Job description
Who we are
The problem: Every minute matters in fire response. As climate change amplifies the intensity of wildfires—with longer fire seasons, dryer fuels, and faster winds—new ignitions spread faster and put more communities at risk. Today, most wildfires are detected by bystanders and reported via 911, meaning it can take hours to detect a fire, verify its exact location and size, and dispatch first responders. Fire authorities need a faster way to detect, confirm, and pinpoint fires so that they can quickly respond—preventing small flare-ups from becoming devastating infernos.
About Pano: We are a 100+ person growth-stage hybrid-remote start-up, headquartered in San Francisco. We are the leader in early wildfire detection and intelligence, helping fire professionals respond to fires faster and more safely—with the right equipment, timely information, and enhanced coordination—so that they can stop a new ignition before it grows. Pano AI combines advanced hardware, software, and artificial intelligence into an easy-to-use, web-based platform. Leveraging a network of ultra-high-definition, 360-degree cameras atop high vantage points, as well as satellite and other data feeds, Pano AI produces a real-time picture of threats in a geographic region and delivers immediate, actionable intelligence.
Pano AI is on TIME’s list of the 100 Most Influential Companies of 2025! MIT Technology Review listed Pano as one of the top 15 climate tech companies to watch in 2024, and Fast Company named Pano AI one of the Top 10 most innovative companies in AI of 2023. We’ve also been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and CNBC News. Pano AI’s dozens of government and enterprise customers span 16 states in the U.S., five states in Australia, and BC, Canada, and we are currently monitoring over 30 million acres of land. Pano AI has raised $89M in venture capital funding from Giant Ventures, Liberty Mutual Ventures, Tokio Marine Future Fund, Congruent Ventures, Initialized Capital, Salesforce Ventures, and T-Mobile Ventures. Learn more at https://www.pano.ai/.
The Role:
Pano AI is seeking a strategic and hands-on Director of Information Technology and Security to lead and scale our internal technology function. You’ll serve as the company’s senior-most technology and security leader, responsible for both core infrastructure and the protection of Pano AI’s information assets. You’ll lead IT operations and our Security & GRC teams to build and scale secure, compliant systems that enable our employees to do their best, most efficient work while maintaining a high level of security and trust that our utility and government customers expect.
This is a key leadership role that blends operational rigor with forward-thinking strategy. You’ll be responsible for building high-performance IT and IS teams, maturing our
systems and tooling, and enabling scalable, secure growth as we continue to expand globally.
What You’ll Do
Technology & Security Leadership
Own the vision, roadmap, and execution of Pano AI’s internal IT and security strategy, ensuring alignment with business goals and risk posture
Build, mentor, and scale high-performance IT and IS teams with a focus on operational excellence, employee experience, and service delivery
Define and track KPIs for IT operations and security programs to drive accountability and continuous improvement
Partner with Engineering, Product, Legal, People, and other functions to ensure enterprise-wide alignment on technical controls, risk management, and audit readiness
Infrastructure, Tools & Operations
Oversee corporate infrastructure and core systems (e.g., Okta, Google Workspace, Zoom, MDM, SaaS stack), managing endpoint environments across Mac and Windows
Drive automation, scalability, and lifecycle management across hardware, software, and access provisioning workflows
Manage vendor relationships, tooling selection, and IT/security budgets with a focus on cost-effectiveness and long-term value
Information Security & Compliance
Lead the execution of the information security program, including policies, roadmaps, and incident response procedures
Ensure the effective implementation of technical security controls such as SSO/MFA enforcement, endpoint protection, and device compliance
Coordinate and support security certifications and compliance initiatives (e.g., ISO 27001, SOC 2, CCPA/GDPR, FedRAMP), including audits and remediation
Evaluate and implement security tooling integrations into the IT ecosystem (e.g., email security, logging, CASBs, vulnerability scanners)
Employee Technology Experience
Champion an excellent technology experience for employees from onboarding through daily support to enable employees to do their best, most efficient work whether in the office or remote
Continuously improve IT support processes, including helpdesk workflows, SLAs, and knowledge base content
Act as an escalation point for executive and complex technical support needs
What You’ll Bring
- 10+ years of progressive experience in IT and IS, with at least 3+ years in a senior leadership role (Sr. Manager, Head of IT, or Director-level)
- Proven success scaling IT and IS in a fast-paced, cloud-first environment (preferably in SaaS or high-growth tech)
- Strong experience across modern SaaS tooling, identity/access management, endpoint management, and IT compliance
- Technical knowledge of key security concepts (e.g., least privilege, zero trust, secure config baselines) and how they map to IT operations
- Familiarity with compliance frameworks including ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type 2 and their technical control requirements
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills — able to confidently engage with execs, vendors, and cross-functional partners
- Hands-on, humble, and excited to build — this role is part strategy, part sleeves-rolled-up execution
$22,000 - $242,000 a year
This role is eligible for a bonus. Final salary offered is based upon multiple factors, including individual job-related qualifications, education, experience, knowledge, skills and location. In addition to salary, this position is also eligible for a bonus and stock options. We offer comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, unlimited paid time off, and a matching 401 (k).
Pano is an equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and supporting our team-members regardless of where they come from. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
