Finance Lead

At TerraFirma, we’re redefining how the world moves earth for construction. Founded by former SpaceX engineers and backed by Bain Capital Ventures, TerraFirma is automating construction to make it faster, cheaper, and safer.

Our Story & Mission

At SpaceX, we were part of the teams that built the largest rocket in human history, launched the largest constellation of satellites ever made, and delivered connectivity to millions of people worldwide. What we learned was simple: infrastructure is everything.

At Starbase, the biggest barrier to launching missions to Mars was not building the rocket. It was how slow, expensive, and complex it was to build the infrastructure around it. We lacked buildings, roads, water, power, communications, and waste management, and constructing them took far more time and resources than it should have.

From a first-principles perspective, that doesn't make sense. It shouldn't be this hard or costly to create the foundations for progress. That’s when we realized something important: the same engineering mindset that enabled us to tackle space exploration and mass manufacturing could be applied to infrastructure. By bringing the principles of simplification, iteration, acceleration, and automation to construction, we can unlock a new era in how the world builds.

Accelerating infrastructure unlocks progress across every domain, creating a self-sustaining engine for tackling humanity’s toughest challenges. The innovations we develop on Earth will lay the groundwork for the technologies that one day make settlement on Mars possible.

Job Overview

You will build TerraFirma’s finance function from the ground up. As our first dedicated finance hire, you will partner directly with the Chief of Staff and founders to establish the systems, controls, and operating cadence that keep the company fast while staying financially precise.

This is a hands-on role spanning accounting operations (AP/AR, close, reporting) and forward-looking finance (budgeting, forecasting, unit economics, fundraising support). You will define processes from scratch, automate what should be automated, and create real-time visibility into cash, burn, and runway as we scale machines, deployments, and headcount.

Responsibilities

- Own end-to-end accounting operations including general ledger, AP, AR, and month-end close
- Maintain accurate financials that are consistent, audit-ready, and decision-useful
- Select, implement, and maintain the finance tech stack to reduce manual work and improve data integrity
- Build and operate the FP&A cadence including budgets, rolling forecasts, cash flow forecasts, and burn/runway tracking
- Deliver clear reporting for leadership, including runway visibility and scenario planning for major spend decisions
- Support board preparation, investor updates, and fundraising diligence
- Implement procurement approvals, expense policies, and internal controls that match a fast-moving hardware company
- Partner with engineering, operations, and supply chain to model cost structure for deployments, assets, and build scale
- Tackle ambiguous problems such as tax implications of new assets, vendor/payment workflows, and capex planning

Basic Qualifications

- 2–5 years of experience in investment banking, Big 4 accounting, transaction services, or a high-growth startup finance role
- Strong understanding of GAAP accounting, month-end close, and three-statement financial modeling
- Ability to operate independently in a fast-paced environment with high attention to detail
- A “no task is too small” mindset, comfortable handling operational basics while driving strategic work

Preferred Skills & Experience

- CPA, audit background, or transaction services experience
- Experience in hardware, robotics, construction, or other asset-heavy environments including inventory, fixed assets, and capex
- Familiarity with modern finance tools including accounting, bill pay, expenses, and payroll integrations
- Experience with SQL and/or BI tools for analysis and reporting
- Track record of building processes and implementing systems from scratch

Additional Requirements

- Must be willing to work extended hours or weekends when needed to support close cycles or fundraising deadlines
- Comfortable with working in a fast-paced startup environment where priorities shift quickly
- Must be willing to relocate to Austin, TX if not within commuting distance

Compensation & Benefits

Base compensation will vary based on factors such as relevant experience and education. Salaries and leveling will be determined on a case-by-case basis if an offer is extended. Our total compensation package also includes equity in TerraFirma. Relocation packages are available to help cover moving costs, if applicable.