Chief of Staff

9 Mothers • Austin, TX

12d • $150,000 - $200,000 • Onsite

About The Position

9 Mothers is an Austin-based defense technology company developing AI-powered systems to intercept and neutralize Group 1/sUAS threats. Its flagship product, Edda, is a low-cost, autonomous-capable point defense turret designed to detect and engage high-speed FPV drones at close range.

The Chief of Staff will serve as the CEO’s operational right hand and strategic force multiplier. This is an execution-focused role, not an executive assistant position. The Chief of Staff will turn the CEO’s strategic intent into structured execution, take ownership of outcomes, resolve operational blockers, and keep commercial commitments aligned with multidisciplinary engineering work. The position is 100% onsite in Austin, Texas, working closely with engineering and test teams in a high-tempo hardware and defense environment.

Requirements

• 4–8+ years of high-impact experience in hardware or defense startup operations, technical program management, management consulting as an engagement/project lead, or military operations/executive officer (XO) work.
• Ability to operate in ambiguity, diagnose problems, scope variables, build frameworks, and execute without waiting for standard operating procedures.
• Ability to review statements of work and vendor agreements, identify misaligned deliverable clauses, and trace billing and invoicing to underlying project data.
• Comfort working alongside hardware, firmware, and software engineers in a lab or shop environment.
• Defense technology, unmanned systems, or defense acquisition experience is an advantage.
• Strong ownership, composure under high operational tempo, and ability to maintain a calm, authoritative presence under pressure.
• Willingness to work 100% onsite in Austin, Texas.

Nice To Haves

• Experience at an early-stage defense technology, aerospace, robotics, or complex hardware startup.
• Experience reviewing or executing government or commercial contracts, such as SBIR/STTR, OTAs, or commercial subcontracts, and understanding deliverables and invoicing flows.
• Active U.S. security clearance (Secret or TS/SCI) or eligibility to obtain one.
• Technical or engineering degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, Aerospace, or Computer Science.

Responsibilities

• Resolve complex operational blockers and execute solutions before they reach the CEO.
• Review commercial, vendor, and defense subcontract agreements, including statements of work, milestones, invoicing terms, and deliverable schedules, to protect the company’s financial and legal posture.
• Identify and resolve operational friction involving procurement, invoicing, and vendor deliverables.
• Conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis and present decision-ready frameworks, trade-offs, and recommendations to the CEO.
• Connect the CEO’s strategic vision and commercial commitments with engineering execution.
• Work with hardware, software, and systems engineering teams to align sprint priorities with contracted milestones.
• Establish operating rhythms, issue trackers, and milestone gates that improve execution discipline without creating bureaucratic delays.
• Represent the CEO in discussions with suppliers, integration partners, prime contractors, and government counterparts.
• Resolve partner friction and commercial tension while preserving strategic relationships and leverage.
• Draft executive communications, briefs, board materials, and partner memos in the CEO’s voice.
• Lead time-sensitive initiatives involving facility build-outs, production scaling, tooling procurement, and compliance milestones.
• Automate manual operations, finance, and reporting processes using AI and workflow tools.

Benefits

• Meaningful early equity and foundational ownership.
• Direct influence on the product and technology roadmap.
• Employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums; 50% of healthcare premiums for dependents are covered.
• Unlimited paid time off.
• Autonomy to make operational decisions, with direct reporting to the founders.
• Onsite Austin-based team culture focused on collaboration and rapid field-testing.
• Relocation assistance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed