Chief Financial Officer

Xona Space Systems•Burlingame, CA

About The Position

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth. With Pulsar – the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection. The CFO will be a strategic and operational partner to the CEO and executive team, responsible for leading Xona’s financial strategy, execution, and infrastructure. This role blends high-level financial leadership with hands-on ownership across accounting, FP&A, fundraising support, compliance, and systems. You’ll play a critical role in capital strategy, operational planning, and ensuring financial rigor as Xona scales its satellite constellation, manufacturing, and commercial operations.

Requirements

10+ years of progressive finance leadership experience (CFO, VP Finance, or equivalent senior role)
Proven experience operating in a fast-paced startup or scale-up environment
Strong expertise across FP&A, accounting, and financial operations
Experience supporting venture capital fundraising and Board-level financial reporting
Hands-on, detail-oriented leader willing to dive in where needed
Ability to communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Strong judgment, analytical rigor, and ability to drive decisions under ambiguity

Nice To Haves

Experience in aerospace, space, defense, hardware, or other capital-intensive technical environments
Experience supporting government customers, grants, or regulated contracts
Familiarity with manufacturing cost models and hardware program economics
Experience scaling finance teams and systems from early-stage to growth-stage
Exposure to ERP implementation or financial systems build-out
CPA, CFA, and/or MBA (preferred but not required)

Responsibilities

Partner closely with the CEO and Board to define and execute Xona’s financial strategy
Provide clear financial insights to support business decisions, growth initiatives, and long-term planning
Serve as a trusted advisor to the executive team on budgeting, forecasting, and trade-off decisions
Own company-wide budgeting, forecasting, and long-range financial planning
Build and maintain operating models supporting R&D, manufacturing, and deployment programs
Track KPIs and financial performance, highlighting risks, opportunities, and corrective actions
Oversee accounting operations including monthly close, financial statements, and audits
Ensure strong internal controls and compliance with GAAP and regulatory requirements
Manage relationships with external auditors, tax advisors, and banking partners
Support equity and debt fundraising, including investor materials, data rooms, and diligence
Partner with the CEO on capital planning, runway management, and scenario modeling
Build and scale financial systems, tools, and processes to support company growth
Oversee ERP, accounting software, and reporting infrastructure
Drive process improvements that balance financial rigor with startup agility
Build and lead a high-performing finance team over time
Work cross-functionally with Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Legal, and HR
Support contract review, pricing strategy, and vendor negotiations as needed