Manager, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS)

Manager, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS); El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 182,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401k with company match

Free daily lunch onsite

Job summary

CHAOS Industries seeks an Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Manager to establish and lead the company’s EHS programs across manufacturing, laboratory, test, warehouse, and office environments. The role combines hands-on execution with strategic development, creating policies, conducting inspections, investigations, and partnering with engineering and operations to solve safety challenges.

The ideal candidate will be a builder who thrives in fast-paced settings, with strong knowledge of

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressively responsible EHS experience in manufacturing, aerospace, defense, robotics, energy, industrial, laboratory, or similarly complex environments.
• Experience developing, implementing, and managing EHS programs.
• Experience conducting incident investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective actions.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead the company’s Environmental, Health & Safety management system and roadmap.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve EHS policies, procedures, standards, and training programs.
• Create scalable EHS programs that support current operations and future company growth.
• Lead incident, injury, property damage, and near-miss investigations.
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Facilities, Supply Chain, and Operations teams to integrate safety into daily operations.
• Develop and deliver engaging EHS training programs for employees, contractors, and visitors.

Skills

EHS leadership

Incident investigations

Hazard assessments

OSHA knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health & Safety

Job description

CHAOS Industries is redefining modern defense with a multi-product portfolio that gives the ultimate advantage—domain dominance. The company's products are powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN™), empowering warfighters, commercial air operators, and border protection teams to act faster, adapt rapidly, and stay ahead of evolving threats.

CHAOS Industries was founded in 2022 and has raised a total of $1 billion in funding from leading investors, including 8VC, Accel, and Valor Equity Partners. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, and London. For more information, please visit www.chaosinc.com.

Role Overview

The Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Manager will be responsible for establishing and leading the company’s EHS programs across manufacturing, laboratory, test, warehouse, and office environments. This role requires a hands‑on leader who is equally comfortable developing long‑term strategy, creating policies and procedures, conducting facility inspections, delivering training, investigating incidents, and partnering with engineering and operations teams to solve complex safety challenges.
The ideal candidate is a builder who thrives in fast‑paced environments, possesses strong technical knowledge of occupational safety and environmental compliance, and understands how to create practical solutions that support innovation while protecting employees, contractors, visitors, and company assets.

Responsibilities

• EHS Program Development & Leadership
  • Establish and lead the company’s Environmental, Health & Safety management system and roadmap.
  • Develop, implement, and continuously improve EHS policies, procedures, standards, and training programs.
  • Create scalable EHS programs that support current operations and future company growth.
  • Establish EHS goals, performance metrics, reporting mechanisms, and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Serve as the primary EHS subject matter expert and advisor to company leadership.
  • Build and promote a proactive safety culture across all levels of the organization.
  • Develop strategic plans to support facility expansion, manufacturing growth, and operational scaling.
• Program Implementation & Execution
  • Personally execute and administer key EHS programs including, but not limited to:
    • Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)
    • Electrical Safety
    • Hazard Communication
    • Contractor Safety
    • Machine Guarding
    • Powered Industrial Trucks
    • Hot Work
    • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
    • Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)
    • Hazardous Waste Management
    • Emergency Response and Preparedness
  • Conduct routine workplace inspections, audits, and hazard assessments.
  • Identify workplace hazards and develop practical corrective actions that reduce risk while maintaining operational effectiveness.
  • Maintain EHS documentation, records, permits, and compliance reporting requirements.
  • Manage environmental compliance activities related to hazardous materials, waste handling, chemical inventory management, and applicable regulatory reporting.
• Risk Management & Incident Response
  • Lead incident, injury, property damage, and near-miss investigations.
  • Conduct root cause analyses and drive corrective and preventive actions through completion.
  • Perform risk assessments for manufacturing operations, laboratories, engineering activities, test operations, and facilities projects.
  • Support operational readiness reviews for new equipment, processes, and facility modifications.
  • Monitor leading and lagging indicators to identify trends and drive continuous improvement.
• Engineering & Operations Partnership
  • Partner closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Facilities, Supply Chain, and Operations teams to integrate safety into daily operations.
  • Participate in design reviews, process development activities, facility planning, and operational readiness assessments.
  • Support rapid prototyping, testing, and manufacturing activities by identifying practical risk mitigation strategies.
  • Collaborate with leadership and functional teams to ensure consistent implementation of EHS programs and standards.
  • Support contractor management and visitor safety programs.
• Training & Culture
  • Develop and deliver engaging EHS training programs for employees, contractors, and visitors.
  • Provide coaching and guidance to leaders and employees on safe work practices and regulatory requirements.
  • Lead safety committee activities and employee engagement initiatives.
  • Develop communication strategies that improve awareness, accountability, and participation in EHS programs.
• Compliance & Audits
  • Ensure compliance with applicable OSHA, Cal/OSHA, EPA, and local regulatory requirements.
  • Support and lead internal audits, customer audits, and regulatory inspections.
  • Prepare the organization for future certifications, assessments, and compliance initiatives.
  • Maintain awareness of evolving regulatory requirements and industry best practices.

Required Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.
• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health & Safety, Occupational Safety, Environmental Science, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of progressively responsible EHS experience in manufacturing, aerospace, defense, robotics, energy, industrial, laboratory, or similarly complex operational environments.
• Experience developing, implementing, and managing EHS programs.
• Experience conducting incident investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective action management.
• Strong knowledge of OSHA, Cal/OSHA, and environmental regulatory requirements.
• Experience conducting workplace inspections, audits, and risk assessments.
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to operate independently and drive initiatives with minimal oversight.
• Ability to influence stakeholders across multiple functions and organizational levels.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience serving as the primary or sole EHS professional within a startup, high‑growth company, or rapidly scaling operation.
• Experience supporting advanced manufacturing, robotics, autonomous systems, high‑voltage systems, battery systems, laboratories, or test operations.
• Professional certifications such as ASP, CSP, CHMM, CIH, or GSP.
• Experience implementing or managing ISO 14001, ISO 45001, AS9100, or similar management systems.
• Experience supporting government programs, classified environments, or defense‑related operations.
• Experience working within research and development environments.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in office, manufacturing, warehouse, laboratory, and outdoor environments.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Ability to walk production and operational areas for extended periods.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to travel occasionally to support company operations, testing activities, and facility needs.

Why CHAOS?

• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision benefits 100% paid for by the company
• Additional benefits: 401k (+ 50% company match up to 6% of pay), FSA, HSA, life insurance, and more
• Our Perks: Free daily lunch while you're working onsite, fully‑stocked kitchen, unlimited PTO, casual dress code
• Compensation Components: Competitive base salaries, generous pre‑IPO stock option grants, relocation assistance, and (coming soon!) annual bonuses
• Team Growth: 500+employees and counting across 5 global offices

Salary Range: $132,000 - $182,000

The stated compensation range reflects only the targeted base compensation range and excludes additional earnings such as bonus, equity, and benefits. If your compensation requirements fall outside of the range, we still encourage you to apply. The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations.