Strategy & Business Operations

About Arena Physica

Arena Physica is focused on speeding up hardware innovation that can advance human progress. The company name draws inspiration from Theodore Roosevelt’s Citizenship in a Republic speech, and the idea of “entering the Arena” reflects a commitment to taking bold risks in pursuit of an important mission. The team believes the future will be built by people willing to take on ambitious challenges.

The organization has a team of 50 people combining AI engineering and applied physics with extensive experience in enterprise deployments. It is headquartered in New York City, with additional presence in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and is supported by approximately $90M in funding from Initialized, Founders Fund, Goldcrest Capital, Fifth Down Capital, and Shield Capital.

Arena Physica is building electromagnetic superintelligence. Its AI platform, Atlas, applies physics-based intelligence to verify, troubleshoot, and improve hardware throughout the full lifecycle. Atlas is already used by leading hardware companies worldwide, including AMD, Anduril, and Bausch & Lomb, supporting work in R&D, integration testing, production assembly, and field repair.

Role overview

This is a founding Strategy & Business Operations position for someone who thrives as a broad, high-agency problem solver. You will work across the company’s most urgent priorities, move between internal and external challenges, and take ownership from diagnosis through execution.

The work will shift quickly based on business needs. One week may involve building a financial model for a new hardware initiative; the next may call for creating the operating structure for a customer deployment and designing a new pricing approach.

You will report to the COO and partner closely with leaders across the executive team. The role requires strong independent judgment, the ability to make recommendations that shape company direction, and the discipline to turn those decisions into action.

Key responsibilities

• Lead strategic initiatives from start to finish across functions such as finance, operations, go-to-market, and recruiting, with full ownership from analysis to delivery.
• Spot the highest-impact problems before they become bottlenecks and create repeatable systems, workflows, and playbooks to solve them at scale.
• Develop strong internal fluency across the company’s technology, customer base, business economics, and organizational structure so you can support a wide range of projects effectively.
• Travel within the United States and internationally for up to 30% of the role.
• Be based in person at the company’s New York City headquarters when not traveling.

What you should bring

• At least 3 years of professional experience, preferably in investment banking, management consulting, or a fast-growing startup, plus either strong interest in or direct exposure to hardware.
• A very high standard for output quality, along with the intensity and stamina needed for a demanding role that may require long hours to solve difficult problems.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills, including the ability to move between detailed financial models and polished customer-facing presentations for varied audiences.
• A history of solving complex problems creatively and delivering results at scale.
• Strong drive, resourcefulness, and a competitive mindset with the determination to succeed even in challenging circumstances.

Benefits and perks

• The company covers 100% of monthly premiums for Aetna medical, vision, and dental coverage for you and your dependents.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Unlimited paid time off.
• Daily lunch from local restaurants through Sharebite.
• Relocation assistance is available.

Additional information

This is a full-time, onsite position in New York City. The role involves significant autonomy, broad cross-functional scope, and frequent collaboration with executive leadership. It is intended for someone energized by high ownership, fast-changing priorities, and ambitious execution in a hardware-focused environment.