Operations Lead

etc.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Etc., the Exploration Technology Corp, is hiring a hands-on operations lead to join our team in San Francisco. You will work across multiple disciplines to build advanced hardware for space exploration and defense while coordinating with technical and executive leadership.

This startup role emphasizes end-to-end ownership, from low-level coordination to strategic decision-making, reporting directly to the COO.

Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma or bachelor’s degree.
• Experience: 2+ years of professional experience in operations, office management, or executive assistance, preferably in deep tech startups.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the physical and virtual workspace runs smoothly, including IT/AV setups.
• Coordinate building maintenance and upgrades and manage cleaners.
• Stock consumables including snacks, drinks, and PPE.
• Foster communication between founders and adoption of tools and processes across the team.
• Manage calendars, inboxes, and global travel for the C-suite, including coordinating team meetings and events.
• Establish shipping and receiving processes and coordinate IT updates and changes.

Skills

Adaptability

Cross-functional collaboration

Impactful leadership

Education

High school diploma

Bachelor's degree

Job description

About Etc.

etc, the Exploration Technology Corp, is a team of techno-optimists, motivated by the challenge of solving tough engineering problems, committed to creating sustainable change, and driven by a curiosity to explore and understand both our natural world and the universe .

For decades, the tools and technologies developed for spaceflight, defense, and exploration have not only helped us expand our understanding of the universe but have also supported human advancement here on Earth. We carry this legacy forward, knowing that innovation in these areas can lead to solutions that help people everywhere.

At etc., we are actively developing cutting-edge exploration and defense missions. If you join the team, you will have the opportunity to work on hardware and software for US Department of Defense missions, NASA programs, and much more.

We’re hiring a hands‑on operations lead to join our team, working across multiple disciplines. In this role, you’ll be part of a team building advanced hardware for space exploration and defense while integrating closely with both technical and executive leadership. This is very much a startup role, doing everything from low‑level coordination to creative decision‑making. Reporting directly to the COO, you will have authority over company processes and direction as we grow, ensuring that the team runs smoothly and effectively.

What You’ll Do

Building

• Ensure the physical and virtual workspace runs smoothly, including managing building organization/cleanliness and IT/AV setups
• Coordinate building maintenance and upgrades including managing handyman, physical branding, caring for plants, and managing cleaners
• Stock consumables including snacks/drinks and personal protective equipment

Team

• Foster communication between founders and encourage adoption of tools and processes across the team
• Manage calendars, inboxes, and global travel for the C‑suite, including coordinating and running recurring team meetings and events
• Show up with energy and drive morale

Legal/Finance

• Manage and organize documents including NDAs, contract paperwork, new hires, and bills
• Coordinate expense tracking to enable COO to make strategic financial decisions

Operations

• Establish shipping and receiving processes
• Manage government compliance (e.g. ensuring state and federal registrations are current)
• Coordinate IT updates and changes

Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma or bachelor’s degree.
• Experience: 2+ years of professional experience in operations, office management, or executive assistance, preferably in deep tech startups.

Capabilities

• Thrive in Ambiguity. Startups change rapidly; you will be expected to build processes from scratch and operate without a playbook.
• Cross-Functional Reach. You will serve as the glue that connects different teams (engineering, product, marketing), ensuring smooth internal workflows.
• High Impact. The energy you bring to your work directly dictates the productivity and morale of the entire company.

Preferences

• Expeditionary mindset: you have the curiosity and drive to ask big questions about the natural world and deploy systems to extreme environments to answer those questions.
• Previous start‑up work experience.

The Pay Range For This Role Is

55,000 – 90,000 USD per year(SF HQ)