Position Summary
The IT Specialist is responsible for maintaining, supporting, and securing the company’s information technology systems, infrastructure, and end-user equipment. This role provides hands-on technical support to office personnel, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Production to ensure reliable and secure technology operations.
In a small aerospace and defense manufacturing environment, the IT Specialist helps maintain system availability, protect sensitive company and customer information, support manufacturing software, and assist with compliance requirements applicable to aerospace and defense contracts.
The ideal candidate is a hands-on, service-oriented IT professional who can work independently, prioritize competing demands, and support both office and shop-floor technology needs.
Key Responsibilities
1. IT Operations and Technical Support
- Provide first- and second-level technical support for computers, laptops, printers, mobile devices, and user applications.
- Troubleshoot hardware, software, network connectivity, and access issues.
- Set up and configure equipment and user accounts for new employees.
- Manage user onboarding, role changes, and offboarding in accordance with company procedures.
- Maintain IT equipment inventory, software licenses, documentation, and support records.
- Coordinate with external IT service providers when specialized support is required.
2. Network and Infrastructure
- Support local area networks, Wi-Fi, switches, firewalls, servers, and cloud-based services.
- Monitor system availability and assist with backups, recovery testing, and disaster recovery procedures.
- Maintain user accounts, permissions, multifactor authentication, and password policies.
- Assist with software updates, endpoint protection, patch management, and system maintenance.
- Escalate infrastructure issues that could affect production or business operations.
3. Cybersecurity and Compliance
- Implement IT security policies and procedures established by the IT Manager.
- Support access controls, endpoint security, vulnerability remediation, and security awareness training.
- Assist with cybersecurity assessments, internal audits, evidence collection, and corrective actions.
- Help maintain compliance with applicable customer, contractual, and regulatory requirements, including NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC where required.
- Support the protection of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), technical data, and other sensitive information.
- Follow company procedures for incident reporting, investigation, documentation, and escalation.
- Assist with ITAR-related controls when applicable to the company’s operations and contracts.
4. Manufacturing and Business Systems Support
- Provide technical support for ERP, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), quality management systems, and production reporting applications.
- Support shop-floor computers, barcode scanners, label printers, inspection workstations, and other approved connected devices.
- Coordinate with Production, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain to resolve system issues affecting manufacturing operations.
- Help maintain data integrity, production traceability, and reliable access to manufacturing records.
- Coordinate with Engineering or designated Operational Technology (OT) personnel when issues involve industrial equipment, machine connectivity, or production control systems.
- Ensure IT changes affecting production systems are properly reviewed, tested, documented, and approved.
5. Documentation and Continuous Improvement
- Maintain accurate IT procedures, network documentation, asset records, and troubleshooting guides.
- Track support requests and communicate status and resolution to affected employees.
- Identify recurring issues and recommend practical improvements.
- Assist with IT projects, equipment upgrades, system implementations, and technology standardization.
- Support business continuity planning and periodic recovery exercises.
Qualifications
Required:
- Associate degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
- Two or more years of experience in IT support, systems administration, or a similar technical role.
- Working knowledge of Windows operating systems, Microsoft 365, user account management, and basic networking.
- Familiarity with endpoint protection, patch management, backups, and cybersecurity best practices.
- Strong troubleshooting, organizational, documentation, and communication skills.
- Ability to support users in both office and manufacturing environments.
- Proof of United States Citizenship.
Preferred:
- Experience in aerospace, defense, precision machining, composites, or other regulated manufacturing environments.
- Familiarity with ERP, MES, quality management, or production traceability systems.
- Knowledge of NIST SP 800-171, CMMC, CUI handling, or ITAR-related IT controls.
- Experience with Microsoft Entra ID, Active Directory, Intune, endpoint management, or cloud administration.
- CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, or relevant Microsoft certifications.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Performance will be evaluated using measures such as:
- IT support response and resolution times.
- System availability and reliability.
- Timely completion of security patches and endpoint updates.
- Successful backup monitoring and recovery tests.
- Completion of user access reviews and employee onboarding/offboarding tasks.
- Accuracy of IT asset inventory and technical documentation.
- Timely closure of audit findings and assigned cybersecurity corrective actions.
- Internal customer satisfaction and reduction of recurring IT issues.
Working Relationships
Internal: IT Manager, Production, Engineering, Quality Assurance, Supply Chain, Finance, Human Resources, and company leadership.
External: Managed IT service providers, software vendors, hardware suppliers, cybersecurity service providers, and approved customer or assessment representatives as authorized.
Authority and Accountability
The IT Specialist reports to the IT Manager and is responsible for day-to-day technical support and assigned IT operational tasks. The position must follow established change-control and cybersecurity procedures.
The IT Specialist does not independently authorize exceptions to security policies, compliance requirements, or production system controls. Suspected cybersecurity incidents, unauthorized access, and significant system outages must be promptly escalated to the IT Manager.
Salary is negotiable based on experience.
Pay: $25.00 – $48.00 per hour
Expected hours: 40.0 per week
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Location:
- Largo, FL 33773 (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Largo, FL 33773 (Required)
Work Location: In person
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