response and fostering a culture of continuous improvement can help mitigate risks and support the organization's growth.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director of infrastructure operations, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director of Infrastructure Operations, you need deep expertise in IT infrastructure management, strategic planning, and a strong background in computer science or related fields, often supported by relevant certifications. Familiarity with systems such as VMware, cloud platforms (AWS, Azure), and ITIL or PMP certifications is typically required. Leadership, effective communication, and problem-solving abilities are crucial soft skills for guiding teams and collaborating with stakeholders. These skills and qualifications are vital for ensuring reliable, secure, and scalable technology environments that support organizational goals.

What is the difference between Director Of Infrastructure Operations vs Network Operations Manager?

AspectDirector Of Infrastructure OperationsNetwork Operations Manager
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Science, or related field; certifications like Cisco CCNP, CompTIA Network+ often preferredSimilar credentials; often holds Cisco or CompTIA certifications, with a focus on network management
Work EnvironmentOversees large-scale infrastructure, data centers, and enterprise systems; strategic planningManages daily network operations, troubleshooting, and network performance
Industry UsageCommon in large organizations, enterprises, and IT service providersFound in organizations with significant network infrastructure, including telecom and IT firms

The main difference is that the Director Of Infrastructure Operations focuses on overall infrastructure strategy and large-scale systems, while the Network Operations Manager concentrates on daily network management and performance. Both roles require similar certifications and work in related environments, but their scope and responsibilities differ significantly.

What are popular job titles related to Director Of Infrastructure Operations jobs in California?

For Director Of Infrastructure Operations jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Director Of Infrastructure Operations jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Director Of Infrastructure Operations jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Director Of Infrastructure Operations jobs?

Cities in California with the most Director Of Infrastructure Operations job openings:

Infographic showing various Director Of Infrastructure Operations job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $106,270 per year, or $51.1 per hour.

Director of Infrastructure & Security

Machina Labs

Chatsworth, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 14 days ago


Job description

About Machina Labs 

Engineering moves at software speed. Manufacturing doesn’t. Yet. 

Machina Labs is changing that. We build intelligent, software-defined factories that produce complex metal structures directly from digital design. By integrating advanced metal forming, robotics, and automated production inside a flexible factory architecture, we enable customers to move from prototype to production in weeks, not years. 

Backed by Lockheed Martin, Toyota, and NVIDIA, we’re building the manufacturing infrastructure that defense, aerospace, and advanced mobility programs will run on. 

If you want to work on hard problems that matter and see them fly, drive, and defend, this is the place. 

About the Role 

Machina Labs is looking for a Director of Infrastructure & Security to build the secure, scalable technology foundation for our next stage of growth. 

You’ll lead enterprise IT, cloud and DevOps infrastructure, cybersecurity, compliance, and physical security systems across Machina Labs’ commercial operations and Machina Bellator, our defense-focused subsidiary. 

This is a build role. You’ll inherit capable teams and an existing technology foundation, but there is significant work ahead as Machina scales. You will define the infrastructure and security roadmap, strengthen our defense-compliant environment, build our Security Engineering capability, and ensure our systems can scale without slowing down the engineers and operators who rely on them. 

You’ll report to the VP of Engineering – Software & IT and partner closely with leaders across Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, EHS, Legal, and the broader business. 

This is a player-coach role for someone who can set strategy and build organizations while staying close enough to the technology to dive in when it matters. 

What You’ll Do 

  • Set the infrastructure and security strategy. Define and execute the strategy for IT, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and security systems across Machina Labs and Machina Bellator as our teams, facilities, and defense programs scale. 

  • Lead and grow the organization. Lead the IT and DevOps teams, define the organization needed for the next stage of growth, develop existing leaders, and build the Security Engineering function from the ground up. 

  • Scale cloud and DevOps infrastructure. Guide the architecture, reliability, security, and cost management of our AWS environment in partnership with DevOps and Software Engineering. Establish scalable approaches to infrastructure as code, CI/CD, observability, and production operations. 

  • Build our cybersecurity capability. Establish and mature security operations across endpoint protection, SIEM and logging, threat detection and response, vulnerability management, incident response, and security architecture. 

  • Lead technical defense compliance. Own the technology strategy, controls, documentation, and audit readiness required to support CMMC, NIST SP 800-171, DFARS, ITAR/EAR, and other requirements associated with our defense and aerospace programs. 

  • Own physical security technology. Partner with EHS, which owns the broader physical security program, to architect and operate the technology behind facility security — including access control, surveillance, identity integration, monitoring, and related security systems. 

  • Establish policy and governance. Partner with Legal, EHS, Compliance, Engineering, and Operations to create pragmatic security and IT policies that protect the company and satisfy customer and regulatory requirements without creating unnecessary friction. 

What We’re Looking For 

  • 10+ years of experience across infrastructure, enterprise IT, cybersecurity, DevOps, or related technical functions, including significant experience leading technical teams and senior leaders. 

  • Experience owning infrastructure and/or security in a complex engineering, manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or similarly regulated environment. 

  • Demonstrated ability to build and scale technology functions, operating models, and teams — not simply operate established systems. 

  • Strong working knowledge of modern enterprise IT, cloud infrastructure, networking, identity and access management, and cybersecurity architecture. 

  • Experience with AWS or comparable cloud environments and modern DevOps practices. 

  • Experience building or operating cybersecurity programs spanning areas such as endpoint security, logging/SIEM, vulnerability management, incident response, and detection and response. 

  • Experience working with security and compliance frameworks such as CMMC or comparable regulated environments. 

  • A builder mindset. You’re comfortable moving between long-term strategy, organizational design, and the technical details required to get something working. 

Nice to Have 

  • Experience in defense, aerospace, or another environment handling CUI, export-controlled information, or classified programs. 

  • Experience taking an organization through CMMC certification or a comparable cybersecurity compliance program. 

  • Experience working in ITAR/EAR-controlled environments. 

  • Experience designing technology infrastructure for manufacturing facilities, engineering labs, or other complex physical environments. 

  • Experience with physical security technologies such as access control, video surveillance, visitor management, and integrated identity systems. 

  • Experience scaling infrastructure and security through a period of rapid company and facility growth. 

 
 

The base salary range for this role is dependent on experience, qualifications, and overall alignment with the scope of the position.

In addition to base compensation, Machina Labs offers a competitive benefits package and stock option participation.

*This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required for this role. Duties and responsibilities may change based on business needs. 
 
 

Machina Labs is an Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or status as a protected veteran in accordance with state and federal law. 

We endeavor to make the job application process accessible to any and all users. If you have a disability that impacts your ability to complete the job application process and would like to request assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please contact us at (888)444-9777. This contact information is for accommodation requests only, not to inquire about the status of applications.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.