Operations Specialist

About the role

Who We Are: Aurelius Systems is a VC backed defense tech startup building autonomous, edge deployed directed energy systems for counter-UAS. We build laser weapons to shoot down drones. We're a small team of engineers, former US military operators, and subject matter experts scaling America's directed energy dominance. The first cost effective, reliable and robust laser weapon system. Our namesake isn't an accident. Marcus Aurelius wrote about doing the work in front of you, every day, without excuses. Henry Ford didn't wait for permission to reinvent manufacturing. That's how we operate, small team, unreasonable output, no hiding behind the unachievable. In addition to our San Francisco lab, we've opened a Detroit manufacturing hub and we field test weekly on our own 400-acre private range. The Role and Your Impact: We need an Operations Specialist to keep our San Francisco lab and build floor running. You’ll work directly with our Head of Ops to handle the day-to-day operational work that keeps builds, test prep, and the team moving. This is a hands-on, floor-based role. You’re the person who notices what’s missing, fixes it fast, and keeps the environment organized and functional. That might mean receiving hardware, coordinating a vendor, restocking critical supplies, setting up for a test event, or helping the team stay ahead of blockers before they slow work down. This is not a pure warehouse manager role and not a traditional logistics-manager job. We’re looking for someone who is practical, proactive, and comfortable doing whatever helps the team execute. What You'll Own: - Shipping and receiving for hardware, equipment, and team supplies - Inventory of components, consumables, PPE, safety supplies, and general stock - Vendor coordination, repairs, purchasing follow-ups, and lab support - Field support for range days and test events, including setup, gear, and team needs - Lab and office operations support, including build floor readiness and general facilities coordination - Visitor and demo support for the SF lab What We're Looking For: - 2–5 years in operations, office operations, hardware support, receiving, inventory, procurement, military support roles, or a similar hands-on environment - Strong organizational skills, comfortable juggling multiple vendors, shipments, and timelines at once - Comfortable on a hardware floor, including lifting boxes and managing pallets - Ability to carry, lift, or move 50 lbs in and around the warehouse and at the range as needed - Trustworthy, proactive, low-ego, bias to action - Comfortable with ambiguity in an early-stage company still figuring out its processes Where you probably come from: You may have worked in operations at a hardware or manufacturing company, supported a lab or shop floor, handled inventory or procurement, served in a military support role, or been the person on a small team who just made things work. Not a fit if: You're looking for an admin, logistics or scheduling role (that's our Business Operations Associate), you've never seen a pallet, or you need a written process for everything before you'll act. Nice to Haves: - Veteran with military supply, logistics, or S-4 background - ITAR-aware shipping and receiving experience - Notary or basic facilities certifications - Experience supporting events or company off-sites Education: No degree required. Proof matters here. How You Operate: - Extreme bias for action. You'd rather solve it now than schedule a meeting - You handle problems before they hit anyone's inbox - Comfortable with ambiguity and fast iteration - Clear communicator across the team, vendors, and visitors - Self directed. You identify what needs to happen next and do it without being told Why Join Aurelius Systems? - Build more in 1 month than most engineers build in 1 year. We field test weekly. Your work goes downrange, not into a filing cabinet. - Career velocity is real. At ~10 engineers, there are no layers between you and impact. - Work on a problem that actually matters. Small cheap drones are changing warfare. Our laser systems are the asymmetric answer with infinite magazine, near zero cost per shot, scalable to every base, border, facility, and truck. - Join the densest defense startup ecosystem in the country. California is where the next generation of defense companies are being built. How We Work: We work Monday through Friday, 9 to 6, most Saturdays, and some evenings, although not constant. Supporting engineering, development, and operations are core responsibilities of the role. We don't manufacture intensity for show, the pace is real because the work is real. Benefits: - Competitive salary + equity - United Health Care medical, dental, and vision coverage - Flexible 18 days PTO + 5 sick days - Travel to field test events and range days - Covered daily lunches and office snacks + drinks - E-bike / scooter stipend ( Up to $500) - Direct access to leadership and real ownership over your work Export Control Notice: This role requires access to export-controlled information or items that require "U.S. Person" status. As defined by U.S. law, individuals who are any one of the following are considered to be a "U.S. Person": (1) U.S. citizens, (2) legal permanent residents (a.k.a. green card holders), and (3) certain protected classes of asylees and refugees, as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).