Operations Generalist at Ephemeris Net, Inc – Oakland, California

About Ephemeris Net

We are extending the internet to space.

Ephemeris Net is a pre-seed space networking company on a mission to provide connectivity for all space users through collaborative engineering of commercial space networking solutions. We are creating the infrastructure that will enable the space internet beyond bent pipe by laying the foundational networking infrastructure that will define how data moves through space.

We are supported by our parent incubator Second Order Effects, institutional VCs, and our network of space advisors. As space use scales and more space native networks come online, we believe that now is the chance to build foundational infrastructure for how the internet will work in space.

The role

We are hiring an Operations Generalist to be the operational backbone of Ephemeris Net. This is a high-trust, high-visibility role that touches nearly every part of the company; people, office, vendors, IT, and executive support.

We want to be upfront about the shape of this role. In the early days, the work will lean heavily toward executive support and day-to-day administration: scheduling, onboarding logistics, processing invoices, owning the office, and covering operations functions in transition from our parent incubator. That is the foundation, and it is the job for the first several months.

From there, the role grows with you. As the company scales, you will have the option to either broaden into general ownership across the Operations function, or go deep into a functional area you care about — people operations, finance operations, or something else that emerges. We will shape the path with you based on your interests and where the company needs the most leverage.

This role will report to the Head of Commercial Growth and Operations.

Key responsibilities

Team Logistics: Events, Offsites, & Travel

Plan and run all-hands events, team offsites, and company-wide celebrations (launch milestones, holidays, team events) end-to-end — venue, agenda, meals, travel, and on-the-ground logisticsCoordinate conference participation when the team attends industry events: registration, booth setup, travel, and on-site supportSupport Talent team to coordinate candidate onsite logistics for in-person interviews: flights, hotels, ground transport, detailed itineraries, and reimbursementHost visiting customers and partners at our offices: agenda, catering, and coordination with internal hostsBuild small traditions that hold a hybrid, two-office team together — anchor-day meals, new-hire welcomes, and cross-office touchpoints

People & HR Operations

Oversee and monitor automated processes of day-to-day HR operations in Rippling including: payroll, benefits, PTO, system access provisioning and revocationMaintain employment agreements and contractor templates, flagging updates as neededSupport and monitor HR compliance; I-9s, labor law requirements, and California-specific obligationsSupport the performance feedback cadence and culture initiatives as directed

Office & Facilities Management

Own day-to-day operations for the Oakland office: facilities, supplies, health and safety compliance, and landlord relationship support

Vendor & Contract Administration

Support Head of Gov and Finance to maintain the master vendor list, including spend and renewal dates, and flag upcoming renewalsSupport NDA and SOW execution logistics: routing for signature, filing, and tracking statusSupport vendor onboarding and vetting as new relationships are established

Process & Operations Infrastructure

Build and maintain the internal wiki and SOPs for recurring operations tasks — the institutional memory of the Ops functionCollaborate with Head of Ops to identify and automate processes to reduce overhead and increase team’s efficiencyMaintain project tracking and task management tooling (currently Rippling and Microsoft 365)

IT & Systems Support

Handle day-to-day IT operations in coordination with technical leadership: user provisioning and deprovisioning, software license tracking, and the device asset registerSupport onboarding and offboarding access management so accounts are set up on day one and revoked promptly on departureMaintain the password management system and support basic security hygiene across the team

What we're looking for

Minimum Qualifications

3+ years of experience in an operations, executive assistant, business operations, or chief-of-staff-adjacent role Demonstrated ability to execute across multiple functional areas at once — people, finance, office, vendors — without dropping ballsStrong written communication and documentation instincts; you treat SOPs and wikis as real deliverablesProficiency with modern operations tooling (HRIS, expense/card platforms, Microsoft 365, project tracking tools)Comfort handling confidential information — compensation, legal, HR, financial — with discretionAbility to work in a fast-moving environment without established process and create structure where none existsStrong written and oral communicator

Preferred Qualifications

Experience at an early-stage (pre-seed to Series B) startup, ideally hardware or deep techFamiliarity with California employment law and multi-site office operationsExperience running an office — vendor management, facilities, lab or workspace setupWhat We Offer

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary: $75,000 - $110,000 depending on experienceGenerous equity package (early team member level) based on role and experience401k programComprehensive health care coverageUnlimited PTO (we expect you to take at least 4 weeks per year, and leadership does the same)

Work environment:

Hybrid work model: 3 days per week in our office/lab based on project needs During critical phases: During critical phases (all-hands events, onboarding waves, board prep), expect to be in the office more frequently.Expected travel: Up to 25% (between Ephemeris offices, occasional offsites) Small team environment Autonomy and space to define how we work and execute.The OpportunityShape your own growth path: Start as the connective tissue across the company, then grow into broader Ops ownership or a functional specialty. We will build the path with you.Work directly with leadership: You will partner closely with the Head of Commercial Growth and Operations, the CEO, and the CTO, and have a clear line of sight into how the company is run.Build the space internet: The operations backbone you build will enable the team that extends the internet to space.Our Vision and Values

Ephemeris Net's vision is to enable an open, space internet that anyone can utilize and access.

We believe that access to better digital connectivity is essential for human progress and that space is the frontier of digital connectivity. We believe that collaboration within market competition is the most effective way to expand the internet into space. Using Ephemeris Net to build space network solutions is how we can proliferate digital connectivity, collaboration, and "the raising of all boats" while achieving a commercial impact.

We care deeply about:

Access to connectivity for all Collaboration that raises all boats; we focus on win/win deals Commercial impact: building solutions people value and buy Personal growth and creating a place where people build their careers Putting good out into the world through the work we do and our interactions with each other

We are building a company people feel great about working at. We are seeking people who are open and actively seeking growth—both technical and personal. We value honesty, creativity, and a culture of ownership.

About Our Locations

El Segundo, CA: Located in the heart of the aerospace industry, surrounded by SpaceX, Aerospace Corporation, Northrop Grumman, and hundreds of space startups. A unique ecosystem where strangers on the street are excited about space.

Oakland, CA: Right off BART. Close collaboration opportunities with UC Berkeley and the broader Bay Area networking and space research communities.

Ephemeris Net is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.