Chief of Staff to VP of Engineering
Los Angeles, CA
Engineering – Program Management /
Full-time /
On-site
Hermeus is a venture capital-backed aerospace and defense technology company. The business is focused on building high-speed products that sustainably deliver asymmetric advantage to the Department of Defense and allied partners. Utilizing an iterative development approach to aircraft, Hermeus’ high-Mach and hypersonic aircraft aim to deliver capabilities at a pace not seen in the U.S. since the 1950s.
As the Chief of Staff to the VP of Engineering at Hermeus, you will be a key partner in ensuring the engineering organization operates with clarity, focus, and efficiency. Working closely with the VP, you will help shape priorities, coordinate execution across teams, and remove obstacles to keep projects on track.
This role sits at the intersection of strategy and operations, enabling our technical teams to deliver at a high level while maintaining alignment with company goals.
Responsibilities
- Work closely with the VP of Engineering to shape and drive the technical roadmap, strategic priorities, and execution rhythm across engineering teams
- Serve as the VP’s “force multiplier”, monitoring project health, removing roadblocks, framing complex decisions, and ensuring flawless follow-through
- Drive priority engineering projects — whether org design, process development, or build efficiency — with a focus on disciplined project management and measurable outcomes
- Build and manage tools for high-velocity program execution, including planning frameworks, org comms and offsites
- Serve as the key connector between Engineering, Product, Supply Chain, Ops, and external partners. Communicate clearly, align stakeholders, and drive tight cross-team collaboration
- Prepare high-quality strategic materials for executive and external stakeholders with a focus on clarity and impact
- Surface insights and recommendations to the VP Eng on organizational improvements, decision-making, and operational efficiencies
Basic Qualifications
- 5–10+ years in Technical Program Management, Product Management, Strategy or Operations in technology environments; experience working directly with senior tech leadership highly preferred. You don’t need to be a current engineer, but you should be comfortable navigating technical conversations and earning credibility with senior engineers
- Background in STEM (Engineering, Computer Science) or equivalent technical experience
- Exceptional strategic thinking and analytical chops. You’re comfortable reviewing data, roadmaps, research, technical designs, and distilling into decision-ready insights
- You thrive in dynamic, fast-paced environments, balancing long-term initiatives with urgent priorities and managing ambiguity with focus and discipline
- Excellent verbal and written communicator – you’re able to craft executive-level content and align diverse stakeholders
- Experience managing budgets, tracking KPIs, and driving operational efficiency within a technology organization
$175,000 - $210,000 a year
The salary information provided is a general guideline only. Hermeus takes various factors into account, including, but not limited to, the position's scope and responsibilities, the candidate's professional background, education and training, essential skills, and market and business considerations, when presenting a job offer.
Compensation is only one part of our total rewards package. Hermeus offers competitive salary and equity, unlimited PTO policy, generous parental leave, potential for year-end bonuses, and more!
100% employer-paid health care
401k & Retirement Plans
Unlimited PTO
Weekly Paid Office Lunches
Fully stocked breakrooms
Stock Options
Paid Parental Leave
U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS
The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. US persons include U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Hermeus is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions at Hermeus are based solely on merit, competence, and qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.
