Vice President Operations (Long Beach)

Overview

The Vice President of Operations is responsible for turning the Founder’s strategic vision into daily execution across Aevum’s services (orbital space launch, air cargo, humanitarian aid delivery) and product business models. This role ensures operations, production, and resource allocation run with discipline and clarity, while shielding the Founder from daily firefighting and operational drag.

You’ll thrive in this role if you are energized by engaging with people — motivating internal teams, collaborating across departments, or talking with investors, partners, and stakeholders to commit progress toward Aevum’s mission. You’ll oversee everything from vendor timelines and SOP development to production readiness, while providing investors and partners with confidence in execution.

At Aevum, we are humanity-first. Our mission is to enable autonomous systems that protect, connect, and respond — from humanitarian aid delivery to sustainable, on-demand space access. We care deeply about humanitarian impact, sustainability, and the ethical development and deployment of AI. We believe aerospace and AI should be built responsibly, to save lives, protect the planet, and ensure resilience for future generations.

For the right candidate, this role offers a promotion path into the Chief Operating Officer (COO) position as Aevum scales.

Key Responsibilities

Execution of Strategic Vision

• Translate the Founder’s strategic objectives into quarterly execution plans and lead the team to complete them.
• Ensure all departments are aligned and resourced to deliver on objectives.

Operations Management

• Own all internal operations functions/teams, including HR, Finance, Administration, and Legal, ensuring each is aligned with the CEO's strategic objectives.
• Oversee daily operations across services (space launch, air cargo, tech) and production.
• Design, develop, and oversee crew scheduling systems, operational readiness, and resource allocation.
• Own SOP development, process optimization, and compliance.
• Drive and manage vendor management and supply chain execution.
• Own all Aevum facilities including offices, air field facilities, and launch sites.
• Constantly improve Aevum's strategic operational footprint in the US and internationally.

Organizational Leadership

• Own the day to day operations of the company.
• Maintain clear communications and reporting rhythms with department heads.
• Ensure accountability and performance against operational goals.

Investor & Partner Interface

• Support the CEO in the development of investor relationships (new and existing).
• Provide routine investor updates and operational briefings.
• Escalate strategic issues only when they impact mission or product/engineering roadmap.
• Support strategic partnerships through operational execution and readiness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, operations management, business, or related field required.
• Demonstrated success leading operations at a deep-tech company or significant experience in aerospace, defense, aviation, logistics, or other high-complexity, regulated industries.
• Direct experience managing operations during heavy hardware & software technology development phases (prototype, testing, flight readiness).
• Demonstrated leadership in vendor management, supply chain execution, and program scaling.
• Proven success drafting and implementing operational processes/SOPs in dynamic environments.
• Experience supporting investor updates and partner-facing communications a strong plus.
• Demonstrated commitment to humanitarian, sustainability, or ethical AI-driven mission execution.
• Track record of scaling operational systems; ready to step into a COO role as Aevum expands.

Additional Qualifications

• Flexibility for irregular hours and fast-changing priorities.
• Must be able to travel domestically and internationally as required.
• Eligible and willingness to obtain Top Secret security clearance if required.

This is a rare opportunity to join Aevum’s inner circle as VP of Operations. In this senior role, you’ll work directly with the Founder & CEO to protect his time, synchronize strategic priorities, and represent him across investors, partners, and elite institutions. As a trusted member of the executive management team, you will receive competitive compensation, performance incentives, and rare access to stock options in Aevum.

To conform to ITAR regulations, including ITAR compliance for space technology export controls, you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITAR here.

Benefits

Medical, Dental, Vision, Paid Time Off, Bonus Potential, Stock Incentives, Performance-Based Promotions

EEO & Equal Opportunity

Employment with Aevum is governed by qualifications, competence, and merit. Employment will not be influenced by 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.

Seniority level

• Executive

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Management, Business Development, and Strategy/Planning

Industries

• Defense and Space Manufacturing, Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing, and Space Research and Technology