Head of Facilities

Who We Are:

GITAI is a vertically integrated space and defense company building the next generation of hardware for low-Earth-orbit missions. Its engineering team applies space robotics technology across satellite buses, in-orbit servicing robotics, mission hardware, proliferated LEO satellite constellations, and other next-generation space systems. GITAI designs, builds, integrates, and tests much of its hardware in-house.

Your Mission:

As Head of Facilities, you will build the physical foundation for GITAI’s growth, owning infrastructure that enables engineering, manufacturing, integration, and testing across offices, manufacturing environments, remote test sites, and facilities supporting U.S. government programs. This is initially a senior individual-contributor role with no direct reports. You will work with Engineering and Operations leadership and serve as the central owner across internal teams, contractors, consultants, landlords, utilities, regulatory authorities, government stakeholders, and security teams.

You will turn facility needs into working physical environments, making practical decisions across facilities, equipment, utilities, layout, permitting, security, cost, and schedule. The work includes technically demanding and highly regulated environments involving explosives, energetic and hazardous materials, and U.S. government security requirements. As GITAI grows, you may eventually build a facilities team, but this will remain a hands-on role.

What You’ll Drive:

• Own GITAI’s facility strategy and execution across offices, engineering and manufacturing environments, remote test sites, and facilities supporting U.S. government programs.
• Translate technical and operational needs into infrastructure decisions across space, power, HVAC, utilities, equipment, safety, security, manufacturing areas, laboratories, and test environments.
• Lead site selection, facility due diligence, lease-related coordination, renovations, buildouts, permitting, inspections, construction, commissioning, and major infrastructure upgrades.
• Own the facility-side path through regulatory, permitting, and security requirements, including requirements associated with explosives, energetic materials, hazardous materials, fire and life safety, environmental constraints, classified or cleared spaces, and remote or government-controlled locations.
• Define scope, manage budgets and schedules, negotiate with vendors and contractors, and drive decisions across landlords, brokers, consultants, general contractors, utilities, regulatory authorities, government stakeholders, and security teams.
• Inspect prospective sites and construction, review drawings and bids, investigate infrastructure problems, and drive issues through closure.

What We’re Looking For:

• 8+ years of experience in facilities, construction, industrial infrastructure, facilities engineering, manufacturing operations, or a closely related field.
• Experience owning significant facility buildouts, expansions, relocations, test-site development, or infrastructure projects in a technically demanding environment such as aerospace, defense, propulsion, robotics, advanced manufacturing, automotive, energy, or laboratories.
• Strong practical understanding of industrial building infrastructure and facility development, including electrical power, HVAC, utilities, building systems, permitting, inspections, and construction.
• Experience navigating permits, regulations, and approval processes for technically complex facilities. Experience with explosives, energetic materials, hazardous materials, or similarly regulated operations is required.
• Experience developing, modifying, or operating facilities subject to U.S. government security requirements, including classified or cleared work environments, physical security requirements, controlled access, and coordination with security stakeholders.
• Strong judgment under ambiguity and the ability to turn incomplete engineering or operational needs into practical solutions.
• Strong commercial and execution judgment across scopes of work, budgets, schedules, contractor selection, negotiations, and project delivery.
• A hands-on operating style and comfort moving between executive-level decisions, regulatory and security discussions, contractor coordination, and physical problems on the floor, at a construction site, or at a remote test site.
• U.S. citizenship is required due to the nature of GITAI’s work with U.S. government customers and programs. This role may require eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance.

Strong Plus:

• Experience building or scaling facilities at an early-stage hardware company.
• Experience developing or operating remote test sites, field facilities, or infrastructure on government or highly regulated sites.
• Experience with machine shops, laboratories, clean or controlled areas, high-power equipment, environmental testing, or propulsion test infrastructure.
• General Contractor license, PE, PMP, or other relevant professional qualification.

Compensation:

The annual base salary range for this position is expected to be $150,000 to $200,000. Actual compensation will be determined based on relevant experience, demonstrated ability to lead complex facility and infrastructure projects, experience supporting technical hardware environments, and other job-related factors. This position is also eligible for stock options and company benefits.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Healthcare: 100% paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees, with 90% coverage for dependents, plus life insurance
• Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with a company match
• Equity Opportunities: Stock options in a rapidly growing startup
• Relocation Support: Financial assistance for relocation is available for candidates residing outside the Los Angeles area
• Paid Time Off: 12 days of paid time off and 12 company holidays annually
• Office Perks: Free snacks and drinks, plus regular social events

Important Notice:

• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident, lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee, granted asylum, or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable.
• GITAI USA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.