Chief of Staff

The posting, as 9 Mothers wrote it

Job Title: Chief of Staff

About 9 Mothers

The modern battlefield has changed. Cheap, autonomous suicide drones have turned the tactical advantage upside down, and the world is looking for a solution. At 9 Mothers, we aren't just "innovating." We are building the shield.

Backed by top-tier investors, we develop AI-powered machines designed to intercept and neutralize Group 1/sUAS threats in real time. Our flagship product, Edda, is a low-cost, autonomous-capable point defense turret that detects and engages high-speed FPV drones at close range.

Why 9 Mothers?

While others build for "awareness" or "long-term research," we build for the immediate survival of those in harm's way. We are a team of hackers, engineers, and mission-driven builders who value field-ready capability over polished slide decks.

Position Summary

We are seeking a high-horsepower, mission-driven Chief of Staff to serve as the operational right hand and strategic force multiplier to our CEO.

This is not an Executive Assistant role. You will not be managing calendars, booking personal travel, or coordinating catering.

Instead, you will function as an embedded tactical operator and executive force multiplier. You will sit directly in the flow of operations to diagnose friction, deconstruct complex commercial and defense contracts, resolve partner bottlenecks, and keep multidisciplinary engineering sprints synchronized with critical milestones. You will take the CEO’s strategic vision and intent, translate it into structured execution, and own outcomes end-to-end.

Essential Duties

• 1. Strategic Operational Offloading & Problem Solving
• Intercept, deconstruct, and execute complex operational blockers before they reach the CEO's desk.
• Dissect commercial, vendor, and defense subcontract agreements (statements of work, milestones, invoicing terms, and deliverable schedules) to protect the company's financial and legal posture.
• Audit, trace, and resolve operational friction points—from supply chain procurement hold-ups to invoicing discrepancies and critical vendor deliverables.
• Conduct independent quantitative and qualitative analysis to present decision-ready frameworks, trade-offs, and clear recommendations directly to the CEO.
• Cross-Functional Execution & Technical Alignment
• Bridge the gap between the CEO's strategic vision, commercial commitments, and the shop floor.
• Embed with hardware, software, and systems engineering teams to ensure daily sprint priorities map directly to contracted milestones without pulling the CEO into the weeds.
• Establish operating rhythms (cadences, issue trackers, milestone gates) that instill execution discipline without bureaucratic slowdown.
• High-Stakes Partner Diplomacy & Stakeholder Management
• Represent the CEO in high-friction conversations with suppliers, integra

[…]
ity are built shoulder-to-shoulder with the engineering and test teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience at an early-stage defense tech, aerospace, robotics, or complex hardware startup(s).
• Experience reviewing or executing government/commercial contracts (e.g., SBIR/STTR, OTAs, commercial subcontracts) and understanding deliverables/invoicing flows.
• Active U.S. Security Clearance (Secret or TS/SCI) or eligibility to obtain one.
• Technical or engineering degree (Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, Aerospace, or CS).

Benefits

• Meaningful Early Equity: You aren’t just an employee; you are a foundational owner. Your contributions directly drive the value of your stake in the company.
• Direct Roadmap Influence: Forget the bureaucracy of big defense. You will have a seat at the table, directly shaping our product and technology trajectory from day one.
• Mission-Critical Work: We don’t build for "what if." We build systems the Department of War actively needs to counter immediate, real-world threats.
• 100% Employer-Paid Premiums: We cover 100% of your medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums and cover 50% of healthcare premiums for your dependents.
• Unlimited PTO: We value results, not clock-watching. Take the time you need to stay sharp and recharge.
• Zero Red Tape: You report directly to the founders. You have the autonomy to make operational decisions that would take months of committee approval at a larger firm.
• Austin-Based Culture: Join an onsite team in Austin, TX, where we prioritize high-bandwidth collaboration and rapid field-testing.
• Relocation Assistance: We want the best talent in the room. If you aren’t in Austin yet, we'll help you get here, to make your transition to the Silicon Hills seamless.

About the Interview

• Initial screening with recruiter – 30 min phone call
• Virtual interview with co-founder / COO – 45 min via MS Teams
• Onsite interview in Austin with co-founders / COO and CEO