---
title: 'Operations and Logistics Associate at wardstone.space'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/operations-and-logistics-associate-wardstone-space-el-segundo-cmpqg5jyxv5j'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-25'
---

# Operations and Logistics Associate at wardstone.space

- **Company:** wardstone.space
- **Location:** El Segundo, CA
- **Compensation:** $90k–$130k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-10-18
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-25
- **Apply:** https://jobs.gem.com/wardstone-space/am9icG9zdDo84oN1XASkGjxQ5ZRa02fG

## Job description

## Overview

You will keep Wardstone running day to day. You’ll purchase parts and materials, receive and ship hardware, manage inventory and the facility, and handle logistics for test campaigns so engineers can stay focused on building Hailstorm, our first interceptor. You’ll report to the Head of Business Operations. You’ll work with every team at Wardstone. If parts arrive on time, hardware reaches the test range, and the shop never runs out of supplies, you’re doing your job well.

## What You’ll Do

Purchase and manage vendors

- Place and track purchase orders for parts, materials, tools, and services.
- Work with vendors on quotes, lead times, and deliveries, and follow up when orders slip.
- Track spending and keep purchasing records organized. Receive, ship, and track inventory
- Receive incoming shipments, check them against orders, and route parts to the right teams.
- Pack and ship hardware to vendors, test sites, and customers.
- Maintain inventory of parts, raw materials, and shop supplies, and restock before they run out. Coordinate test logistics
- Plan logistics for test campaigns, including shipping hardware and equipment, travel, lodging, and rental equipment.
- Work with test ranges and facilities on access, schedules, and paperwork. Run the facility
- Manage facility needs, including maintenance, utilities, safety supplies, and building access.
- Support onboarding for new hires, including equipment, access, and workspace.
- Help maintain ITAR and security procedures, such as visitor logs and controlled-document handling.

Required Qualifications

- 1–3 years of experience in operations, logistics, purchasing, or a related role.
- Highly organized, with strong follow-through and attention to detail.
- Clear, responsive communication with vendors and teammates.
- Comfortable with spreadsheets and purchasing or inventory tools.
- Valid driver’s license, and able to lift up to [50] lbs.
- Must be a U.S. person as defined by ITAR (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual). [Must be eligible to obtain a U.S. security clearance.]

## Nice to Have

- Operations experience in aerospace, defense, or hardware manufacturing.
- Hazardous materials shipping certification (DOT or IATA).
- Experience with ITAR or export compliance procedures.
- Military logistics experience.
- Forklift certification.
- Experience with purchasing or ERP software.
- Prior early-stage startup experience.

## About wardstone.space

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Wardstone builds a modular, low-cost interceptor platform for air and missile defense, designed to counter threats from Group 4 UAS to medium-range ballistic missiles.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Seed stage; raised $5M)
- **Headquarters**: El Segundo, California, USA
- **Founded**: 2025
- **Founders**: Sebastian Fischer (CEO) and Tobias Fischer

## Core Business
- **Primary industries**: Aerospace & Defense, Missile Defense, Space-Based Interceptors
- **Target customers**: U.S. Department of Defense (Space Force, Missile Defense Agency, Air Force Research Labs), allied nations
- **Mission or purpose**: To out-produce, out-innovate, and out-perform adversaries by building a modular interceptor platform that can be mass-produced, rapidly adapted, and fielded at the pace of evolving threats.

## Products & Services
- **Hailstorm (Ground-Based Interceptor)**: A right-sized, modular surface-based interceptor demonstrated in the Mojave (Mach 2.5, 40,000 ft). Uses a large particle cloud (1 km diameter) to kinetically neutralize hypersonic and ballistic missiles, reducing cost and sensing requirements.
- **Space-Based Interceptor Constellation**: Satellites equipped with kinetic interceptors designed to counter hypersonic and ballistic missiles from orbit. Part of the “Golden Dome” concept.
- **Modular Platform Architecture**: Interchangeable components allow mission-specific configuration, rapid upgrades, and parallel production across multiple suppliers.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total Funding — $5M seed round (raised from Nova Threshold, Liquid 2 Ventures, Bow Capital, B5 Capital, Allegis Capital)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Y Combinator (fall 2025 cohort), relationships with AFWERX, Space Systems Command, Air Force Research Labs, Navy Joint Special Operations Command
- **Growth Signals**: Accepted into Y Combinator; first prototype (Hailstorm-Ground) successfully flown; letters of support for a $3M SBIR grant; inbound requests for additional use cases; hiring multiple engineering roles.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Modularity**: Standardized, interchangeable components decouple production from single bottlenecks, enabling surge manufacturing and supply chain resilience.
- **Cost advantage**: Interceptors are designed to be “right-sized” to the threat, drastically reducing per-unit cost compared to traditional “exquisite” interceptors (e.g., THAAD, GMD).
- **Unique kill mechanism**: Large particle cloud increases probability of intercept without requiring precise hit-to-kill, reducing sensor and actuator costs.
- **Incremental path**: Starting with ground-based interceptors before scaling to space-based systems, allowing technology maturation and customer validation.

## Strategic Focus
- Near-term: Deliver ground-based interceptors to fill the “missing middle” threat band (Group 4 UAS to MRBMs) and secure SBIR/IRAD contracts.
- Medium-term: Deploy space-based interceptors as part of the U.S. “Golden Dome” missile defense architecture.
- Continuous improvement: Open architecture to integrate new technologies without redesigning the entire platform.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-driven**: Direct impact on national security and countering hypersonic threats.
- **Early-stage startup**: Opportunity to shape the company’s technology and culture from the ground up.
- **Engineering focus**: Roles span mechanical, electrical, avionics, propulsion, GNC, simulation, and sensing.
- **Compensation & equity**: Competitive salaries ($100k–$160k for engineers) plus equity grants.
- **Location**: El Segundo, CA — a growing aerospace startup hub near LA Air Force Base and Space Force facilities.
- **Work environment**: Likely on-site/hybrid (El Segundo office); YC alumni culture with fast iteration and hands-on testing (e.g., Mojave flight tests).

## Sources
1. [wardstone.space](https://wardstone.space/)
2. [wardstone.space/careers](https://wardstone.space/careers)
3. [wardstone.space/ourstory](https://wardstone.space/ourstory)
4. [spacenews.com](https://spacenews.com/startup-bets-on-new-approach-to-space-based-missile-defense/)
5. [ycombinator.com](https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/wardstone)

## Other roles at wardstone.space

- [Technical Recruiter](https://feeny.ai/job/technical-recruiter-wardstone-space-el-segundo-weysaczpdk42) — El Segundo, CA
- [Avionics Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/avionics-engineer-wardstone-space-el-segundo-hjfd9cjytfsy) — El Segundo, CA
- [MBA Intern](https://feeny.ai/job/mba-intern-wardstone-space-el-segundo-wk15p8cdft3h) — El Segundo, CA
- [Head of Manufacturing](https://feeny.ai/job/head-of-manufacturing-wardstone-space-el-segundo-gwv1rsn8dzc6) — El Segundo, CA
- [Supply Chain Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/supply-chain-manager-wardstone-space-el-segundo-mvxgw8kaqgbk) — El Segundo, CA
- [Mechanical Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-technician-wardstone-space-el-segundo-z5daq08jrxsw) — El Segundo, CA
- [Avionics Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/avionics-technician-wardstone-space-el-segundo-vcwqpsgege8z) — El Segundo, CA
- [Technical Program Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/technical-program-manager-wardstone-space-el-segundo-qada746w7n4e) — El Segundo, CA
- [Propulsion Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/propulsion-engineer-wardstone-space-el-segundo-52f0qfp1273z) — El Segundo, CA
- [Senior Aerodynamics Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-aerodynamics-engineer-wardstone-space-el-segundo-7ra1j3qjsywx) — El Segundo, CA