Chief of Staff

The role

The Chief of Staff serves as an operational right hand and strategic force multiplier to the CEO. You will diagnose friction, deconstruct complex contracts, and synchronize engineering sprints with critical milestones.

What you will do

• Intercept and execute complex operational blockers
• Dissect commercial, vendor, and defense subcontract agreements
• Audit and resolve operational friction points
• Conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis for the CEO
• Bridge the gap between strategic vision and the shop floor
• Embed with engineering teams to ensure sprint priorities map to milestones
• Establish operating rhythms and milestone gates
• Represent the CEO in conversations with suppliers, partners, and government counterparts
• Draft executive briefs, board materials, and partner memos
• Lead operational blitzes for facility build-outs, production scaling, and compliance

Required qualifications

• 4–8+ years of high-impact experience in hardware/defense startup operations, technical program management, management consulting, or as a military operations/executive officer (XO)
• Comfortable in Ambiguity
• Contract & Commercial Fluency
• Technical & Warfighter Literacy
• Extreme Ownership & Composure
• 100% onsite in Austin, TX

Nice to have

• Prior experience at an early-stage defense tech, aerospace, robotics, or complex hardware startup(s)
• Experience reviewing or executing government/commercial contracts (e.g., SBIR/STTR, OTAs, commercial subcontracts)
• Active U.S. Security Clearance (Secret or TS/SCI) or eligibility to obtain one
• Technical or engineering degree (Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, Aerospace, or CS)

Benefits

• Meaningful Early Equity
• Direct Roadmap Influence
• Mission-Critical Work
• 100% Employer-Paid Premiums for medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 50% coverage of healthcare premiums for dependents
• Unlimited PTO
• Zero Red Tape
• Austin-Based Culture
• Relocation Assistance

Before you apply

• Initial screening with recruiter – 30 min phone call
• Virtual interview with co-founder / COO – 45 min via MS Teams
• Onsite interview in Austin with co-founders / COO and CEO

About the company

9 Mothers develops AI-powered machines designed to intercept and neutralize Group 1/sUAS threats in real time. They are a team of hackers, engineers, and mission-driven builders.