Senior Cost Accountant

Astrolab; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity ownership in the company

Comprehensive health benefits

401(k) plan with company match

Flexible PTO

Weekly lunch stipend

Job summary

Astrolab is seeking a Senior Cost Accountant in Hawthorne, California, to manage day-to-day costing operations and ensure compliance with US GAAP and Federal Acquisition Regulations. You will track engineering changes, procurement, and product quality.

Ideal candidates hold a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance and have experience with NetSuite. The role includes collaboration with engineering and manufacturing teams to ensure accurate costing.

The company offers equity ownership, comprehensive health benefits, and flexible PTO.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of progressive cost accounting experience.
• Direct experience in a FAR-compliant environment.
• A hands-on executor who enjoys setting up processes.

Responsibilities

• Implement and customize NetSuite costing modules.
• Track and analyze expenditures.
• Ensure compliance with US GAAP and FAR.

Skills

Attention to detail

Cost accounting

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Tools

NetSuite

Job description

Compensation: $130,000 - $160,000 / year

Application Deadline: 31 July 2026

Department: Accounting & Finance

Location: Hawthorne, California

Description

Venturi Astrolab, Inc. (Astrolab) is pioneering new ways to explore and operate on distant planetary bodies. We are singularly focused on designing, building, and operating a fleet of multi‑purpose commercial planetary rovers to extend and enhance humanity’s presence in the solar system. We are seeking motivated, creative, and exceptional people to join our world‑class team.

Astrolab is seeking a hands‑on, detail‑oriented Senior Cost Accountant to manage and execute our day‑to‑day costing operations as we transition from design to the manufacturing and testing of our first‑of‑a‑kind lunar service robotics.

You will be the financial eyes and ears on the floor—tracking engineering design changes, equipment procurement, third‑party contractors, test‑product quality, spares, and scrap. Crucially, you will ensure our costing structures maintain strict compliance with both US GAAP and Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).

What you’ll do:

NetSuite Implementation & Daily Execution

• Implement, maintain, and customize NetSuite’s costing modules to align with company accounting policies and reporting needs.
• Execute day‑to‑day cost accounting entries, labor distributions, and inventory reconciliations.
• Establish and maintain work centers, routing steps, and Bill of Materials (BOM) cost structures within NetSuite.

Cost Tracking & Analysis

• Track and analyze expenditures across multiple dimensions: by account, department, work station, and product segment.
• Monitor and report on variances (material, labor, and overhead) between budgeted estimates and actual build costs.
• Partner with Engineering and Supply Chain to accurately track and account for high‑value scrap, rework, and spare parts inventory.

Technical & Regulatory Compliance

• Apply US GAAP principles to accurately distinguish between R&D expenses (pre‑technical feasibility) and Capitalized Assets (flight hardware/PP&E).
• Ensure all cost accounting practices, labor logs, and overhead pools comply with FAR and government contracting requirements.
• Assist the Controller in preparing for external financial audits and government compliance reviews.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality Assurance teams to ensure accurate tracking of test‑product costs and qualification units.
• Translate complex operational activities on the manufacturing floor into accurate financial data.

What you’ll bring:

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• ERP Expertise: 2+ years of hands‑on experience using NetSuite, specifically within manufacturing, inventory, or project‑costing modules.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Direct experience working in a FAR‑compliant environment (Aerospace, Defense, or Government Contracting).
• Core Accounting: 3–5 years of progressive cost accounting experience, with a deep understanding of job‑order/project‑based costing (low volume, high complexity).
• Mindset: A hands‑on executor who enjoys setting up processes from scratch and working cross‑functionally with engineers and technicians.

Preferred Attributes

• Familiarity with ASC 730 (R&D) vs. ASC 360 (Property, Plant, and Equipment) optimization for aerospace hardware.
• Experience assisting with a NetSuite implementation or advanced customization phase.

Benefits and Perks

• Join a team of best‑in‑class engineers building the foundation of planetary surface exploration.
• Equity ownership in the company.
• Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and mental health support.
• 401(k) plan with company match.
• Flexible PTO and parental leave.
• Home office set up reimbursement.
• Weekly lunch stipend, plus complimentary snacks and beverages on‑site.
• Once a month social hour on‑site with food and drinks.