Aimed at senior-level operational leaders who excel in high-stakes diplomacy and cross-functional execution, with a focus on defense tech and in-person collaboration in Austin.
Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.
Original posting from 9 Mothers via Ashby
Location: Onsite — Austin, TX
Employment Type: Direct Hire, Full Time
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 Chief of Staff to serve as the right hand to our CEO, ensuring executive focus, operational discipline, and cross-functional alignment as we scale rapidly. This is not an administrative role, it is a high-level operational leadership position for an assertive, strategic operator who can step in, offload executive burdens, and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
While our engineering team is deep in technical execution, you will maintain the high-level, big-picture perspective across the entire company. You will manage executive communications, offload complex operational tasks (such as deciphering priorities and daily requirements, and aligning resources both internally and externally), and act as a critical buffer and diplomat in external partner and client interactions. If you excel at turning executive intent into seamless team execution and keeping strategic partnerships on track, this role is built for you.
Essential Duties
- Executive Triage: Monitor, prioritize, and manage CEO communications; handle immediate external outreach on their behalf to ensure zero dropped balls and rapid response times for critical stakeholders.
- Operational Offloading: Take ownership of complex operational tasks directly from the CEO.
- Strategic Alignment & Internal Translation: Maintain a holistic, macro view of the company's goals to contextualize leadership priorities for engineering and operational teams, keeping everyone aligned on why specific initiatives matter.
- Partner & Client Diplomacy: Sit in on key meetings with external partners and clients to manage relationships, de-escalate tensions, maintain executive composure, and realign team dynamics toward constructive outcomes.
- Cross-Functional Execution: Work directly with internal engineering and operations teams to translate high-level executive directives into actionable work streams without requiring daily founder oversight.
- Meeting & Priority Governance: Structure and drive executive meeting agendas, action items, and follow-ups to keep leadership and department heads accountable to core company targets.
Required Qualifications
- 4–8+ years of experience in business operations, Chief of Staff roles, management consulting, venture-backed startups, or high-velocity tech/defense environments.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills with proven ability to navigate high-stakes partner/client meetings, manage cross-functional tension, and smooth over friction effectively.
- Ability to hold a company-wide view, understanding how daily engineering details tie into macro business goals, contracts, and customer commitments.
- Proven track record of stepping into ambiguous situations, dissecting complex tasks and bringing them to resolution independently.
- World-class written and verbal communication; capable of representing executive leadership internally to technical teams and externally to high-value partners.
- U.S. Citizenship and the ability to pass a background check.
Preferred Qualifications
- Background in defense tech, aerospace, robotics, or complex hardware startups.
- Experience reviewing or executing government/commercial contracts (e.g., SBIR/STTR, OTAs, commercial subcontracts) and understanding deliverables/invoicing flows.
- Direct prior experience working as a Chief of Staff or Ops Lead to C-suite founders/executives in a fast-paced environment.
- Active security clearance or the ability to obtain one.
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
Source: 9 Mothers careers (Ashby)