VP Finance

Are you a VP Finance looking to shape strategy at a post-Series A, capital-intensive AI hardware start-up?

Founded by world-leading mathematicians and experienced semiconductor operators, the company has developed breakthrough AI chip technology delivering dramatically faster processing with significantly lower energy usage. Backed by a $30m Series A from top deep-tech investors and a strategic manufacturing partnership, the business is entering its next phase of growth at the intersection of semiconductors, secure computing, and next-generation AI infrastructure.

AI Computing Hardware Start-Up

USA Remote

Harmonic is proud to have been retained by a VC backed start-up that is at the frontier of AI chip and semiconductor design and manufacture. This represents a significant leap forward in technology (think Nvidia but specifically for the AI industry) which is addressing one of the most fundamental challenges in modern AI: how to perform computation on highly sensitive data at scale.

The Role

The VP Finance will play a pivotal role in shaping the company’s financial strategy during a period of highly capital-intensive R&D and early market engagement.

This role goes far beyond traditional FP&A. The VP Finance will act as a strategic partner to the CEO and executive team, translating complex technical progress into clear financial narratives for investors, board members, and external partners, while building the financial infrastructure required to scale a semiconductor business responsibly.

The position offers meaningful exposure at Board level and will be instrumental in preparing the company for future fundraising, major technical milestones and commercialization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own the development of robust, milestone-driven financial models aligned to hardware R&D phases and technical risk retirement
• Establish forecasting and budgeting frameworks suited to capital-intensive engineering environments rather than traditional revenue-led models
• Play a central role in preparing the business for future capital raises and strategic financing events
• Partner closely with the CEO as a trusted executive advisor on capital allocation, timing of major spend events, and strategic trade-offs
• Build KPI frameworks that connect engineering progress, operational execution, and capital efficiency
• Design and manage budgets for advanced research, silicon development, external vendors, and manufacturing partners
• Produce short-, mid-, and long-term strategic financial plans tied to key technical and commercial inflection points
• Support contracting and financial oversight for government, research, or regulated-industry engagements
• Prepare detailed Board materials and investor reporting, providing clear insight into progress, risks, and capital outlook
• Act as a business partner across engineering, operations, and leadership teams, challenging assumptions and improving decision-making

Skills

What We’re Looking For

• Background in investment banking, corporate finance, VC/PE, or strategic finance
• Senior finance experience within a capital-intensive hardware technology business
• Experience operating in R&D-heavy, technically complex environments (e.g. semiconductors, deeptech, advanced computing, robotics, defense, biotech, climate tech, spacetech, AI)
• Exceptional financial modelling capability
• Comfortable operating as a hands-on finance leader in an early-stage VC environment
• Excellent communication skills with the credibility to engage engineers, investors, and board members
• High level of commercial judgement and intellectual curiosity

Nice to Have (Non-Essential):

• Experience in a venture-backed technology company that has raised significant institutional capital
• Exposure to semiconductor, hardware, or infrastructure-led business models
• Experience supporting government or highly regulated customers
• Track record of building finance functions from first principles

Package

Compensation: $220,000 – $300,000 base + bonus + meaningful equity participation

Location: Remote (San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle or Boston preferred)

Please get in touch with Fin at View email address on click.appcast.io for more information.

Please feel free to circulate with any friends or contacts that may be interested.

At Harmonic, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace. We actively welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and assure you that every candidate will be thoughtfully considered for the roles we represent, without regard to race, religion, gender expression, disability, or sexual orientation.

Get in touch

We'd love to hear from you

Whether you're looking to partner with us on a role you're trying to fill, or you're looking for a new role for yourself, drop us a call or email today.

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