Senior Associate, Operations

Engine; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The Engine Accelerator in Cambridge, MA is seeking a Senior Associate of Operations to oversee day-to-day building operations, vendor coordination, and support for the startups in our 165,000 square foot facility. This is a hands-on, in-person role that sits at the intersection of operational rigor and community.

This role requires an entrepreneurial mindset, readiness to roll up sleeves, and the ability to move quickly while fostering a welcoming environment for founders and programs in a

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in operations
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and details
• A systems thinker with an entrepreneurial mindset — excited to troubleshoot, experiment, and try new approaches
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Energized by a dynamic, on-your-feet environment — someone who enjoys meeting new people and getting a front‑row seat to what startups are building
• Comfortable working both independently and collaboratively
• Flexible, adaptable, and eager to learn; willing to roll up their sleeves across a wide range of projects

Responsibilities

• Ensure seamless day-to-day building operations, proactively identifying and resolving issues
• Support monthly invoicing, contracts, and related processes
• Oversee inventory management and ordering for building supplies and shared resources
• Manage building access and coordinate building trainings
• Foster a welcoming, collaborative environment for our startups
• Provide on-the-ground support for programming
• Serve as a primary point of contact for startup inquiries and concerns
• Own and execute discrete projects and operational workstreams from start to finish
• Identify opportunities to improve systems and workflows
• Collaborate cross-functionally with internal labs, facilities, and programming teams, as well as external vendors

Skills

Operations experience

Organizational skills

Systems thinking

Communication skills

Entrepreneurial mindset

Independent work

Job description

About The Engine

The Engine supports Tough Tech founders working to solve the world’s most pressing challenges in climate, health, and advanced systems. We do this through founder programs, access to shared infrastructure and labs, and by convening a national network of corporate partners, investors, and experts.

Senior Associate of Operations

The Engine Accelerator is looking for a Senior Associate of Operations to join our team in Cambridge, MA — someone who brings operational sharpness and genuine curiosity to a 165,000 square foot facility of shop, lab, and coworking space. This is a hands‑on, in‑person role that sits at the intersection of operational rigor and community — supporting the day‑to‑day rhythm of our building while helping cultivate a strong, engaged environment for the startups we serve. This is the right role for someone with an entrepreneurial mindset who thrives on variety, moves quickly, takes real ownership, and is genuinely excited to be on the ground floor of a community working on some of the hardest problems in science and technology.

A Day in the Life

No two days look the same in this role. You might start the morning restocking supplies and coordinating with a vendor to fix a broken coffee machine, then spend the afternoon supporting a startup with their growth and expansion plans. In between, you’re processing invoices, welcoming new team members to the startups in our building, assisting with programming, and finding ways to reduce operational friction so startups can stay focused on building their companies. This role is for someone who is energized by variety and takes pride in keeping things running smoothly — while staying curious about the work happening around them.

Operations & Systems

• Ensure seamless day-to-day building operations, proactively identifying and resolving issues


• Support monthly invoicing, contracts, and related processes


• Oversee inventory management and ordering for building supplies and shared resources


• Manage building access and coordinate building trainings

Community Experience

• Foster a welcoming, collaborative environment for our startups


• Provide on-the-ground support for programming


• Serve as a primary point of contact for startup inquiries and concerns

Project Ownership

• Own and execute discrete projects and operational workstreams from start to finish


• Identify opportunities to improve systems and workflows


• Collaborate cross-functionally with internal labs, facilities, and programming teams, as well as external vendors

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in operations


• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and details


• A systems thinker with an entrepreneurial mindset — excited to troubleshoot, experiment, and try new approaches


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills


• Energized by a dynamic, on-your-feet environment — someone who enjoys meeting new people and getting a front‑row seat to what startups are building


• Comfortable working both independently and collaboratively


• Flexible, adaptable, and eager to learn; willing to roll up their sleeves across a wide range of projects

Nice to Have

• Experience in or exposure to startups or similar operational roles