Head of IT

About TensorWave

Our mission is simple: deliver seamless, secure, reliable, and resilient AI compute at scale. We've built a versatile cloud platform that eliminates infrastructure barriers, empowering builders to focus on innovation instead of fighting their stack. Because breakthrough AI should move at the speed of ideas, not infrastructure.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced IT leader to build and own our corporate IT function. Reporting to the VP of Operations, you'll be responsible for infrastructure, security, systems operations, vendor management, and the team that keeps TensorWave running.

This is a rare chance to shape IT at a company moving fast — working alongside engineering teams running GPU clusters across multiple data centers while establishing the systems and security controls that let the business scale without breaking. You'll have real influence over architecture, vendor strategy, and team structure, trusted to own this function end-to-end.

What You’ll Do

• Corporate Infrastructure — networks, identity management (SSO, directory services), device management (Mac, Windows, Linux), cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure), and SaaS stack.

• Security and Compliance — SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, export controls, and incident response procedures for all corporate IT systems.

• IT Operations and Help Desk — SLAs, ticketing systems, onboarding workflows, and support standards that scale with the organization.

• Team Building — recruit, hire, and develop an IT team from the ground up; define career progression paths and invest in technical development.

• Vendor and Budget Management — negotiate contracts, manage vendor relationships, optimize IT spend, and own CapEx planning with Finance.

• Cross-Functional Partnership — collaborate with People Operations on HR systems and with Data Center and Infrastructure Engineering where corporate and customer infrastructure intersect.

• IT Roadmap — develop a multi-year strategy covering technology refresh cycles, security investments, and infrastructure growth aligned to the business.

What We're Looking For

• Builder mindset. You’ve stood up IT functions before. Greenfield environments don’t scare you.

• Pragmatic, not precious. You build right-sized solutions for where the company is now, not where it might be in five years.

• Executive-ready communicator. You translate risk and tradeoffs into terms that resonate with leadership — not just IT teams.

• Ownership mentality. You see something broken and own it until it’s fixed — no escalation required.

• Team developer. You hire well, mentor actively, and build a culture people want to be part of.

• Comfortable with ambiguity. Priorities shift fast here. You adapt and keep moving.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of IT infrastructure and operations experience, with 5+ years in a leadership or management role.

• Demonstrated expertise in IT service management, security frameworks, and compliance (SOC 2, ISO 27001, or equivalent).

• Strong technical foundation across network administration, systems engineering, identity management (Active Directory, Okta, etc.), and cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure).

• Experience scaling IT operations at rapidly growing organizations — you’ve hired IT teams from the ground up.

• Proven success negotiating vendor contracts, managing IT budgets, and optimizing technology spend.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to explain technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building IT functions from scratch or restructuring IT organizations at growth-stage technology companies.

• Familiarity with hardware infrastructure, networking protocols (Ethernet, RDMA, high-speed interconnects), or data center operations.

• Background in export control compliance, OFAC, or international regulatory requirements.

• Experience with Kubernetes, containerization, or DevOps practices.

• Experience interfacing with board members or executive teams on IT strategy, risk, and investment decisions.

What We Offer

• Stock Options

• 100% paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance for Employees

• Company Health Savings Account Contributions

• 100% paid Short Term and Long Term Disability Insurance for Employees

• Life and Voluntary Supplemental Insurance Options

• Other Insurance Options, such as Pet & Legal Insurance

• Various Supplementary Health Benefits, such as discounted Virtual Healthcare Appointments and Serious Illness Support

• Flexible Spending Account

• 401(k)

• Employee Assistance Program

• Flexible PTO

• Paid Holidays

• Parental Leave

• Other In-Office Perks

Equal Employment Opportunity

TensorWave is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected status under applicable law.

Reasonable Accommodations

TensorWave provides reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable laws. If you require accommodation during the hiring process, please contact [email protected].

Employment Eligibility

All offers of employment are contingent upon verification of identity and authorization to work in United States, as required by law.

Background Checks

Where permitted by law, employment may be contingent upon the successful completion of a job-related background check.

Data Privacy Notice

By submitting an application, you acknowledge that TensorWave may collect, use, and retain your personal information for recruiting and employment-related purposes in accordance with applicable data privacy laws.