Chief Financial Officer; CFO

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Department:
Accounting & Finance

Employment Type:

Full Time

Location:

Hawthorne, California

Reporting To:
Jaret Matthews

Compensation: $250,000 - $375,000 / year

Description

Venturi Astrolab, Inc. (Astrolab) is pioneering new ways to explore and operate on distant planetary bodies. We are singularly focused on designing, building, and operating a fleet of multi-purpose commercial planetary rovers to extend and enhance humanity’s presence in the solar system. We are seeking motivated, creative, and exceptional people to join our world-class team. The CFO will be responsible for Astrolab’s financial leadership, ensuring fiscal health, operational discipline, and strategic growth as we transition from development to production and revenue-generating operations.

This role requires both strategic vision and hands-on execution — from leading capital raises to building robust financial infrastructure that supports a hardware-centric, rapidly scaling space technology company.

What You'll Do:

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Partner with the CEO and executive team to define and execute Astrolab’s long-term financial strategy, aligning with the company’s mission and growth roadmap

• Lead capital-raising efforts (equity, debt) ensuring efficient capital stack formation to fund product development, manufacturing scale-up, and mission execution, while collaborating with the executive team on strategic partnerships to enhance financial and operational objectives

• Build and maintain strong relationships with investors, financial institutions, and key stakeholders to support fundraising and strategic initiatives

Financial Planning & Operations

• Oversee all aspects of accounting, FP&A, treasury, and financial reporting

• Build financial models, forecasts, and business cases that inform company decisions and investor communications

• Establish scalable financial systems and controls to support growth in manufacturing, inventory management, and mission operations

• Lead budgeting and cost management processes across engineering, production, and operations, optimizing resource allocation in a capital-intensive environment

Capital Strategy & Risk Management

• Design and manage capital allocation frameworks that balance growth investment with financial discipline and long-term sustainability

• Identify, assess, and mitigate financial risks, including those related to market volatility, supply chain disruptions, and regulatory changes

• Support contract structuring, pricing strategies, and margin analysis for commercial and government programs, ensuring competitive and profitable outcomes

Team Leadership

• Build and mentor a high-performing finance and accounting team, fostering a culture of excellence and accountability

• Foster collaboration across departments to ensure financial strategies support engineering, production, and mission execution

Compliance

• Ensure compliance with financial regulations, including statutory financial reporting, tax filings, and audits, particularly as the company scales and engages with debt and equity investors

• Oversee equity management, including stock option plans and cap table administration, ensuring compliance and transparency

• Manage corporate insurance programs to mitigate operational and financial risks

Other

• Oversee payroll operations to ensure accuracy and compliance with applicable regulations

• Implement tax strategies to optimize the company’s financial position, including R&D tax credits and other incentives relevant to the space industry

• Collaborate on international financial operations, including banking, treasury, and compliance with global regulations, to support potential expansion or partnerships

What’s Prepared You:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, or a related field (MBA, CPA, or equivalent advanced degree/certification preferred)

• 10+ years of progressive experience in financial leadership roles, with at least 5 years in a senior executive capacity, preferably in a hardware, manufacturing, or technology-driven industry

• Proven track record of raising significant capital (e.g., $50M+ in equity or debt) and managing investor…