Chief Financial Officer

Xona Space Systems, Inc.

Burlingame, CA

JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Accounting, Accounting Close, Accounting Software, Aerospace and Defense, Analysis Skills, Banking Services, Budgeting, Business Administration, Business Growth, Business Support, Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Channel Strategies, Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Communication Skills, Contract Manufacturing, Contract Review, Corrective Action, Cost Modeling, Cross-Functional, Customer Support/Service, Detail Oriented, Diversity, ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), Economics, External Audit, Finance, Financial Audit, Financial Operations, Financial Planning, Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A), Financial Reporting, Financial Statements, Financial Strategy, Financial Systems, Forecasting, Fundraising, GPS (Global Positioning System), Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Government, Government Grants, Head of Finance, Internal Audit, Leadership, Legal Support Skills, Management Strategy, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Cost, Manufacturing Operations, Negotiation Skills, Operational Strategy, Operational Support, Operations Planning, Performance Metrics, Process Improvement, Product Pricing, Program Control, Regulations, Regulatory Compliance, Regulatory Requirements, Relationship Management, Research & Development (R&D), Security Analysis, Security Clearance, Startup, Strategic Planning, Technical Support, UK Security Clearances, United States Citizen, Vendor/Supplier Planning, Venture Capital
LOCATION
Burlingame, CA
POSTED
30+ days ago

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth. With Pulsar - the world's most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit - Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection.

The CFO will be a strategic and operational partner to the CEO and executive team, responsible for leading Xona's financial strategy, execution, and infrastructure. This role blends high-level financial leadership with hands-on ownership across accounting, FP&A, fundraising support, compliance, and systems.

You'll play a critical role in capital strategy, operational planning, and ensuring financial rigor as Xona scales its satellite constellation, manufacturing, and commercial operations.

Key Responsibilities

Partner closely with the CEO and Board to define and execute Xona's financial strategy Provide clear financial insights to support business decisions, growth initiatives, and long-term planning Serve as a trusted advisor to the executive team on budgeting, forecasting, and trade-off decisions Own company-wide budgeting, forecasting, and long-range financial planning Build and maintain operating models supporting R&D, manufacturing, and deployment programs Track KPIs and financial performance, highlighting risks, opportunities, and corrective actions Oversee accounting operations including monthly close, financial statements, and audits Ensure strong internal controls and compliance with GAAP and regulatory requirements Manage relationships with external auditors, tax advisors, and banking partners Support equity and debt fundraising, including investor materials, data rooms, and diligence Partner with the CEO on capital planning, runway management, and scenario modeling Build and scale financial systems, tools, and processes to support company growth Oversee ERP, accounting software, and reporting infrastructure Drive process improvements that balance financial rigor with startup agility Build and lead a high-performing finance team over time Work cross-functionally with Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Legal, and HR Support contract review, pricing strategy, and vendor negotiations as needed

Required Qualifications

10+ years of progressive finance leadership experience (CFO, VP Finance, or equivalent senior role) Proven experience operating in a fast-paced startup or scale-up environment Strong expertise across FP&A, accounting, and financial operations Experience supporting venture capital fundraising and Board-level financial reporting Hands-on, detail-oriented leader willing to dive in where needed Ability to communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders Strong judgment, analytical rigor, and ability to drive decisions under ambiguity

Desired Qualifications

Experience in aerospace, space, defense, hardware, or other capital-intensive technical environments Experience supporting government customers, grants, or regulated contracts Familiarity with manufacturing cost models and hardware program economics Experience scaling finance teams and systems from early-stage to growth-stage Exposure to ERP implementation or financial systems build-out CPA, CFA, and/or MBA (preferred but not required)

Security Clearances

For U.S. Roles: To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). For U.K. Roles: To comply with U.K. regulations, this role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks, and successful candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC). For Canada Roles: Successful candidates must obtain and hold a security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.

We Celebrate Diversity

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

About the Company

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Xona Space Systems, Inc.