Operations Associate at Space… · Bengaluru

About Us

Our mission is to safeguard critical space infrastructure by providing the first integrated security platform to see threats, decide fast and respond at scale. Where spacecraft have traditionally been costly, slow to produce and require extensive effort to coordinate, SMC is developing systems that are produced at scale and operated with human-on-the-loop autonomy to drastically reduce the cost and complexity of orbital operations.

As space becomes more congested and contested, the satellites that underpin modern life, including communications, navigation, financial systems, are increasingly exposed. We are developing the vehicles and software to protect them, working with commercial operators and government agencies across allied nations.

Our approach is grounded in economics as much as engineering. The Optimus Viper Rapid Response Vehicle delivers genuine mission capability at a fraction of conventional spacecraft cost, designed for high-volume production and rapid deployment across all orbital regimes. Solstice OS, our AI-driven command and control platform, fuses space domain awareness data and automates mission planning and vehicle coordination, allowing smaller teams to manage larger constellations and respond to emerging situations in seconds rather than hours.

The future of space depends on assets that can be inspected, monitored and protected in orbit. We are building the technology to make that possible.

Why Join Us

We’re a start up — things move fast, resources are lean, and we’re building as we go.

What we offer is opportunity: to learn at speed, grow with the company, and leave your fingerprints on something that’s never been done before. At Space Machines Company, engineers, innovators, and problem solvers join forces to push the limits of what’s possible.

If you want to build technology designed to protect and power humanity’s future in space — and see your work make a visible impact — this is where you’ll do it.

How We Work

We are builders first.

We approach every challenge through a cycle of design, build, test, and refine — making ideas real, learning from results, and improving with each iteration.

We challenge assumptions to make sure we’re solving the right problems, and we strengthen our solutions through collaboration and feedback.

We use process where it adds value and set it aside where it slows us down. There are a lot of firsts here, and we meet them with curiosity and courage.

We win as one team.

As our Operations Associate in Bengaluru, you will run the day-to-day operations of our office while leadership operates from Australia. You'll manage vendors, coordinate logistics, handle government visits, support team onboarding, and be the point of contact for everything that keeps the office moving. You'll work on real problems from day one and represent SMC professionally to clients, government contacts, and partners.

This is an opportunity to be embedded in a small, focused spacecraft company and understand how a deep tech operation actually works.

What you'll do:

• Manage end-to-end office administration: office supplies procurement, vendor coordination (IT, facilities, housekeeping, pantry, courier, etc.).
• Handle facility management: maintenance of office space, clean-room/lab areas, utilities, security, and safety protocols.
• Coordinate travel, accommodation, visa, and logistics for team members, clients, and government visitors.
• Support meeting & event management: scheduling, conference room booking, visitor management, and internal event coordination.
• Maintain documentation and records: filing, archiving, expense tracking, and basic compliance.
• Assist in employee onboarding/off-boarding, ID card issuance, biometric management, and basic coordination.
• Provide administrative support to project teams: prepare reports, track basic project admin, and manage shared drives.
• Handle incoming/outgoing correspondence and general office communication.
• Monitor and optimize office operations and suggest process improvements.

Experience

• 1–3 years of experience in an operations, administrative, or coordinator role at a startup or tech company.
• Bachelor's degree in any discipline
• Strong written and verbal communication in English.
• Proficiency in Google Workspace.
• Demonstrated use of AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT, etc.) in day-to-day work.
• A track record of taking ownership and following through.
• Experience in tech and startups is an advantage but not required