Business Operations Associate

Business Operations Associate

Oxnard, California, United States; Remote

Swarm Aero is redefining air power, building the largest swarming UAV and most versatile swarming aircraft network in the world. The company is moving quickly to launch the first aircraft designed specifically for swarming as well as the Command & Control software to mobilize swarms of thousands of heterogeneous autonomous assets and empower human operators to achieve superhuman results.

The team has founded and exited multiple startups, negotiated defense deals worth billions of dollars and designed and built 30+ novel aircraft, with aerospace experience from Scaled Composites, Airbus, Archer Aviation, Blue Origin, and Boom Supersonic.

As our first Business Operations Associate, you will work directly with the Head of Business Operations to design and implement the systems, processes, and analytical frameworks that support company growth. This role spans finance, operations, strategy, and data, with meaningful exposure across the business.

You will operate as a force multiplier across the organization, solving ambiguous problems and improving how teams execute. The right candidate demonstrates high ownership, strong judgment, and comfort operating with trust and autonomy, with a clear path to increased responsibility and leadership. This is a rare opportunity to join at ground level, working across the entire company to set up the foundations of BizOps at a frontier-tech startup.

What You'll Do:

• Be a "barrel": a problem-solver and team amplifier. Act as a "glue" between technical, business, and leadership teams.
• Build financial models and scenario analysis tools to help drive company strategy.
• Spearhead cross-functional projects (aircraft engineering, manufacturing, software, G&A) to ensure milestones are met and resources are aligned.
• Design and implement lightweight processes for planning, budgeting, reporting, and goal tracking as the company scales.
• Conduct market, competitive, and operational analyses to inform leadership priorities and long term strategy.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Economics, Engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in investment banking, management consulting, or Big 4 strategy/transactions.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills, with experience in high-leverage / high-value projects.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex ideas across business and technical teams.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, ambiguous startup environment.
• Ability to obtain U.S. Government Clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in BizOps, FP&A, strategy, or internal consulting at a high-growth startup.
• Exposure to aerospace, defense, or frontier technology sectors.
• Familiarity with building dashboards and lightweight reporting systems (Excel, SQL, or BI tools).
• Track record of driving cross-functional initiatives and aligning stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive as a "utility player" - comfortable moving between finance, operations, and strategy.
• A differentiated strength or deep expertise in one distinctive area that adds unique value to the team.

Compensation Range:

• $130,000 - $160,000 + Equity

What We Offer:

• Meaningful equity stake in a high-growth defense technology company
• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience
• Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, and 401k
• PTO and Paid Sick Time
• Monthly Wellness Stipend
• Daily catered lunch to office
• Paid Parental leave
• Direct impact opportunity - be a key leader in building a critical technology for national security
• World-class team - work alongside exceptional engineers and operators solving hard problems

To conform to U.S. Government controlled technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) 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.