Santa Clarita
Role: VP Operations Department: Operations Reports To: CEO Location: Onsite in Santa Clarita, CA Employment Type: Full-time FLSA Status: Exempt Salary Range: $170,000 - $225,000 per year About Tombot Tombot is a robotics startup company based in the greater Los Angeles area. Jennie, our robotic puppy, was named Best of CES® Award winner at CES 2026, and was designed to support over 50 million seniors with dementia worldwide. We’re building a passionate team to help deliver these life-changing robotic companions to the people who need them most. We're seeking a results-driven VP of Operations to lead and optimize the operational backbone of our business—from supply chain and manufacturing to customer success and technical support. Job Overview This role is accountable for building an operations engine that can scale from early-stage production to reliable, high-volume delivery without compromising quality, compliance, or customer experience. You will own both the strategy and execution of Tombot’s core operational functions, including supply chain, contract manufacturing, logistics, fulfillment, customer support, quality systems, and medical device compliance. What you'll Be Solving First In the first 6-12 months, you will: • Build the operations team from the ground up; hiring, onboarding, and training leaders and operators who can execute at a high level, • Stabilize and scale contract manufacturing relationships to meet production targets., • Build operational visibility across supply chain, inventory, and fulfillment., • Stand up or refine quality systems aligned with FDA and ISO 13485., • Define the structure and KPIs for customer support and post-sale operations., • Assess and upgrade core systems (ERP, inventory, reporting) to support scale. Responsibilities Operations & Manufacturing • Own supply chain strategy and execution, including contract manufacturer performance, cost, and delivery reliability., • Manage relationships with contract manufacturers (CMs), ensuring quality, on-time delivery, and cost efficiency., • Lead and optimize logistics, inventory, and fulfillment operations—including shipping systems, 3PL partnerships, returns management, and delivery tracking—to maximize efficiency and delivery performance while minimizing costs., • Build operational dashboards that provide real-time visibility into production, quality, and delivery performance. Customer Success & Technical Support • Build and manage customer success and technical operations function capable of supporting a vulnerable user population where reliability, empathy, and responsiveness are critical., • Develop systems for feedback loops from customers to engineering and product teams., • Implement a quality management system that meets FDA and ISO 13485 compliance requirements. Internal IT & Systems • Oversee the internal IT function to ensure tools and infrastructure support team productivity and data security., • Collaborate with product and engineering teams to align IT operations with technical customer needs., • Lead the implementation and optimization of ERP (e.g., NetSuite, SAP), order management, inventory tools, and dashboards Team Leadership & Development • Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing operations talent., • Foster a culture of ownership, problem-solving, and adaptability across teams., • Set clear KPIs and ensure accountability at all levels of operations. Strategic Initiatives • Partner with the CEO and executive team on strategic planning and operational roadmaps., • Identify and implement new tools, systems, and workflows to improve performance and scalability., • Roll up your sleeves to fill knowledge gaps and take on new challenges as the business evolve. Required Qualifications Education and Experience • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Operations, Business, or related field required., • MBA or Master’s in a related field is strongly preferred., • 10+ years of experience in operations or supply chain roles, ideally within hardware, robotics, consumer electronics, electronic medical devices, or advanced manufacturing., • Proven experience managing contract manufacturing and global supply chains for new product introduction and ongoing existing products., • Proven experience building and scaling operations in early- to mid-stage hardware or regulated environments., • Experience leading logistics, fulfillment, and post-sale customer support functions., • Demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing teams., • Able to quickly develop depth in unfamiliar domains and make high-quality decisions with incomplete information. Skills and Competencies • You can move between strategy and execution without losing momentum, • You’ve built systems, not just managed them., • You understand how operational decisions impact customer experience, • Proficient with ERP platforms (e.g., NetSuite, SAP), CRM, QMS, and analytics dashboards. Compensation & Benefits Final compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, internal equity, and market factors. The base salary for this role is expected to be between $170,000 - $225,000. In addition to cash compensation, this role may be eligible for equity awards, aligning individual impact with Tombot’s long-term success. Benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents. Why Join Us? • Help define the future of AI robotics, • Improve the quality of lives for millions of people with serious health adversities., • Work with a world-class team of engineers, designers, and thinkers., • Shape a function critical to our long-term success and scalability., • Work in a culture that rewards participation and critical thinking., • Competitive compensation, bonus structure, equity, and benefits package. Work Authorization Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. Tombot does not currently provide employment visa sponsorship. Tombot participates in E-Verify to confirm work authorization. E-Verify compares information provided by employees on Form I-9 with federal government records to confirm eligibility to work in the United States. Additional information about E-Verify is available upon request. Tombot does not use E-Verify to pre-screen applicants. Equal Employment Opportunity Tombot is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. Reasonable Accommodation Tombot is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability during the application or interview process, please inform our hiring team. Employment with Tombot is at-will, meaning that either the employee or Tombot may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, subject to applicable law. This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with this role. Responsibilities may change based on business needs.