Operations Manager

About the Company

Our client is a three-person AI hardware startup founded in 2025 and based in Santa Clara, California. It is on a mission to end matrix multiplication, building hardcoded chips whose logic gate networks are the model, with the goal of making intelligence 10,000 times more efficient. Funding is undisclosed.

About the Role

Make sure operations never become the bottleneck on the technical work. You take everything off the founder's plate that is not research or chip design, hands-on. After 90 days the founder no longer touches orders, vendor emails, returns or scheduling, every piece of hardware is tracked, and new hires have their laptop, accounts and paperwork on day one.

What You Will Do

Run procurement, logistics and inventory: order hardware and supplies, manage vendors, handle shipping and receiving, track what the company has and where it is, and process returns.

Own the back office: bookkeeping and accounting, insurance, legal paperwork and office management with external accountants, brokers and counsel.

Run recruiting end to end, scheduling and onboarding non-technical hires, and coordinate immigration cases with attorneys.

Support the founder with calendar, scheduling and logistics.

Depending on your profile, assemble and test compute, manage devices and accounts, and apply security practices that protect IP.

Support investor relations by keeping the data room current and preparing materials.

What We Are Looking For

One to three years running operations, finance or equivalent work at an early-stage startup, hardware company or research lab.

You close loops without being reminded and communicate clearly and briefly.

Experience managing recruiting processes or vendor relationships end to end, plus financial operations such as AP, AR, budgeting and procurement.

Technical literacy around AI or semiconductors, enough to hold conversations. No ML or silicon background needed.

Comfort with unglamorous work and a valid driver's license, since some work involves driving.

Bonus Points

Sysadmin, infrastructure or security experience.

Fundraising or investor relations experience.

Compensation and Benefits

$80,000-$160,000 base salary plus equity, on a sliding scale where less cash means more equity. A sign-on bonus is possible for the right candidate. Work authorization is required and visa sponsorship is not offered.

Location and Work Model

Full-time and on-site in Santa Clara, California.