Range Safety Officer (RSO) / Armory Manager

Location: Onsite — Austin, TX

Employment Type: Direct Hire, Full‑Time

Job Title: Range Safety Officer (RSO) / Armory Manager

About 9 Mothers

The modern battlefield has changed. Cheap, autonomous suicide drones have turned the tactical advantage upside down, and the world is looking for a solution. At 9 Mothers, we aren’t just "innovating"—we are building the shield.

Backed by top-tier investors, we develop AI powered machines designed to intercept and neutralize Group 1/sUAS threats in real-time. Our flagship product is a low-power, counter-drone system built for the edge—on vehicles, at bases, or in a soldier's pack.

Why 9 Mothers?

While others build for "awareness" or "long-term research," we build for the immediate survival of those in harm’s way. We are a team of hackers, engineers, and mission-driven builders who value field-ready capability over polished slide decks. If you want to see your code or hardware in the field next month—not next year—this is your playground.

Position Summary

9 Mothers builds automated, belt-fed shotgun weapon systems. Designing, building, and demonstrating those systems requires a working armory and a working range, both run to a professional standard. This role owns both.

The Range Safety Officer / Armory Manager is the single point of accountability for safe handling of firearms, ammunition, and live-fire activity at 9 Mothers. You write the range SOPs, run the safety brief, call cease-fire when warranted, and ensure every round we fire is fired under controlled, documented conditions. When the range is cold, you own the armory: storage, accountability, maintenance, ammunition logistics, and ATF regulatory compliance.

This is not a part-time RSO role bolted onto something else. The role requires deep weapons experience and serious administrative discipline around federally regulated equipment.

Essential Duties

Range Safety (Primary)

• Serve as Range Safety Officer for all 9 Mothers live-fire activity — internal R&D shoots, function-checks, qualification, and customer demonstrations

• Author and maintain range SOPs, surface danger zone diagrams, and emergency procedures for every fixed and field site the company operates at

• Run the safety brief at the start of every shoot; confirm PPE, comms plan, hot/cold range state, line of fire, and downrange clearance with every participant before going hot

• Hold cease-fire authority and exercise it without hesitation; you are the final word on whether a shoot continues

• Maintain medical readiness on site: stocked trauma kits, tourniquets, comms, evac plan, and awareness of the nearest Level I trauma center

• Investigate and document any safety incident, near-miss, or unplanned discharge; brief leadership and update SOPs to prevent recurrence

Armory Management

• Own physical security and accountability for the company's firearms, weapon system components, NFA items, and ammunition stockpile

• Maintain a current, auditable inventory of every weapon, receiver, suppressor, and serialized component — tracked by serial number and location

• Run check-in / check-out procedures for any weapon or controlled component leaving the armory; reconcile after every use

• Manage ammunition procurement, storage, rotation, and consumption forecasting — belt-fed shotguns burn through ammo, and the schedule cannot wait on a supply hiccup

• Maintain the armory environment: humidity control, secure storage, fire suppression, and access control

• Oversee armorer-level maintenance schedules and parts inventory for all weapon assets

Regulatory Compliance

• Own ATF compliance for the company's FFL and SOT operations: bound book accuracy, NFA paperwork (Form 1, 2, 3, 4), inter-state transfer documentation, and registered item tracking

• Prepare for and host ATF compliance inspections; remediate findings and close them out

• Ensure local, state, and federal compliance for all range operations, including any required notifications for off-site live-fire events

• Maintain familiarity with ITAR as it intersects with weapon system handling, customer demonstrations, and visitor access controls

Weapon System Support

• Perform gunsmithing and armorer-level maintenance on belt-fed shotguns and other weapon assets: barrel inspection, headspace checks, function checks, and parts replacement

• Diagnose weapon malfunctions and communicate root cause to engineering — feed issue, ammunition issue, control issue, or maintenance issue

• Coordinate with the engineering team on test fixtures, instrumentation, and any modifications that affect serviceability or safety of a weapon

• Track round count per weapon and platform; flag parts for proactive replacement before failures occur

Requirements

• 8+ years of professional experience handling military or law enforcement small arms in an operational or training role

• Current NRA Range Safety Officer certification, or equivalent military / LE range safety qualification (USMC RSO, Army Range OIC, NRA Chief RSO, or similar)

• Demonstrated armorer-level proficiency on belt-fed weapon systems (M240, M249, Mk19, M2, M3M, or comparable) — belt-fed shotguns are functionally novel but mechanically familiar to anyone who has run a real machine gun

• Working knowledge of ATF regulations, FFL bound book maintenance, and NFA paperwork

• Demonstrated administrative discipline: you can run an audit-ready bound book and inventory system without being reminded

• US Person (citizen or lawful permanent resident) — required for ITAR compliance

• Must be able to pass ATF background check and obtain any required state-level credentials

Nice‑to‑Have

• Prior military service in a 2111, 0331, 11B, 18B, 19D, or comparable MOS with documented weapons / armorer experience

• Experience as a unit armorer, range NCOIC, or installation range control officer

• Experience running customer-facing live-fire demonstrations

• Prior SOT (Class 3 or Class 7) experience, or willingness to support obtaining and maintaining a company SOT

• Active Secret clearance or eligibility to obtain one

• Trauma medicine certification (TCCC, TECC, or equivalent)

What Success Looks Like

In the first 60 days, the armory has a current, audit-ready inventory. Range SOPs are written, reviewed, and signed off for every site we operate at. Every live-fire activity to date has run with zero safety incidents and zero ATF documentation gaps.

On an ongoing basis, the team trusts that the range and the armory are handled. Shoots start and stop on time. The bound book is current. Ammunition is on hand. Weapons are serviced. When the company hosts a customer for a live-fire demo, the visitor walks away with confidence that 9 Mothers runs a serious, disciplined operation.

Work Environment

This role involves regular work in an active live-fire environment, including outdoor range operations in central Texas conditions. Comfort working with belt-fed shotguns, automated weapon systems, and the noise, blast, and heat environment of a working range is non-negotiable. Travel to off-site ranges and customer sites is routine.

Benefits

• Meaningful Early Equity: You aren't just an employee; you are a foundational owner. Your contributions directly drive the value of your stake in the company.

• Direct Roadmap Influence: Forget the bureaucracy of big defense. You will have a seat at the table, directly shaping our product and technology trajectory from day one.

• Mission-Critical Work: We don't build for "what if." We build systems the Department of War actively needs to counter immediate, real-world threats.

• The Builder's Playground: Work in a brand-new lab fully optimized for rapid prototyping, equipped with NVIDIA Jetsons, high-end scopes, and 3-D printers.

• 100% Employer-Paid Premiums: We cover 100% of your medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums and cover 50% of healthcare premiums for your dependents.

• Unlimited PTO: We value results, not clock-watching. Take the time you need to stay sharp and recharge.

• Zero Red Tape: You report to the founders. You have the autonomy to make technical decisions that would take months of committee approval at a larger firm.

• Austin-Based Culture: Join an onsite team in Austin, TX, where we prioritize high-bandwidth collaboration and rapid field-testing.

• Relocation Assistance: We want the best talent in the room. If you aren't in Austin yet, we’ll help you get here, to make your transition to the Silicon Hills seamless.

About the Interview

1. Virtual interview with Director of Operations

2. In-person visit to Austin to meet the founders, team, etc.

3. Offer