IT Systems Administrator

AstroForge is pioneering asteroid mining to extract valuable minerals in space with a lower cost and smaller carbon footprint than terrestrial mining. We’re building technologies to expand humanity’s capabilities in space and are looking for a dedicated IT Systems Administrator to join our lean, fast-moving team.

About the role

As AstroForge’s first IT Systems Administrator, you will build, maintain, and scale our internal technology infrastructure. You’ll own all aspects of IT—from end-user support and hardware lifecycle management to network administration and security compliance—working closely with engineers, operators, and leadership to ensure reliable systems that support our mission: mining asteroids. This is a one-person IT department role initially, giving you the opportunity to define IT at AstroForge and build the foundation for future scale. The role is based at our facility in Seal Beach, CA, and is ideal for a self-starter comfortable working alongside propulsion engineers and spacecraft technicians in a hardware-forward startup environment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all IT support requests; triage and resolve hardware, software, and network issues across macOS, Windows, and Linux environments.
• Design, deploy, and maintain corporate network infrastructure including switches, firewalls, VLANs, VPNs, and wireless access points supporting both office and lab environments.
• Administer identity and access management systems (SSO, MFA, and directory services) and manage provisioning and deprovisioning for all employees and contractors.
• Procure, configure, deploy, and asset-track all company hardware: laptops, workstations, servers, lab machines, mobile devices, and peripheral equipment.
• Manage and scale cloud services and SaaS applications (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Slack, Zoom, GitHub, and others) and enforce license compliance.
• Develop, implement, and maintain IT security policies in compliance with ITAR, CMMC, and NIST cybersecurity frameworks; act as a key contributor to the company’s information security posture.
• Establish and manage endpoint protection, patch management, and vulnerability remediation programs across all company devices.
• Support onboarding and offboarding workflows to ensure every employee has a seamless first day and a clean exit.
• Build and maintain IT documentation, network diagrams, runbooks, and standard operating procedures.
• Evaluate, recommend, and implement new tools and systems as the company scales; proactively identify gaps before they become incidents.

Requirements

• 3+ years of experience in IT systems administration, IT engineering, or a closely related role.
• Demonstrated ability to support users across macOS, Windows, and Linux environments.
• Hands-on experience administering network infrastructure: routing, switching, VPNs, firewalls, and wireless systems.
• Experience with identity and access management platforms such as Active Directory, Azure AD, Okta, or equivalent.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and SaaS administration at the organizational level.
• Strong troubleshooting instincts and the ability to diagnose and resolve issues independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work onsite at our Seal Beach, CA facility.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in an aerospace, defense, hardware startup, or manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of ITAR and/or CMMC compliance requirements.
• Proficiency in scripting (Bash, PowerShell, or Python) for automation, tooling, and reducing toil.
• Experience with MDM solutions such as Jamf or Microsoft Intune for endpoint management.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity frameworks including NIST CSF and CIS Controls.
• CompTIA Security+, Network+, or equivalent industry certifications.
• Willingness to work extended hours or weekends when operational needs require it.
• Ability to lift and move IT equipment up to 50 lbs.

Benefits

• 100% paid medical, dental, and life insurance coverage
• Vision and FSA benefits available
• 3 weeks of PTO + 1 week of sick time
• 10 paid holidays
• Retirement savings plan - 401(k), with company match
• Equity on the ground floor of a startup

Pay

• Level 1: $85,500 - $105,250
• Level 2: $100,500 - $130,250
• Level 3: $120,500 - $150,250

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C.1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Government.