Chief of Staff

Serve as the CEO’s strategic and operational right hand, driving executive cadence, cross-functional initiatives, board and investor communications, and organizational scaling. Requires 8+ years of executive-level strategy or operations experience, strong communication skills, and U.S. citizenship with DoD clearance eligibility.

About the job

Responsibilities

Serve as a strategic advisor and operational partner to the CEO and executive leadership team.
Manage the CEO’s operating rhythm, including calendar priorities, meeting preparation, and follow-through.
Prepare board meetings, investor updates, executive offsites, and company-wide communications.
Drive cross-functional strategic initiatives across Engineering, Product, Business Development, Finance, and People Operations.
Identify and resolve leadership misalignments, blockers, and execution gaps.
Design and run leadership syncs, quarterly business reviews, OKR processes, and strategic planning cycles.
Develop executive communications, board materials, investor communications, external briefings, and customer presentations.
Support organizational design, headcount planning, and talent strategy.
Build relationships with investors, board members, customers, partners, and government officials; represent the CEO when needed.
Lead special projects requiring cross-functional coordination or direct CEO involvement.
Maintain strict confidentiality and discretion regarding sensitive business, personnel, and strategic matters.

Requirements

8+ years of progressive experience in chief of staff, strategy, management consulting, investment banking, business operations, or a comparable executive-support role.
Experience partnering directly with a CEO, President, or C-suite leader in a high-growth or mission-critical environment.
Experience in defense, national security, aerospace, or another regulated technical environment, or the ability to ramp quickly in a complex domain.
Proven ability to manage cross-functional initiatives, drive decisions, and deliver results without direct authority.
Exceptional written and verbal communication, including executive presentations, board materials, and external stakeholder communications.
Strong analytical and structured-thinking skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information into clear recommendations and actions.
Experience designing and running executive operating cadences, OKR processes, and strategic planning cycles.
High integrity, discretion, and professionalism.
U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.

Nice-to-Haves

Active DoD security clearance at Secret level or higher.
Prior military service or significant experience with military or government organizations.
Experience at a venture-backed startup or high-growth technology company, ideally during a Series A to Series C transition.
Management consulting, investment banking, or private equity experience involving defense, aerospace, or national security.
Experience supporting boards of directors, investor relations, or fundraising.
Familiarity with federal acquisition, government contracting, or defense procurement.
MBA or advanced degree.

Compensation & Benefits

Competitive salary.
Medical, dental, and vision plans.
401(k) plan with company match.
Equity grants for new hires.
Unlimited PTO and 11 paid holidays.
Generous company holiday calendar and holiday hiatus.
Parental leave and military leave.
FSA, DCFSA, and HSA options.
Professional development opportunities.
One Medical access.
Free 24/7 mental health resources and additional work-life services.

Skills

Strategic Planning, Okrs, Executive Communication, Board Materials, Investor Relations, Cross-Functional Leadership, Organizational Design, Headcount Planning, Government Contracting, Defense Procurement, Federal Acquisition, Management Consulting, Investment Banking, Security Clearance