Business Operations

About Ephemeris Net

We are extending the internet to space. 

Ephemeris Net is a space networking company on a mission to provide connectivity for all space users through collaborative engineering of commercial space networking solutions. We are creating the infrastructure that will enable the space internet beyond bent pipe by laying the foundational networking infrastructure that will define how data moves through space. 

We are supported by our parent incubator Second Order Effects, institutional VCs, and our network of space advisors. As space use scales and more space native networks come online, we believe that now is the chance to build foundational infrastructure for how the internet will work in space. 

The role

We’re looking for an early-career operator to join Ephemeris Net in Business Operations. This is a rare opportunity to see what it really takes to run a venture-scale business at the intersection of cutting-edge hardware, space, and infrastructure.

Your job is to learn how the whole company runs and turn what lives in people’s heads into systems that scale. One day you’re deep in an Excel model; the next, you’re producing a polished, investor-ready presentation or turning a customer conversation into a sharp proposal. Throughout, you’ll use AI to multiply what a small team can do.

We’re a hybrid team across El Segundo and Oakland. A big part of this role is keeping both offices well connected, growing, and operating quickly as one company.

This role will report to Nina Ligon, Head of Commercial Growth & Operations.

Key responsibilities

• Run the core operations. Keep payroll, benefits, onboarding, and our people systems running accurately and on time.
• Power our recruiting. Reach out to candidates, guide them through our interview process, and keep every search moving.
• Make the machine better. Find the friction in how we hire and operate, and fix it so each cycle runs better than the last.
• Scale with AI. Identify where AI and automation can take work off the team’s plate, and implement them thoughtfully.
• Connect our two offices. Keep our El Segundo and Oakland teams aligned, informed, and moving at the same pace, so two offices operate as one company.
• Own what has no owner. Pick up the projects that don’t fit neatly into anyone else’s job and see them through.

What we're looking for

• You figure things out: You can take a loosely defined problem and turn it into a clear plan.
• You sweat the details: Your attention to detail is exacting. Nothing slips through the cracks, and you finish what you start without reminders.
• You move between numbers and narrative: You’re as comfortable building a model in Excel as you are crafting a presentation ready for investors.
• You have good judgment: You handle sensitive information carefully and know when to make a call versus bring someone in.
• You’re AI-native: You know where and when to apply AI, and more importantly, where not to. It makes you faster, but the thinking and the quality are your own.
• You’re hands-on: You enjoy both improving a process and doing the work yourself.
• You go beyond the title: In past roles, you ended up doing more than your title said.
• You've probably considered starting your own business or joining as one of the first few hires.

Requirements

• 2–3 years in management consulting, startup operations, or a similar high-pace environment (we’re open to exceptional candidates with less)
• Excel skills: building models, analyzing data, and turning numbers into decisions
• Experience building polished proposals, decks, and investor- or client-ready materials
• Hands-on experience putting AI tools or automations to work
• Exceptional attention to detail, strong organization, and clear written communication
• Comfort with ambiguity and a bias toward action
• Must be a U.S. person (15 CFR § 772.1) authorized to work in the United States. Due to our compliance requirements, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

Nice to Have

• Consulting experience at a top-tier strategy firm (e.g., MBB) as an associate or consultant
• Exposure to B2B sales, proposal development, or customer-facing work
• Early-stage startup experience
• Exposure to people operations, recruiting, or purchasing
• Interest in space, hardware, or deep tech

What We Offer

Compensation and Benefits:

• Competitive salary and equity compensation based on experience
• 401k program
• Comprehensive health care coverage
• Unlimited PTO (we expect you to take at least 4 weeks per year, and leadership does the same)

Work environment:

• Hybrid work model: 3 days per week in our office/lab based on project needs 

• • During critical phases: When we are in integration, test, or launch prep mode, expect to be in the office more frequently for coordination with the mission team 

• Expected travel: Up to 10% (customer meetings, supplier visits, launch campaign, partner sites, integration sites, other Ephemeris offices) 

• Small team environment 

• Autonomy and space to define how we work and execute.

Ephemeris Net's vision is to enable an open, space internet that anyone can utilize and access. 

We believe that access to better digital connectivity is essential for human progress and that space is the frontier of digital connectivity. We believe that collaboration within market competition is the most effective way to expand the internet into space. Using Ephemeris Net to build space network solutions is how we can proliferate digital connectivity, collaboration, and "the raising of all boats" while achieving a commercial impact. 

We care deeply about: 

• Access to connectivity for all 

• Collaboration that raises all boats; we focus on win/win deals 

• Commercial impact: building solutions people value and buy 

• Personal growth and creating a place where people build their careers 

• Putting good out into the world through the work we do and our interactions with each other 

We are building a company people feel great about working at. We are seeking people who are open and actively seeking growth—both technical and personal. We value honesty, creativity, and a culture of ownership. 

El Segundo, CA: Located in the heart of the aerospace industry, surrounded by SpaceX, Aerospace Corporation, Northrop Grumman, and hundreds of space startups. A unique ecosystem where strangers on the street are excited about space.

Oakland, CA: Right off BART. Close collaboration opportunities with UC Berkeley and the broader Bay Area networking and space research communities. 

Ephemeris Net is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.