Office Operations Manager

Diffraqtion

Office Operations Manager

Somerville, MA
Part Time
Paid
  • Responsibilities

    Company

    Diffraqtion is building the world's first Quantum Camera, a device that replaces a conventional camera and edge AI processor by computing at the speed of light. We are an 11-employee startup backed by DARPA, NASA, and leading venture investors, and founded by MIT and Harvard scientists with deep roots in AI, optics, and quantum sensing. We are delivering orders-of-magnitude improvements in resolution, processing speed, and energy efficiency for machines and satellites that need to see and think at the edge.

    The Role

    We are hiring an Office Operations Manager, reporting directly to the Head of Operations & BD, to take ownership of day-to-day operational tasks to keep our team moving forward. This is a broad, hands-on role spanning facilities, events, contracting, accounting, IT, and executive support tasks. The ideal candidate is a generalist who thrives in an early-stage technical environment, enjoys wearing multiple hats, and takes pride in keeping a growing company organized.

    This role can be part-time or full-time.

    Note: This position requires U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent resident status, or eligibility for authorization under U.S. export control regulations (ITAR/EAR).

    Responsibilities

    Design and maintain the office space and team areas

    Coordinate with building management and various service providers

    Serve as primary organizer for meetings, investor & customer visits, and team events

    Support implementation of workplace safety and security policies

    Manage office-related purchasing and inventory management

    Support technical-related purchasing, order tracking, and supplier invoicing

    Track supplier, vendor, customer, and investor contracts

    Assist with day-to-day IT logistics and data handling procedures

    Support day-to-day HR activities including employee onboarding, payroll processing, and benefits enrollment

    Process expense reports and reimbursements

    Manage internal communications

    Support marketing and publicity activities

    Coordinate external events and travel arrangements

    Compile and format materials for board meetings and investor updates

    Other responsibilities as required

    Qualifications

    2-5 years of experience in operations, office management, or executive support, ideally at an early-stage startup

    Comfortable working in ambiguity and building processes from scratch rather than following established ones

    Strong written and verbal communication skills, with sound judgment on when to escalate vs. handle independently

    Experience with business software (Microsoft Office, QuickBooks or similar) at an admin level

    Demonstrated ability to leverage AI tools (e.g., Claude / ChatGPT) to increase productivity and automate routine tasks

    Comfortable handling sensitive or confidential information (HR, legal, financial, government contracting)

    Nice to have (not required)

    Prior experience in startup environments

    Prior experience in government-regulated or export-controlled industries (aerospace, defense, etc.)

    Prior experience with highly technical engineering or scientific research teams

    Prior experience with advanced legal documentation

    Prior experience with accounting or financial reporting

    Benefits (available for Full-Time employees)

    Company equity options on a high-growth startup

    Medical, dental and vision

    Company 401K match

    Company discounts

    Unlimited PTO

    Equal Opportunity Employer:

    Diffraqtion is committed to fostering an inclusive and meritocratic workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should notify our Human Resources Department.

    Flexible work from home options available.