Deputy Chief of Staff

Deputy Chief of Staff San Diego, CA

People Operations

In office

Full-time

Who We Are

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.

About the Role

Firestorm is looking for a Deputy Chief of Staff . 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.

What You'll Do

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

Required Qualifications

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

Preferred Qualifications

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

Work Environment

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.

Compensation

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, an