Chief of Staff – CEO Office

Job Summary

The Chief of Staff will serve as the strategic partner and execution lead for the CEO, ensuring that high-priority initiatives transition from vision to reality. This role demands exceptional problem-solving ability, strong business acumen, and the capacity to navigate ambiguity. You will collaborate across engineering, product, operations, government relations, finance, and business development, gaining exposure to critical aspects of building a Quantum Deeptech company.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Initiatives:

  • Work directly with the CEO to define and execute company-wide strategic priorities.
  • Conduct market, competitive, technology, and geopolitical analysis related to Deeptech/defence and enterprise sectors.
  • Develop business cases for new programs, partnerships, and growth opportunities.
  • Drive special projects that cross multiple functions.

• CEO Office & Executive Support:

  • Prepare strategic briefs, board materials, investor updates, and executive presentations.
  • Structure key decisions through data analysis, scenario planning, and recommendation frameworks.
  • Track CEO priorities and ensure execution against agreed objectives.
  • Act as a thinking partner and sounding board for the CEO.

• Program & Execution Management:

  • Drive execution of cross-functional initiatives involving engineering, product, manufacturing, operations, and business teams.
  • Establish operating cadences, dashboards, and review mechanisms.
  • Monitor critical milestones and escalate risks proactively.
  • Ensure accountability across leadership teams.

• Government & Defence Ecosystem Engagement:

  • Support interactions with defence agencies, armed forces, DRDO, DPSUs, government ministries, and strategic partners.
  • Coordinate proposal development for defence programs, grants, and procurement opportunities.
  • Track relevant policy, regulatory, and procurement developments.

• Program Management Office (PMO) Ownership:

  • Establish and lead the CEO Office PMO to drive execution of strategic and operational priorities across the organization.
  • Develop program governance, review mechanisms, reporting structures, and escalation frameworks.
  • Monitor execution of critical programs across engineering, product, sales, operations, and business development.

• Strategic Partnerships & Ecosystem Development:

  • Identify, evaluate, and cultivate strategic partnerships with defence primes, aerospace companies, technology providers, research institutions, and global partners.
  • Support partnership negotiations, commercial structuring, and strategic alliance development.
  • Represent the company at strategic industry forums, conferences, and stakeholder engagements as required.

• Fundraising & Investor Relations:

  • Collaborate with the CEO/CFO on fundraising strategy, investor outreach, and capital planning.
  • Lead preparation of investor materials including pitch decks, financial models, and due diligence documentation.
  • Drive investor communications, periodic updates, and fundraising project management.

• Government Relations & Defence Programs:

  • Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders across the defence and government ecosystem.
  • Track emerging defence procurement opportunities, strategic programs, grants, and policy developments.
  • Develop and execute government engagement strategies for participation in national defence and strategic technology programs.

• Organizational Effectiveness:

  • Drive OKR planning, leadership reviews, and annual operating planning.
  • Identify operational bottlenecks and implement scalable solutions.

Qualifications

• Educational Qualifications:

  • B.Tech from a Tier One College in Computer Science or Electronics.
  • MBA from a Tier One College.

• Experience:

  • 5–8 years in roles such as Chief of Staff, Strategy, Business Operations, or Program Management.
  • Experience in strategy consulting, investment banking, venture capital, defence, deeptech, or product strategy.

• Skills:

  • Excellent presentation, documentation, and stakeholder management skills.
  • Exceptional communication and presentation abilities.
  • Proven experience leading complex cross-functional projects.
  • Familiarity with defence procurement and government programs.
  • Ability to operate independently in a fast-paced startup environment.

Preferred Skills

• High ownership and bias for action.
• Strong judgment and discretion.
• Ability to influence without authority.
• Mission-driven mindset.

Experience

• 5–8 years of relevant experience in strategic roles across various domains, particularly in governance and technology sectors.

Environment

• Work setting is on-site in Bengaluru, within a dynamic startup environment that fosters strategic innovation across various sectors.

Growth Opportunities

• High-growth pathway into business leadership, general management, strategy, or future founder roles.