Engineering Operations Associate

IRPI • Wilsonville, OR

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

IRPI is seeking an Engineering Operations Associate to manage the operational aspects of their hardware shop, including contracts, proposals, project financials, vendors, hiring logistics, and production. This role supports the engineering team and allows leadership to focus on technical and customer-facing work. The position is ideal for someone early in their operations career who is organized, eager to learn, and excited about supporting an agile technical hardware company. The role involves a broad range of activities, working closely with the president, and requires a high standard of execution. It is not suited for individuals seeking a highly defined role with established processes, but rather for those who want to help build operational playbooks in a growing company.

Requirements

• 3-4 years in operations, executive support, business operations, or a related role.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent, deadline-driven workstreams without dropping balls.
• Comfortable tracking 10+ active threads at once with minimal oversight.
• Systems mindset: ability to notice broken processes, document them, and improve them.
• Strong written communication and high discretion.
• Coachable and low-ego; takes feedback well, does small tasks alongside big ones, motivated by the work itself.
• Proficient with Microsoft 365 (Teams, SharePoint, Planner).
• Comfortable adopting new software quickly.
• Actively uses AI/LLM tools to accelerate drafting, automate repetitive admin, and stay efficient.
• U.S. person status required (as defined by 22 CFR 120.62).

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a technical, regulated, or small-company environment (aerospace, defense, R&D, hardware startups, engineering services).
• Aerospace, defense, or R&D exposure.
• Comfort with NDAs, ITAR-adjacent vocabulary, and the general rhythm of a technical organization.
• GovCon familiarity (federal contracting, SBIR/STTR, DCAA compliance, government deliverables).
• Sub-50-person company experience.
• Financial tracking exposure (project budgets, burn rates, or BvA reporting).

Responsibilities

• Contract & Document Administration: Route NDAs and contracts for signature, maintain organized records of executed agreements and deliverables, track submission confirmations, and ensure documentation discipline.
• Proposal Submission Coordination: Manage the administrative side of proposal preparation, including maintaining boilerplate content, running submission checklists, assembling packages, and ensuring government forms are complete and compliant.
• Project Financial Tracking: Support project budget tracking, burn rate monitoring, and Budget vs. Actual (BvA) reporting, with growing ownership over time.
• Vendor & Facilities Coordination: Manage relationships with building service providers, IT vendors, and other external partners; oversee IT hardware/software inventory and coordinate facility logistics.
• Hiring & Onboarding Coordination: Schedule interviews, coordinate candidate communications, and manage onboarding logistics including hardware provisioning and account setup.
• Light Project Tracking Support: Assist in maintaining visibility into deliverable timelines and milestones across active programs.
• Process Improvement: Identify inefficiencies, document standard operating procedures, and use modern software and AI tools to automate repetitive work.
• General Executive Support: Triage email and meetings, prepare meeting materials, and follow up on action items for the president.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance coverage for you and your family.
• SIMPLE IRA with employer matching.
• Generous paid time off, sick leave, and holiday schedule.
• Paid parental leave and flexibility.
• Annual bonus opportunities tied to company profitability and individual impact.
• Mission Impact: Opportunity to be part of a team building hardware that goes to space.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level