--- title: 'Strategy & Operations Manager at Picogrid' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/strategy-operations-manager-picogrid-washington-0egmz8qetx50' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-06' --- # Strategy & Operations Manager at Picogrid - **Company:** Picogrid - **Location:** Washington, DC / San Francisco, CA / El Segundo, CA - **Compensation:** $130k–$190k - **Employment:** full-time - **Posted:** 2026-07-21 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-06 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/picogrid/8ab232fe-868d-42e1-a7ca-a798da69f18e ## Job description ## Who we are Picogrid is a leading venture-backed defense technology company founded to bridge the decades-long gap between modern technology and the critical demands of national security. Today, we're building the essential infrastructure to unify sensors, autonomy, and operators with our technology deployed in active operations around the world. Our mission is to deliver an operational advantage to secure the United States and its allies. ## ABOUT THE ROLE Picogrid is building fast — new programs, new geographies, new teams — and the pace only increases from here. The Strategy & Operations Manager helps set the cadence of that building. You'll create the strategic scaffolding the company relies on to move in one direction at speed: the frameworks, operating rhythms, and analysis that turn ambition into a plan people can actually execute against. This is one of the highest-exposure roles at the company for someone early in their career. You'll work shoulder-to-shoulder with Picogrid's senior leaders — across Engineering, Finance, Operations, and People — translating the company's biggest priorities into structured, executable work, then driving that work to an outcome. One week you're building the model behind an expansion decision; the next you're standing up the operating cadence that keeps a new program on track, or running the analysis that settles a question the leadership team has been circling for a month. The scope is deliberately broad because the company needs it to be. You won't be handed a narrow lane — you'll be trusted to find where the leverage is, structure the problem, and make it move. If you want a front-row seat to how a defense-tech company is built, and the responsibility that comes with it, this is that seat. ## WHAT YOU'LL DO - Help set Picogrid's building cadence — establish the operating rhythms, planning cycles, and tracking mechanisms that keep a fast-scaling company aligned and moving in one direction - Build the strategic scaffolding behind major decisions — the frameworks, models, and analysis that inform where Picogrid expands, how we structure partnerships, and what we prioritize next - Partner directly with senior leaders across Engineering, Finance, Operations, and People to translate top strategic priorities into clear, executable plans — and drive them to completion - Own high-priority cross-functional initiatives end-to-end, from problem definition through implementation, driving decisions that wouldn't otherwise happen cleanly - Evaluate, select, and implement the tools and systems the company runs on (CRM, project management, BI, compliance platforms), right-sized for our stage - Surface the right information at the right time — building dashboards, leadership reporting, and the analysis that lets the company see itself clearly - Identify operational bottlenecks and compliance gaps across functions, design better workflows, and see them through to adoption ## WHO YOU ARE - You operate at two altitudes at once — equally at home shaping a recommendation for leadership and rolling up your sleeves to get a process actually implemented - You think in systems. When you see a problem, you're already sketching the scalable solution, not just today's fix - You earn trust quickly across functions and up the org chart — senior leaders feel like you understand their world and can be handed something ambiguous and important - You bring analytical rigor by default. You reach for the model, the data, and the structured breakdown before the opinion - You have both humility and a high bar. You're attached to outcomes, not credit, and you do the unglamorous work when it needs doing - You're energized by ambiguity, not paralyzed by it. The playbook for this role doesn't fully exist yet — you'll write a meaningful part of it ## BASIC QUALIFICATIONS - 3–6 years in management consulting, corporate strategy, business operations, investment banking, or a comparable analytical/operational role at a high-growth technology or defense company - Track record of owning cross-functional projects from problem definition through execution, with measurable outcomes - Strong analytical and structured-thinking skills — comfortable building financial models, frameworks, and executive-ready presentations from scratch - Demonstrated ability to work effectively with senior stakeholders and translate high-level direction into executable plans - Excellent written and verbal communication; able to synthesize complex information into clear, concise outputs for executive audiences - U.S. Person status required for access to ITAR-controlled environments ## PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS - Prior experience at a defense technology company, dual-use startup, or a business with meaningful government contracting - Experience evaluating and implementing business software and systems (CRM, ERP, project tracking, BI, or similar) - Experience supporting company expansion decisions — office locations, entity structuring, or market entry analysis - Familiarity with compliance requirements in a defense or government-adjacent context (ITAR, CMMC, FAR/DFARS a plus) - MBA or equivalent advanced degree, or demonstrated equivalent through career trajectory ## WHY THIS ROLE EXISTS Picogrid is past the stage where leadership can carry the operational and strategic load informally. We have growing programs, a scaling team, and a steady stream of decisions that need structured analysis and clear owners. Without someone setting the cadence and building the scaffolding, speed turns into chaos — good people spend energy on problems that should have been solved once and systematized. This is where the Strategy & Operations Manager comes in: a builder who is equally capable of strategic thinking and hands-on execution, working directly with the people steering the company. The right person will shape how Picogrid operates as it scales — and grow their own scope as quickly as they can prove they can carry it. ## COMPENSATION & BENEFITS - Base salary range: $130k–$190k per year. Base salary is just one part of your total compensation package at Picogrid. - Significant stock options with high potential upside as an early-stage company - 401(k) with employer matching - Full health coverage (medical, dental, and vision insurance) - Relocation assistance provided (if applicable) - Unlimited PTO (two-week minimum) and 11 paid holidays per year - Paid parental leave for both parents - Lunch provided when working in-office and a fully stocked kitchenette - Free EV charging at the HQ - Unique office in El Segundo, CA stocked with quality coffee, snacks, and craft beer ## EXPORT CONTROL REQUIREMENTS To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. ## #LI-DNP ## Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Picogrid is committed to providing a professional work environment free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. We are an equal opportunity employer and make all employment decisions based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. ## About Picogrid ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Picogrid builds an open integration platform that connects sensors, unmanned systems, and command nodes across land, sea, air, and space for defense and public safety missions. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series A) - **Headquarters**: El Segundo, California, United States - **Founded**: 2020 - **Founders**: Zane Mountcastle (CEO) and Martin Slosarik (Co-Founder) ## Core Business - **Primary industries**: Defense and Space Manufacturing, National Security, Public Safety - **Target customers**: US and allied military forces, defense vendors, government agencies (B2G) - **Mission**: Protect service members and civilians by making mission-critical systems work as one – because speed and cohesion are essential. ## Products & Services - **Picogrid Platform**: A family of hardware and software products that integrate physical and digital assets. Enables fast deployment, seamless coordination, and edge-to-cloud operations across domains (air defense, base security, SIGINT, wildfire intelligence, human-machine teaming). - **Orion**: A dual-use partner ecosystem that unifies legacy and next-gen satellites, sensors, drones, and C2 systems into a standardized, real-time operational picture. - **Legion**: An API layer that allows third-party hardware and software to plug into Picogrid’s ecosystem, enabling rapid integration of new capabilities. - **Expeditionary C2 Nodes**: Ruggedized hardware for field-deployed command-and-control, connecting edge devices and legacy systems. - **Custom Solutions**: Tailored integrations for specific missions (e.g., wildfire response, air defense networks). ## Market Standing - **Valuation**: Not publicly disclosed - **Key Metric**: Total funding raised – **$57.31M** (including $45M Series A announced May 29, 2026, led by Bessemer Venture Partners) - **Notable Investors**: Bessemer Venture Partners (lead Series A), Initialized Capital (seed lead), Starburst Ventures, Credo Ventures, Giant Step Capital, Alumni Ventures, Washington Harbour, GSBackers, and industry angels. - **Growth Signals**: 103.3% YoY headcount growth (45 employees); 24 active job postings (+140% YoY); deployed globally with US and allied forces; integration ecosystem spans 100+ defense systems (Skydio, Northrop Grumman, Echodyne, CX2, Neros); recent integration of Ukraine-proven Shahed interceptors; partnerships with Hoverfly for persistent aerial detection. ## Competitive Advantages - **Open integration layer**: Hardware-agnostic, vendor-neutral platform that eliminates the “seams” between proprietary systems – a central bottleneck in modern defense. - **Dual-use ecosystem**: Already trusted by elite operators and used in active operations, giving Picogrid real-world credibility that is hard for new entrants to replicate. - **Speed of deployment**: Products are designed for rapid field integration, reducing the time from procurement to operational capability. - **Broad domain coverage**: Land, sea, air, space, and cyber (SIGINT) – a unified approach across all operational domains. ## Strategic Focus - Expand the product family and integration capabilities into new operational domains (e.g., space, undersea). - Scale manufacturing in California and Oklahoma to meet growing demand from US forces and allies. - Deepen the partner ecosystem to attract more defense vendors onto the platform, reinforcing network effects. ## Why Work Here - **Mission-driven work**: “Build systems that protect lives” – employees directly contribute to national security and public safety. - **Rapid growth**: 103% headcount growth YoY, indicating strong trajectory and opportunity for impact. - **Technical challenges**: Work spans edge software, field hardware, AI/ML, autonomy, and systems integration – appealing to engineers who want to solve hard problems. - **Culture**: Emphasis on speed, cohesion, and operational relevance. The company values hands-on builders and mission partners. - **Remote/Hybrid/Office**: Not explicitly stated, but headquarters in El Segundo, CA with additional locations in Oklahoma and Ukraine. Likely a mix of on-site and field deployment roles. - **Notable perks**: Not detailed, but the engineering culture is described as building edge software and field hardware that shapes the future of defense. ## Sources 1. [picogrid.com](https://picogrid.com/) 2. [picogrid.com/careers](https://picogrid.com/careers) 3. [picogrid.com/mission](https://picogrid.com/mission) 4. [linkedin.com/company/picogrid](https://www.linkedin.com/company/picogrid) 5. 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