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Modular Unmanned Autonomous Systems | Designed for the Warfighter, Built at the Edge.
The Role
Support the CEO by managing calendars, inboxes, travel, meeting preparation, action items, and confidential information. Assist the Chief of Staff with fundraising diligence, investor relations, presentations, legal and operations coordination, special projects, and corporate development. The role requires strong judgment, discretion, communication, initiative, and the ability to work onsite in a fast-paced defense technology startup.
Summary Generated by Built In
Who We Are
About the Role
What You'll Do Required Qualifications Preferred Qualifications Work Environment Compensation Benefits & Perks Export Control Compliance Equal Opportunity Statement
At Firestorm, we're building toward a future defined by incontestable defense logistics. That means equipping warfighters with mission-critical capabilities at the point of need. Not in months, not from a depot halfway around the world, but now, in the field, on demand.
We're a VC-backed defense technology company pioneering an expeditionary manufacturing ecosystem that produces and sustains modular, mission-adaptable unmanned systems, parts and components for repair and sustainment, and the software to transform point solutions into a network of strategic assets.
We're building a team of engineers, operators, and problem-solvers who believe the future of deterrence cannot rely only on expensive, exquisite platforms made in centralized factories. We build and field affordable systems using distributed production capabilities at the edge. If you want to solve challenging problems that will reshape the future of defense, you're in the right place.
Firestorm is looking for an Executive Assistant to the CEO & Chief of Staff Associate. You will report to the Chief of Staff and work directly with the CEO. The role covers the CEO's calendar, inbox, travel, and meeting preparation, and it extends into the work of the Chief of Staff: fundraising, special projects, operations, presentations for CEO initiatives, incubated ventures and corporate development.
Supporting the CEO comes first. His time and the information that reaches him are your responsibility, and everything else in this role depends on that running smoothly. Once it does, more of your time goes to strategic work, and the scope of what you own grows with it.
Support the CEO
- Own the CEO's calendar: set priorities, protect his time, resolve conflicts before they reach him, and push back on requests that do not deserve a slot
- Know what matters this week and what does not, and make sure his schedule reflects it
- Prepare him for every meeting with agendas, briefing materials, and context on who he is meeting and what needs to be decided
- Manage his inbox: sort through the noise, find the context, act on what does not need him, and escalate only what does
- Plan and manage all domestic and international travel, including flights, lodging, ground transportation, and itineraries
- Track action items and follow-ups from his meetings and make sure they get done
- Other duties as assigned due to business growth and needs
Special Projects and Corporate Support
- Administrative support: support legal, operations, and fundraise admin
- Fundraise: support the diligence process, including the data room and investor requests, maintain the investor pipeline and follow-ups
- Investor relations: support investor relations, including updates, correspondence, and meeting preparation
- Presentations: build presentations for special projects that advance CEO initiatives. This means shaping the narrative and the argument: you think critically about the content, bring in analysis and rationale where they are needed, and understand the business context behind them
- Special projects: support the CoS on early-stage projects, special initiatives, and corporate development
- Other duties as assigned due to business growth and needs
Who This Role Is For
- You enjoy technology, venture capital, and the work of building a company and want to learn how a company is built by working every day with the CEO of a unicorn.
- You are high agency. You do not wait to be told what to do. You see the gap and close it.
- You move fast, commit, and make decisions with incomplete information, and you own the outcome
- You are sharp. You pick up quickly on what matters in a meeting, a deck, or a set of documents.
- No task is too small for you, and you expect to be given more as you prove it
- 3+ years in a high-stakes EA role supporting a founder, CEO, or C-suite executive, or in an operations position in a startup. If you do not have this background, tell us why you would be a strong fit for the role
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Communications, Political Science, or a related field
- Proven ability to manage a complex, multi-stakeholder calendar and inbox with discretion and very few errors
- Exceptional written and verbal communication; you can write in someone else's voice
- High proficiency with Microsoft Office and comfort using AI tools to work faster
- Excellent judgment, discretion, and trustworthiness with confidential information
- Demonstrated ownership and bias toward action; you close loops without being asked
- Ability to learn unfamiliar domains such as legal, finance, and fundraising quickly and produce high-quality work
- Eligible to access export-controlled information (see Export Control Compliance below); eligibility for a security clearance may be required
- Experience in a venture-backed startup, defense, aerospace, or high-growth technology company
- Familiarity with fundraising, investor relations, or diligence processes
- Strong business sense; you understand how a company operates and can follow the reasoning behind its decisions
- Experience preparing board-level or investor-facing presentations
- Exposure to legal or operations coordination in a lean, fast-moving company
- A steady, calm presence under pressure and in ambiguity
- Low-ego, direct communicator who gives and takes feedback well
This role is onsite at our headquarters in San Diego, CA, working directly with the CEO and Chief of Staff.
Relocation assistance is available and may be included in the offer where appropriate.
Occasional travel may be required up to 15% of the time.
US Salary Range: $100,000 - $140,000 USD
The posted salary range reflects an estimate based on a variety of compensation factors, including but not limited to relevant experience, education, certifications, specialized skills, geographic location, and business needs. Actual compensation may vary, and this range is subject to change as our compensation structure or market conditions evolve.
Our culture fosters collaboration, respect, and trust, empowering passionate people to do their best work. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career growth. In addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative, collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team, we also take pride in taking care of our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation:
- We offer comprehensive medical, dental, and visions plans
- 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals
- Equity grants for new hires
- Unlimited PTO
- Extremely generous company holiday calendar, including a holiday hiatus in November, & December
- Generous Parental Leave
- Lifestyle Spending Account
- FSA
- DCFSA
- HSA
- Hospital Indemnity insurance
- Critical Illness insurance
- Accident insurance
- Basic Life/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, 100% covered by Firestorm. Plus, the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your family
- Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, are available to you as well
To conform to U.S. government export control regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce.
Firestorm is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, and upholding equitable hiring practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic under federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process.
Firestorm is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment. If you require accommodations or assistance during the application process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected] so we can provide the support you need.
Skills Required
- 3+ years in a high-stakes executive assistant role supporting a founder, CEO, or C-suite executive, or startup operations experience
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Communications, Political Science, or a related field
- Ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder calendars and inboxes with discretion and minimal errors
- Exceptional written and verbal communication, including the ability to write in someone else's voice
- High proficiency with Microsoft Office and comfort using AI tools
- Excellent judgment, discretion, and trustworthiness with confidential information
- Demonstrated ownership, initiative, bias toward action, and ability to close loops independently
- Ability to quickly learn legal, finance, and fundraising domains and produce high-quality work
- Eligibility to access export-controlled information under applicable U.S. regulations
- Experience in a venture-backed startup, defense, aerospace, or high-growth technology company
- Familiarity with fundraising, investor relations, or diligence processes
- Strong business sense and understanding of company operations
- Experience preparing board-level or investor-facing presentations
- Exposure to legal or operations coordination in a lean, fast-moving company
- Steady, calm presence under pressure and ambiguity
- Low-ego, direct communication style and openness to feedback
Firestorm Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Firestorm and has not been reviewed or approved by Firestorm.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is described as comprehensive across medical, dental, and vision, with company‑paid life/AD&D and short‑ and long‑term disability plus optional hospital indemnity, critical illness, and accident insurance. Tax‑advantaged accounts and mental‑health resources are also highlighted.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time off includes “unlimited PTO” and an unusually generous holiday calendar that features a year‑end hiatus. Generous parental leave is also called out.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Multiple postings list explicit salary ranges for roles across engineering, operations, and field positions, and internship hourly rates are published. These disclosures provide clearer expectations on cash compensation for many candidates.
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The Company
What We Do
We are building the future of modular, open-source architectures supporting the Department of Defense requirements to create Affordable Mass. Firestorm is redefining military expectations for on-site modularity to support the widest array of mission areas.
