Operations Lead (our first-ever ops hire!)

Orchard Robotics is a seed-stage startup backed by top VCs like General Catalyst, Contrary, Mythos Ventures, Soma Capital, Humba Ventures, and angel investors like Howard Lerman (founder of Yext).

We're securing America’s food supply by building the AI farmer that automates our nation’s farms. We've started by gathering critical data to provide detailed insights for every tree, at billion-fruit scale.

To do this, we build AI-powered camera systems that mount onto farm vehicles to image every tree, all year round. Our state-of-the-art computer vision technology tracks fruit count, size, growth rate, color, quality, disease detection, canopy health, and more. And the modern software we've built lets farmers make precise decisions based on this data, to farm more profitably, efficiently, and sustainably. 

We are the most advanced technology on the farms we work with. Farmers are using our technology today in some of the largest farms in the nation. As we scale nationwide, we're committed to providing world-class operational excellence to our customers.

About the Role: 

As Orchard Robotics' first-ever Operations Lead, you'll have the unique opportunity to build our operational strategy, systems, and processes from the ground up. 

Your role will be pivotal in scaling our technology deployments, driving customer success, and optimizing both internal and field operations.

This is a dynamic, entrepreneurial role, perfect for highly driven, organized individuals who thrive in rapidly evolving environments. 

Every day will present new challenges without clear solutions. We are looking for someone who is creative, quick on their feet, with the organization and drive to strategize, adapt, and execute new solutions as we scale our technology across hundreds of sites. 

If you enjoy the thrill of navigating ambiguity, rapidly innovating, and scaling operations beyond conventional limits, this is for you.

We can't promise predictable days—but we can guarantee excitement, growth, and meaningful impact.

Responsibilities:

• Communicate with customers, partners, engineering sales teams to resolve operational challenges.
• Develop strong relationships with our service partners, ensuring exceptional customer experiences.
• Coordinate demos & deployments of our technology to customers.
• Manage our field technician teams across California and Washington (scheduling, logistics, etc.)
• Oversee and optimize hardware QA/testing, supply chains management, and inventory.
• Gather and communicate customer feedback to internal teams.

What We're Looking For:

• A relentless entrepreneurial mindset
• Comfortable with tackling ambiguous, complex challenges
• Exceptional organizational abilities, managing numerous priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Outstanding communication skills (and customer-centric)
• Demonstrated experience optimizing operational systems, internal processes, and supply chains & inventory management.
• Comfortable with frequent travel (50% remote, 30% Northern California, 20% Washington).
• Experience with ERP systems and CRMs (HubSpot, Salesforce).
• Background in consulting, the military, or similar roles focused on operational excellence and process optimization.
• Resilient, innovative problem-solver who consistently delivers results, even under challenging and changing conditions.

Why Join Orchard Robotics:

• Pioneer operations at a fast-growing startup having a real impact on American agriculture.
• You'll receive generous equity compensation
• Comprehensive Health, Vision, and Dental coverage (we pay 100% of the premium)
• Our team is close-knit & highly driven, you’ll work directly with our CEO and entire team
• We’re deeply motivated by the impact we’re making – every bit of progress means one less fruit that goes to waste, or one more person who is fed.

Salary : $110,000 - $140,000