Operations Associate

Operations Associate

Subcritical Systems

Subcritical Systems is a venture-backed energy startup based in Austin, Texas. We are building next-generation accelerator-driven nuclear systems with the goal of enabling safe, scalable, domestic power generation. Our culture is highly execution driven.

We are looking for an Operations Associate to act as the operational backbone for our science and engineering teams. This role works closely with the Operations team and technical leadership, serving as a bridge between engineering needs and business execution. We recently moved to a 30,000 square foot facility in Austin and are scaling quickly. This role exists to make sure the company’s physical space, people, and projects run smoothly every day.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in fast-moving environments, enjoys keeping complex work on track, and wants to be a hands-on right hand to highly technical teams.

Key Responsibilities

Construction, Facilities & Procurement

• Own the ground-floor presence at our facility build-out — serve as the primary on-site contact for contractors and vendors
• Receive and verify deliveries against POs; coordinate on-site logistics for equipment installation
• Maintain the live construction progress tracker: milestones, status, blockers
• Coordinate vendor and contractor scheduling and site access with the procurement specialist

Hiring & Onboarding Systems

• Own the candidate pipeline for a fast-scaling deep tech team — from job posting through interview recommendation
• Use AI tools to triage applicants at volume and surface the strongest candidates quickly
• Manage all candidate-facing communications and help build out the internal applicant tracking system
• Own new hire onboarding for both full time employees and contractors

Office Management

• Own the day-to-day office: supplies, facilities requests, and vendor visits
• Plan and execute monthly team social events

Who You Are

• 1–2 years post-college; comfortable in a physical, construction-adjacent environment
• You’ve tracked something complex before and communicate issues clearly and directly
• Fluent with AI tools; adaptable; you default to judgment when there’s no playbook
• Organized in a system you can explain to someone else

Nice to Have

• Background in construction, facilities, or technical environments
• Early-stage startup experience

Important Notes

This role is fully in person in Austin, office is next to Austin Airport

Compensation: Base Salary + Equity + Bonus

Ability to get diverse experience, own projects, & move up based on performance