Executive Assistant to CEO

Executive Assistant to the CEO (San Diego, CA)

On-Site Full-Time

About Peregrine

Peregrine Industries builds affordable, U.S.-made autonomous systems for tactical strike, counter-UAS, training, and defense modernization missions. Our platforms include Kestrel and DRACO, backed by PTEC, our modular tactical effects core.

We move fast, hold ourselves to honest engineering standards, and build hardware that has to work the first time in the field.

About the Role

We are seeking a hands-on Executive Assistant to serve as a trusted operating partner to our CEO, with additional support to our senior VPs. This is far more than a calendar and travel role. You will help run the daily operational rhythm of the company, take work off the plates of leaders who are currently absorbing it themselves, and keep priorities, communications, and follow-through moving without being asked twice.

This is a foundational role at an early-stage defense company. You will build the systems that a growing executive office runs on, hold sensitive information with discretion, and free up leadership bandwidth so they can focus on product, capture, and fundraising. The pace is high, the mission is real, and the work has direct impact.

This role is based on-site in San Diego and is open only to candidates local to the San Diego area.

What you’ll do

• Serve as the primary operational partner to the CEO, anticipating needs and resolving logistical, informational, and administrative requirements before they become blockers.
• Manage complex, fast-changing calendars for the CEO and senior VPs, prioritizing against company goals and protecting executive focus time.
• Coordinate internal and external meetings end to end, including agendas, read-ahead materials, logistics, notes, and action-item follow-up.
• Draft, edit, and refine company policies, SOPs, and internal process documentation, turning how we work into clear, repeatable written standards.
• Provide basic financial support, including expense reports, invoice and PO tracking, receipt discipline, and coordination with company card and accounting workflows.
• Coordinate domestic travel and detailed itineraries, and manage last-minute changes with agility.
• Track executive action items, commitments, and strategic priorities across the leadership team, ensuring timely follow-through.
• Serve as a professional point of contact for customers, government stakeholders, partners, and investors on behalf of the executive office.
• Prepare and refine briefing materials, correspondence, and presentations for internal and external audiences.
• Build and maintain the files, trackers, and organizational systems that keep the executive office running as the company scales.
• Handle confidential and sensitive business information with the highest level of integrity and discretion.
• Support special projects and executive office operations as assigned.

What we’re looking for

• 5+ years supporting senior executives, with direct experience supporting a CEO or C-suite leader strongly preferred.
• Local to San Diego and able to work on-site and/or remotely full-time.
• Proven ability to manage complex calendars, shifting priorities, and confidential matters in a fast-paced environment.
• Basic financial literacy: comfort with expense reports, invoices, POs, budgets, and receipt tracking.
• Strong writing skills, with the ability to draft clear policies, SOPs, and executive communications.
• Exceptional organizational, project management, and time management skills with outstanding attention to detail.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Proven ability to anticipate needs, think ahead, and execute with minimal supervision.
• High degree of professionalism, integrity, discretion, and sound judgment.
• High level of attention to detail and ability to follow instructions.

Strongly preferred

• Experience within defense, aerospace, government contracting, or another regulated or startup environment.
• Experience developing organizational systems, workflows, and process improvements from the ground up.
• Familiarity with expense and travel tools, and with company card platforms.
• Ability and willingness to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

To apply

Send a resume and a short note on why you are interested in this role to [email protected]. Cover letters are optional.

*Peregrine Industries is an e…