About the role

CHIEF OF STAFF Location: Austin, TX (Hybrid on-site, with up to 20% travel supporting executive engagements, customer meetings, and strategic initiatives) Clearance Requirement: U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance About NODA NODA is a veteran-owned, venture-backed technology company that is transforming how unmanned systems collaborate in complex, mission-critical environments. We are developing next-generation solutions that enable the autonomous orchestration of heterogeneous unmanned systems across air, sea, land, and space with vital applications in the defense, intelligence, and commercial sectors. The Chief of Staff sits at the center of NODA AI's executive function, serving as a force multiplier for the CEO and leadership team. As NODA scales through its next phase of growth, this role is critical to ensuring the company operates with clarity, alignment, and speed across every function. Joining NODA means working on meaningful technology that pushes the boundaries of autonomy alongside a team that thrives on innovation, rapid iteration, and collaboration. The Role We are seeking a Chief of Staff to serve as a trusted partner and operational right hand to NODA AI's CEO and Executive Leadership Team. You will own the connective tissue that keeps the company aligned, informed, and moving at the pace the mission demands, translating strategic intent into operational execution and ensuring the leadership team focuses its time and energy on the highest-priority decisions and opportunities. Your work will span executive operations, strategic communications, cross-functional programme management, board and investor relations support, and special projects. You will work across every function of the business, from Engineering and Product to Business Development, Finance, and People Operations, with visibility into everything and accountability for ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. This role is not a coordinator or scheduler seat. It requires someone who can operate at the strategic level alongside the CEO, drive decisions independently, represent the company with external stakeholders, and build the operational infrastructure that scales with the business. Key Responsibilities - Serve as a trusted partner and strategic advisor to the CEO, providing counsel on business decisions, organisational priorities, and leadership challenges - Own the CEO's operating rhythm including calendar management, time prioritisation, meeting preparation, and follow-through on commitments and action items - Lead preparation for board meetings, investor updates, executive offsites, and all-hands communications, including materials development, narrative alignment, and follow-up - Drive cross-functional strategic initiatives from definition through execution, coordinating across Engineering, Product, BD, Finance, People Operations, and other functions on behalf of the CEO - Identify and resolve misalignments, blockers, and gaps across the leadership team before they become problems, escalating with clear options and recommendations - Design and run the company's operating cadence including leadership syncs, quarterly business reviews, OKR processes, and strategic planning cycles - Develop and maintain executive-level communications including internal updates, external briefings, board materials, investor communications, and customer-facing presentations - Partner with the executive team on organisational design, headcount planning, and talent strategy as the company scales - Build trusted relationships with key external stakeholders including investors, board members, customers, partners, and government officials, representing the CEO when needed - Lead or support special projects and strategic initiatives that require cross-functional coordination or direct CEO involvement - Maintain strict confidentiality and discretion across all sensitive business, personnel,