Chief of Staff at Engine

Job description

About Engine Engine is the AI-native platform for intelligent travel. For a decade, Engine has built the proprietary technology and supply behind modern business travel, serving over 40,000 customers and nearly 2 million travelers, along with leading travel and AI companies that build on Engine's infrastructure. One system powers business travel, group travel, human agents, and AI agents. That work has earned Engine recognition as TravelTech's Reservation Platform of the Year (2026), a spot on Inc.'s Power Partners list (2026), and one of Built In's Best Places to Work (2020–2026). We're looking for bold, ambitious people to help redefine how businesses manage and experience travel. Working here, you can expect exponential growth, an ambitious pace, full ownership, and high-caliber colleagues who push you to do the best work of your career. Every hire raises the bar. Come outpace the ordinary and build the future of travel with us. We're looking for an exceptional Chief of Staff to serve as a critical strategic partner to our Founder/CEO. This isn't just an operational role; it's a unique chance to amplify the CEO's impact, act as a force multiplier, and ensure the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) operates seamlessly as a unified front. You'll serve as the first line of defense and a trusted confidant, freeing the Founder to laser-focus on our most critical growth initiatives and core product strategy, operating at the very heart of our leadership team. What You'll Do CEO Leverage & Force Multiplication Amplify Impact: Act as a true force multiplier, taking on operational burdens, navigating ambiguity, and executing special projects that allow the CEO to dedicate more time and energy to core product vision, market strategy, and external relations. First Line of Defense: Streamline the CEO's operational cadence, manage priorities, and optimize their time, acting as a critical filter and enabler for information flow. Trusted Confidant: Serve as a confidential thought partner and sounding board for the CEO on a range of strategic, organizational, and personnel challenges. Represent the CEO: Confidently represent the CEO in various internal forums when appropriate, embodying his vision and priorities. Executive Team Operations & Organizational Alignment Ensure ELT Alignment: Drive the operating cadence of the ELT, ensuring the team is operating as one. You will own the design and execution of monthly ELT meetings, weekly agendas, and subsequent read-outs to the broader organization. Cross-Functional Communications: Serve as a central hub for seamless, cross-functional communication between the CEO and a diverse executive team. Anticipate organizational bottlenecks and proactively facilitate discussions to drive efficient decision-making. Facilitate Key Strategic Forums: Prepare the CEO for critical internal and external discussions, including Board meetings, investor updates, and executive reviews, ensuring materials are sharp and discussions are productive. Special Projects: Lead high-impact special projects that don't neatly fit into existing departments, managing them from ideation through execution. AI Enablement: Drive the adoption of modern AI productivity tools across the leadership office to automate administrative overhead and optimize workflows. Who You Are Experienced Strategist: You have 10+ years of progressive experience in high-growth environments, preferably within a technology startup (Series B/C or later stage), strategy consulting, or a similar fast-paced, analytical role. Master Communicator & Connector: Your written and verbal communication skills are exceptional. You can articulate complex ideas clearly and compellingly across cross functional teams and to senior leadership. Low Ego, High Impact: You are naturally collaborative, humble, and prioritize collective success. Yet, you possess the presence and diplomacy to command a room, drive tough conversations, and build alignment among senior leaders. Analytical & Solutions-Oriented: You're a natural problem-solver with a data-driven approach, capable of dissecting complex issues and designing practical, effective solutions. AI-Forward Operator: You are proficient with and enthusiastic about leveraging modern artificial intelligence tools (e.g., generative AI, LLMs) to streamline executive reporting, synthesize large datasets, and scale operational efficiency. Proactive & Resilient: You thrive in ambiguity, anticipate needs, and adapt quickly to change. You're incredibly organized, can manage multiple priorities under pressure, and have a strong bias for action. Relationship Builder: You excel at building strong, trusting relationships across all levels of an organization, fostering collaboration and earning respect. Compensation Our compensation packages are based on several factors, including your experience, expertise, and location. In addition to a competitive base salary, all roles receive equity. Depending on the role, total compensation may also include an annual bonus. Your recruiter will share your complete compensation package as you move through the process. Base Pay Range $190,000 — $230,000 USD The Engine Edge: Perks & Compensation We believe in rewarding great work with great benefits: Compensation: Competitive base pay tied to role and experience, with equity for all employees. Some roles are also eligible for bonuses or commissions. Benefits: Check out our full list at engine.com/culture Environments for Success: Different roles have different needs in terms of the environments that drive success which is why we have a hybrid-hub model. Whether you are in one of our amazing offices or fully remote, we'll make sure you have what you need to succeed. Perks and benefits may vary based on employment type, location, and more

Requirements

Must-haves

CEO Leverage & Force Multiplication
First Line of Defense: Streamline the CEO's operational cadence, manage priorities, and optimize their time, acting as a critical filter and enabler for information flow.
Trusted Confidant: Serve as a confidential thought partner and sounding board for the CEO on a range of strategic, organizational, and personnel challenges.
Represent the CEO: Confidently represent the CEO in various internal forums when appropriate, embodying his vision and priorities.
Executive Team Operations & Organizational Alignment
Special Projects: Lead high-impact special projects that don't neatly fit into existing departments, managing them from ideation through execution.
AI Enablement: Drive the adoption of modern AI productivity tools across the leadership office to automate administrative overhead and optimize workflows.
Master Communicator & Connector: Your written and verbal communication skills are exceptional. You can articulate complex ideas clearly and compellingly across cross functional teams and to senior leadership.
Analytical & Solutions-Oriented: You're a natural problem-solver with a data-driven approach, capable of dissecting complex issues and designing practical, effective solutions.
Proactive & Resilient: You thrive in ambiguity, anticipate needs, and adapt quickly to change. You're incredibly organized, can manage multiple priorities under pressure, and have a strong bias for action.
Relationship Builder: You excel at building strong, trusting relationships across all levels of an organization, fostering collaboration and earning respect.
Compensation: Competitive base pay tied to role and experience, with equity for all employees. Some roles are also eligible for bonuses or commissions.
Benefits: Check out our full list at engine.com/culture
Perks and benefits may vary based on employment type, location, and more

Nice-to-haves

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Platform: greenhouse
Effort: quick

Benefits

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