Administrative Assistant / Office Manager
Location: Honolulu, HI (Onsite)
Company: Nalu Scientific
Type: Full-Time
Nalu Scientific develops advanced mixed-signal integrated circuits (ASICs) and related technologies for high-performance instrumentation and data acquisition systems. We are a growing team of engineers and innovators based in Honolulu, HI, working at the cutting edge of fast electronics for scientific, commercial, and defense applications.
We are seeking a highly organized and versatile Administrative Assistant / Office Manager to support our daily operations, proposal efforts, and compliance needs. This role combines administrative, financial, and operational responsibilities and will be central to keeping our fast-paced R&D environment running smoothly. The ideal candidate will be passionate about high-tech development and scientific discovery and have experience supporting government-funded projects, particularly SBIR/STTR programs (DOE, NASA, DOD, NSF), and will be comfortable navigating proposal submission portals, award compliance, and contract management. There is room for growth in this role as the company grows.
Manage day-to-day office operations, scheduling, and administrative workflows
Support proposal preparation, submission, and tracking (Grants.gov, DoD SBIR portals, etc.)
Assist in preparing budgets, justifications, and compliance documentation for federal contracts and grants
Maintain records for award and contract management, ensuring ongoing compliance with agency requirements (DOE, NASA, DOD, NSF)
Coordinate with our contract accounting firm and company leadership to support government cost accounting, reporting, and audit readiness
Coordinate with HR on onboarding, timesheet management (payroll), and reporting tasks
Manage procurement, inventory, and vendor relationships
Support sales process and coordinate order fulfillment
Produce and/or procure marketing materials for trade shows, conferences, and career fairs
Organize company events, meetings, and travel logistics
Maintain organized digital and physical filing systems for corporate, financial, and project records
Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience preferred
3+ years of experience in administrative, accounting, or operations roles
Experience with government grant or contract administration (SBIR/STTR strongly preferred)
Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously
Proficiency in Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and collaboration tools (Zoom, etc.)
Understanding of basic Quickbooks operations for exporting reports and analysis
Familiarity with Grants.gov, NSPIRES, NASA SBIR, DOD SBIR/STTR, or similar platforms
Understanding of federal cost accounting standards (CAS), FAR compliance, and reporting processes
Working knowledge of project management tools such as ClickUp is a plus
Experience in a tech, R&D, or startup environment a plus
Team player, self-starter, and able to thrive in startup work environments
Comfortable working under deadlines
Health, dental, and vision insurance
Paid time off (PTO) and company holidays
401(k) plan with company contribution
Professional development support — company-sponsored training, certifications, and conferences
Opportunity to grow with a high-tech company
Collaborative, mission-driven work culture in a unique innovation ecosystem in Hawai?i
Join a passionate and collaborative team driving innovation at the intersection of science and technology. At Nalu Scientific, your contributions help power cutting-edge research and real-world applications — from particle/medical physics to advanced sensing systems — all from our base in Honolulu.