KARMAN INDUSTRIES
Karman Industries is a Torrance-based thermal technology company building the backbone for giga-scale AI infrastructure. Founded by a team from SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and GE, Karman is moving beyond legacy cooling with the launch of the HPU (Heat Processing Unit) - a new category of thermal architecture designed for the 100kW+ rack era.
The HPU shrinks the exterior mechanical yard by up to 80% while reducing peak energy consumption by 10%+. Unlike traditional systems, the Karman HPU provides zero-water (WUE 0) cooling that ensures high-TDP GPUs and HBM4 memory stay at optimal thermal setpoints without throttling.
Founded in 2024, we’re a fast-growing team of passionate professionals dedicated to making a tangible impact on the future of humanity. We design, build, and test real hardware, and we lead with ownership: you’ll own your work from concept to hardware and help shape how we scale. Our values are Ownership, Performance Excellence, Radical Transparency, and Customer-Centricity.
Join us in our mission to transform the industry and contribute to a more sustainable world.
Corporate Controller
Karman Industries is seeking a hands-on Controller to lead and build the company’s accounting organization as we transition from R&D and prototype activity into volume production. Reporting to the CFO, the Controller will own the integrity of Karman’s financial statements, accounting operations, close and reporting processes, accounting policies, internal controls, and audit readiness. This leader will be responsible for bringing key accounting activities in-house from our outsourced accounting team, building and developing the accounting organization, and establishing the systems and processes required to support rapid manufacturing scale. The ideal candidate combines strong technical accounting judgment with practical operating experience and is comfortable moving between detailed execution and organization-wide leadership. This is an opportunity to build the accounting function from an early stage and create the infrastructure that will support Karman through its next phase of growth. This role is on-site and does not have travel requirements.
Responsibilities:
- Lead all accounting operations, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll accounting, fixed assets, inventory and cost accounting, project accounting, revenue recognition, and financial reporting
- Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process and ensure financial statements are accurate, timely, GAAP-compliant, and supported by strong review and reconciliation processes
- Build and lead Karman’s internal accounting team, defining roles, responsibilities, review structures, and development plans as the organization scales
- Manage the transition of accounting activities from Karman’s outsourced accounting team to an appropriately staffed internal function
- Establish scalable accounting policies, procedures, close calendars, documentation standards, and internal controls across the organization
- Develop manufacturing and inventory accounting infrastructure to support volume production, including inventory valuation, cost accounting, work in process, overhead allocation, cost of goods sold, reserves, and related controls
- Oversee project accounting and customer-related accounting matters, including cost tracking, revenue recognition, contract considerations, and budget-to-actual reporting
- Provide technical accounting leadership on complex or emerging matters and document conclusions and accounting policies as needed
- Partner with the CFO on financial reporting, board and investor reporting, forecasting inputs, cash management, and other strategic finance initiatives
- Partner closely with Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, People, and other functions to ensure financial processes and controls scale with the business
- Lead ERP/accounting system strategy and implementation from an accounting perspective, including process design, chart of accounts, data migration, testing, integrations, and reporting
- Own the annual financial statement audit and coordinate tax, compliance, and other external accounting requirements with outside advisors
- Drive continuous improvement, automation, and standardization across accounting and finance processes while maintaining a strong control environment
- Develop reporting and analysis that improves visibility into operating performance, manufacturing costs, working capital, and financial risks
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related discipline
- 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including leadership responsibility for close, financial reporting, and accounting operations
- CPA license
- Strong technical knowledge of GAAP and demonstrated ability to apply accounting guidance to complex business transactions
- Experience building, managing, and developing accounting teams
- Experience owning external audits and working directly with auditors, tax advisors, and other external service providers
- Experience with ERP/accounting systems and demonstrated ability to improve or implement accounting systems and processes
- Strong leadership, communication, and cross-functional partnership skills, with the ability to operate effectively at both strategic and detailed levels
- Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-growth environment and building processes where limited infrastructure exists today
Preferred Qualifications:
- Big 4 public accounting experience
- Controller or senior accounting leadership experience in a high-growth manufacturing, hardware, aerospace, industrial, or other inventory-intensive company
- Experience scaling an accounting organization from an outsourced or early-stage model to a fully internal function
- Deep experience with inventory and cost accounting in a manufacturing environment
- Experience with project accounting, revenue recognition, and accounting for long-term or complex customer arrangements
- Experience implementing NetSuite or another ERP in a scaling manufacturing organization
- Experience supporting venture-backed companies through significant fundraising, rapid growth, and increasing audit and reporting requirements
- Advanced Excel skills and strong financial systems and data orientation
Karman Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Karman Industries is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.