Head of Finance - Build the Financial Engine Behind High-Rate Defense Manufacturing

Hawthorne, California | On-site

Opportunity Summary

A recently funded advanced manufacturing startup is hiring its first dedicated finance leader to stand up the corporate finance function from scratch. The company is moving from development into high-rate production of lightweight composite hardware for defense and aerospace programs, and needs a hands-on operator who can own the books today while putting in place the systems, controls, and planning discipline needed to scale.

Working closely with the executive team, you will run accounting operations and the monthly close, build budgets, set up cost accounting for government contracts, and give business development the pricing and unit economics it needs to win programs. As the company grows, the scope expands into long-range planning, investor and board reporting, fundraising support, and building out a finance and accounting team.

About Us

We are a seed-stage, venture- and accelerator-backed manufacturer replacing heavy metal parts with lightweight carbon fiber composites, produced in minutes instead of the days or weeks that conventional composite processes require. Our hardware serves munitions, solid rocket motors, gas turbine engines, and airframes. Following an oversubscribed eight-figure seed round, we are scaling toward low-rate initial production and growing quickly across engineering, manufacturing, and operations.

Job Duties

• Stand up the corporate finance function, including accounting operations, financial controls, and reporting
• Own the monthly close and deliver accurate, timely financial statements
• Build and manage the operating budget, track spend, and run variance analysis against plan
• Set up and maintain FAR-compliant cost accounting, indirect rate structures, and government contract compliance
• Partner with business development on program pricing, proposal cost builds, and unit economics
• Manage cash flow along with accounts payable and receivable
• Coordinate payroll and equity administration with internal teams and outside providers
• Select and roll out accounting systems and repeatable financial processes
• Serve as the main point of contact for outside accountants and auditors
• Give leadership clear, reliable financial insight to guide hiring, capital, and production decisions
• Over time, take on long-range modeling, forecasting, investor materials, and fundraising support
• Hire and lead a finance and accounting team as the company scales

Qualifications

• 6+ years in corporate finance, FP&A, or accounting, ideally within manufacturing, hardware, aerospace, or defense
• 2+ years at a startup or a company with fewer than 500 employees
• Direct ownership of the monthly close and preparation of financial statements
• Track record building budgets and performing variance analysis
• Government contract accounting experience, including indirect rates and FAR-compliant cost accounting
• Advanced financial modeling skills in Excel or a comparable tool
• Experience implementing accounting systems and internal financial controls
• Comfortable operating with ambiguity and managing financial risk in a fast-moving environment
• Strong cross-functional partner who communicates clearly with engineering, operations, and leadership
• Must be a U.S. Person as defined under ITAR and EAR
• Able to work on-site in Hawthorne five days per week

Preferred Experience

• CPA, CFA, or MBA
• Experience with DCAA-compliant accounting systems
• Supported venture fundraising efforts
• Built three-statement and long-range financial models
• Prepared board materials and investor presentations
• Cap table management and equity administration
• Manufacturing cost accounting, including COGS, inventory, and unit economics
• Led an ERP implementation at a scaling manufacturer
• Active SECRET or TOP SECRET clearance
• Grew and managed a finance or accounting team

Why Join Us

• Be the first finance leader and shape the function from day one
• Work directly with leadership and investors on decisions that set the company's direction
• Scope that grows into long-range planning, fundraising, and team leadership
• Help take a breakthrough manufacturing process from development into high-rate defense production
• Join a small, fast-growing team strengthening the U.S. defense industrial base
• Meaningful early equity
• Lunch provided every day
• 401(k) with an employer match of up to 4%
• Medical, dental, and vision, with 95% of employee and 75% of dependent premiums covered
• Life, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance at no cost to you
• 10+ vacation days, 5 sick days, and a generous holiday calendar

Compensation Details

$160,000 - $210,000 + equity