Chief of Staff

Magrathea Metals•Oakland, CA

15d•Onsite

About The Position

Magrathea, based in Oakland, California, is a global leader in critical mineral production technology, aiming to rebuild the magnesium metal supply base and ensure secure access to this vital material. Magnesium is crucial for industries like aluminum, steel, titanium, nuclear, defense, and aerospace. Currently, 95% of global supply originates from China, posing economic and national security risks. Magrathea is addressing this by developing a next-generation electrolytic process to produce magnesium metal from seawater and brines, promoting industrial independence and environmental sustainability. The company is supported by early investors in Tesla and SpaceX, prominent European industrial families, and the U.S. Department of Defense. This role offers an opportunity to join a high-performance team focused on establishing the first major electrolytic magnesium smelter this century, with a strong emphasis on execution and hands-on involvement in a technology that will significantly impact national security, clean technology, and industrial resilience. The ideal candidate is someone who embraces challenges, thrives under pressure, and desires to build something historically significant.

Requirements

10+ years of experience in high-accountability operating environments, such as industrial startups, manufacturing, energy, defense, aerospace, engineering, project development, government programs, consulting, investing, or the military.
Strong technical fluency and comfort working with engineers, operators, vendors, contractors, and executives.
Demonstrated ability to take ambiguous, messy problems and turn them into clear plans, owners, timelines, and outcomes.
Participated in negotiation of contracts and commercial agreements.
Exceptional written communication, project management, analytical judgment, and follow-through.
Willingness to personally execute: drafting, calling, chasing, organizing, documenting, negotiating, troubleshooting, and closing loops.
Strong bias toward action, low ego, high stamina, and comfort operating without a playbook.

Nice To Haves

Experience in chemical processing, metals, mining, energy infrastructure, project finance, EPC, advanced manufacturing, or government funding programs.

Responsibilities

Serve as a force multiplier for the CEO and CTO by taking high-priority, ambiguous problems and driving them to completion.
Process contracts like NDAs with our legal team.
Prepare presentations.
Develop financial reporting for investors and our board of directors.
Prepare executive, board, investor, customer, and government-facing materials that are clear, accurate, and action-oriented.
Support operating finance for tax, payroll, reporting, and audits.
Guide the company’s human resources program.
Own cross-functional execution across operations, engineering, commercial, finance, government funding, recruiting, and internal company systems.
Chase details relentlessly: vendors, contractors, partners, investors, agencies, candidates, internal owners, deadlines, open questions, and next steps.
Step into whatever urgent workstream matters most, even when it does not fit neatly into a job description.