Job Description

Rydberg Technologies is a leading-edge quantum and photonic sensing company advancing the state of the art in quantum sensor systems for defense, intelligence, and emerging commercial markets. We are seeking a hands-on, driven, and technically sophisticated Director of Operations or COO to run the day-to-day business and serve as a trusted right hand to the executive team. This role also includes acting as Chief of Staff, ensuring cross-functional execution, internal alignment, and execution of organizational growth. This is a senior leadership position but also a roll-up-your-sleeves role responsible for keeping the organization focused and functioning, accelerating growth effectively. The ideal candidate combines operational rigor, strong leadership, and personal discretion with an understanding of scientific, technical, and engineering environments.
Key ResponsibilitiesOperations & Execution-Lead and actively support day-to-day operations across HR, R&D, manufacturing, sales, facilities, finance, IT, and compliance.-Identify blockers and implement practical solutions quickly-Streamline internal workflows, resource planning, and task accountability with a hands-on approach-Coordinate onboarding, offboarding, internal tools, space planning, and team logistics
Chief of Staff Support-Surface and resolve operational gaps across departments-Ensure decisions are implemented and projects are followed through to completion-Act as a high-trust internal operator to maintain execution momentum-Maintain alignment across legal, finance, and technical leads
Secretary-Maintain records, minutes, organize meetings, and track consents and filings-Coordinate with outside legal counsel to fulfill corporate governance and compliance-Organize board meetings and track legal governance activities
People Operations-Lead HR processes including performance management, PTO, and policy implementation-Oversee recruiting coordination, team development, and resolution of personnel issues to ensure alignment and performance-Liaise with employment counsel, benefit providers, and internal stakeholders to ensure compliance and clarity-Oversee and hold accountable vendors, ensuring that HR tasks are executed reliably and transparently
RD&E Program Coordination-Track delivery of milestones and contractual obligations for government and commercial programs-Support technical leads in proposal preparation, compliance documentation, and reporting-Interface with customers, program managers, finance, and contracts to ensure deliverables align with scope and budget-Monitor execution against timelines and provide cross-functional visibility to leadership
R&D Team Operations & Structure-Oversee the administrative and operational framework of the R&D organization, ensuring clarity of roles, responsibilities, and expectations-Support technical leads by implementing systems for tracking deliverables, dependencies, and progress across engineering and science teams-Manage internal planning meetings, technical review cadences, and status check-ins-Work with the CEO and technical leadership to ensure R&D priorities align with company objectives and are resourced appropriately-Identify and address organizational or operational gaps within technical teams, including staffing needs, conflicts, and communication breakdowns
Qualifications-7+ years in operations, Chief of Staff, or cross-functional program leadership-Experience in a startup, R&D, government contracting, or deep tech environment-Strong leadership, interpersonal, and organizational skills-High discretion, judgment, and ability to work independently-Advanced degree required; Masters or Ph.D. with technical background highly preferred-Exceptional communication and people management skills
Preferred Experience-Prior experience in a fast-paced technology company focused on dual-use or national security innovation-Familiarity with productization, government and defense transitions, or customer integration in emerging technology sectors-Experience managing multidisciplinary teams of scientists, engineers, and systems professionals
About Rydberg Technologies:Rydberg Technologies Inc. is a pioneer in atomic quantum sensor technology, advancing novel systems for government, commercial, and scientific applications. We develop next-generation Rydberg atom-based sensors, quantum communications systems, and photonic subsystems that power the future of quantum technologies. We are a fast-moving, innovation-driven company that values initiative, precision, scientific and engineering excellence, and execution.

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