Executive Assistant

We're partnering with a fast-growing, venture-backed technology startup in the defense space that is looking for an exceptional Executive Assistant to work closely with the Founder and become a key part of the business as it scales. This is not a traditional, checkbox administrative role. The Founder operates in an extremely fast-moving environment where priorities can shift quickly, and this person will serve as a trusted right hand, bringing structure, anticipating needs, and taking ownership of whatever needs to get done. The Role Youll work directly alongside the Founder with exposure across the business, including: Managing a complex and constantly evolving calendar, meetings, correspondence and travel Coordinating recruiting activity, candidate scheduling and interviews as the team grows Managing important follow-ups across clients, government stakeholders, legal partners and other external relationships Coordinating vendors, procurement and ongoing requests Supporting special projects and broader business operations Helping coordinate events, hospitality, expenses and day-to-day office needs Keeping priorities moving when the Founder is unavailable and ensuring nothing falls through the cracks Taking on broader responsibilities as the company continues to scale Who Were Looking For Were keeping the profile intentionally broad. Previous experience supporting a Founder or C-level executive within a startup, technology, aerospace or defense environment would be highly relevant, but were ultimately looking for evidence of exceptional ability rather than checking every box. Youll likely be someone who is: Highly organized, proactive and exceptionally reliable Comfortable operating with ambiguity and rapidly changing priorities Able to anticipate needs rather than waiting for direction A strong communicator with excellent judgment and emotional intelligence Confident interacting with senior executives, clients and high-level external stakeholders Tech-savvy, resourceful and able to figure things out independently The company is currently operating in the Coronado/San Diego area and plans to establish a permanent San Diego office. There is flexibility around remote work, although local candidates who can provide in-person support, particularly during the initial stages-are preferred. Compensation is flexible and competitive based on experience , with potential additional performance-based incentives. Ikon Search