Engineering Operations Associate

IRPI is at the forefront of space exploration technology, pioneering flight hardware that sustains life and enables discovery beyond Earth. We bridge the gap between first-principles research and operational reality, delivering critical systems for NASA and commercial partners — from fluids and propellant management to crew-sustaining technologies like air revitalization, thermal management, PLSS subsystems, waste processing, filtration, bioreactors, and fire safety. As a lean, high-performance team of engineers and scientists, we pair high-fidelity analysis with hands-on design, build, and test to solve multidisciplinary problems and expand the boundaries of human presence in space.

About the Role

We're a small engineering company entering our next phase of growth, and we're looking for an Engineering Operations Associate to take ownership of the operational work that currently lands on the founders' desks. This role exists to support our engineering team and run the operational machinery of a hardware shop — contracts, proposals, project financials, vendors, hiring logistics, production, and the dozens of other things that keep a technical organization moving. Your job is to absorb that load precisely, diligently, and with the latest tools, so leadership can stay focused on technical and customer-facing work.

This role is best suited for someone early in their operations career who is sharp, organized, and genuinely excited to learn the work of running an agile technical hardware company. You'll work closely with the president on a wide range of activities, from contract paperwork to vendor management to financial tracking. The work is broad rather than deep, and the standard is high. If you want a defined lane with established processes, this isn't the right fit. If you want to build the playbook alongside leadership at a growing engineering company, read on.

Key Responsibilities* Contract \& Document Administration. Route NDAs and contracts for signature, maintain organized records of executed agreements and deliverables, track submission confirmations, and keep documentation discipline high across the company.

• Proposal Submission Coordination. Manage the administrative side of proposal preparation — maintain a library of boilerplate content, run submission checklists, assemble proposal packages, and ensure government forms are complete and compliant. Technical content stays with engineering and the president; you own that the package goes out clean and on time.
• Project Financial Tracking. In partnership with the president, support project budget tracking, burn rate monitoring, and Budget vs. Actual (BvA) reporting. You'll grow into greater ownership of this function as you learn IRPI's contract structures and accounting workflows.
• Vendor \& Facilities Coordination. Manage relationships with building service providers, IT vendors, and other external partners. Oversee IT hardware/software inventory and coordinate facility logistics including any expansion activities.
• Hiring \& Onboarding Coordination. Schedule interviews, coordinate candidate communications in our ATS, manage onboarding logistics including hardware provisioning and account setup for new hires.
• Light Project Tracking Support. Help maintain visibility into deliverable timelines and milestones across active programs. Dedicated technical project management is a separate future role; you'll support the current cadence without owning end-to-end program management.
• Process Improvement. Identify inefficiencies in how we operate today, document standard operating procedures as they emerge, and use modern software and AI tools to automate repetitive work.
• General Executive Support. Triage email and meetings on behalf of the president, prepare materials for internal and external meetings, and follow up on action items so things don't fall through the cracks.

Requirements

• Experience. 3-4 years in operations, executive support, business operations, or a related role. Experience in a technical, regulated, or small-company environment (aerospace, defense, R\&D, hardware startups, engineering services) is a strong plus but not required.
• Education. Bachelor's degree in business, operations, engineering, or a related field — or equivalent professional experience.
• Project discipline. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent, deadline-driven workstreams without dropping balls. Comfortable tracking 10\+ active threads at once with minimal oversight.
• Systems mindset. You don't just execute existing processes — you notice when they're broken, you document them so they can be repeated, and you improve them over time.
• Communication \& integrity. Strong written communication and high discretion. You'll handle sensitive information including contracts, intellectual property, and internal documentation.
• Coachable and low-ego. You take feedback well, you do the small tasks alongside the big ones without resentment, and you're motivated by the work itself rather than by title or scope.
• Tool fluency. Proficient with Microsoft 365 (Teams, SharePoint, Planner) and comfortable adopting new software quickly. You actively use AI/LLM tools to accelerate drafting, automate repetitive admin, and stay efficient.
• U.S. person status (as defined by 22 CFR 120\.62) is required, as some of IRPI's work involves technology controlled under ITAR/EAR. A security clearance is not required for this role.

Bonus Points* Aerospace, defense, or R\&D exposure. Comfort with NDAs, ITAR-adjacent vocabulary, and the general rhythm of a technical organization.

• GovCon familiarity. Any prior exposure to federal contracting (SBIR/STTR), DCAA compliance, or government deliverables is a meaningful advantage. We'll teach the rest.
• Sub-50-person company experience. You've worked somewhere small enough that "ops" meant doing whatever the company needed that week, not running a defined function with a team underneath you.
• Financial tracking exposure. Any hands-on experience with project budgets, burn rates, or BvA reporting accelerates the financial side of this role.

Benefits

Compensation \& Perks* Salary: $85,000 – $100,000 commensurate with experience and demonstrated capability

• Health \& Wellness: Comprehensive medical and dental insurance coverage for you and your family.
• Retirement: SIMPLE IRA with employer matching to support your long-term financial security.
• Time Off: Generous paid time off, sick leave, and holiday schedule to recharge.
• Family Support: Paid parental leave and flexibility to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
• Performance Rewards: Annual bonus opportunities tied to company profitability and individual impact.
• Mission Impact: You'll be part of a small team building hardware that goes to space.

How to Apply

Please submit your resume and a short cover letter.

• Cover letter (highly recommended): Tell us about a specific time you brought structure to something disorganized. It doesn't have to be huge — a process you cleaned up, a workflow you automated, a project you organized for someone else, a tool you taught yourself to do something faster. We're looking for clear, specific writing more than impressive scale.
• Optional: If you have writing samples, process documentation, or other work product you're proud of, feel free to include a link. Not required.

Equal Opportunity Employer

IRPI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected category.