Position Description

The Portfolio Operations Engineer is deployed directly to portfolio companies to drive operational improvement, workflow efficiency, and AI-enabled modernization. This role is externally focused - embedded with the management teams of SMC's lower middle market portfolio companies to diagnose how they run, identify where AI and automation create value, and build and implement the solutions.

The role requires someone who can earn trust quickly with company leadership, think rigorously about operations, and deliver working technical solutions. Each engagement will involve analyzing existing company workflows, authoring product requirements documents, iterating with executive teams, and coordinating with SMC's internal infrastructure and technology resources to build and deploy improvements. The portfolio company scope spans SMC's lower middle market portfolio, with companies typically generating $10M-$150M in revenue across a range of industries.

• Deploy to portfolio companies to conduct structured workflow analysis - mapping operations, identifying manual processes, and surfacing high-value opportunities for AI automation and efficiency improvement
• Author clear, actionable product requirements documents (PRDs) that translate operational findings into scoped technical projects, reviewed and iterated with portfolio company executive teams
• Design and implement AI-powered tools, workflow automations, and operational systems directly within portfolio companies - moving from diagnosis to working solution within each engagement
• Partner with SMC's internal engineering, technology, and enterprise teams to leverage shared infrastructure, AI tooling, and best practices across the portfolio
• Drive measurable value creation outcomes: cost reduction, throughput improvement, reporting accuracy, and AI future-proofing of portfolio company operations ahead of exit
• Build internal knowledge and playbooks from each engagement - documenting what works, enabling pattern replication across the portfolio, and continuously raising the standard of SMC's operational value creation capabilities
• Add value to other aspects of Star Mountain's overall business as an aligned partner assisting in building a leading private investment business

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of full-time experience combining engineering and business operations - backgrounds in management consulting, fintech, software engineering, banking, or private equity operations all considered; recent graduates with strong technical credentials and business exposure encouraged to apply
• Demonstrated ability to build and ship software or automation tooling in real operating environments; comfort moving from a business problem to a working technical solution
• Business fluency sufficient to engage credibly with company management: understanding of how a privately held operating business runs - P&L ownership, functional operations, management team dynamics - without requiring deep industry specialization
• Engineering background required: degree or demonstrated proficiency in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or a comparable quantitative field
• Working command of Python or equivalent; comfort with workflow automation, API integrations, and structured data manipulation
• Familiarity with AI/ML frameworks or LLM-based tooling; applied experience building or deploying AI systems in business contexts strongly preferred
• Ability to write clear product requirements documents (PRDs) and translate operational findings into structured, actionable technical scopes
• Strong executive presence and communication skills - this role requires earning trust quickly with company leadership and presenting findings and solutions with clarity and confidence
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity across diverse business environments; able to build structure and move fast without a defined playbook
• Exceptional attention to detail - analysis and recommendations inform real operational and investment decisions
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage concurrent engagements, competing priorities, and defined delivery timelines
• Discretion and sound judgment handling confidential portfolio company, investor, and transaction information
• Team player with a positive, solutions-based attitude and a strong work ethic; strong culture carrier
• Location: New York, NY or Tampa, FL

Compensation

The exact salary will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, and performance during the selection process. Employees are eligible for an annual discretionary bonus and other economics. Total compensation may vary by role, location, department, and individual performance. The firm is 100% employee owned providing for material economic wealth creation opportunity.

Benefits

Star Mountain Capital is committed to a healthy and engaged workforce. Our benefits are constantly evolving to support our employees' needs today and in the future. We offer a highly competitive medical, dental, and vision package. Select other benefits include: 50% coverage on monthly gym memberships, a cell phone stipend, tuition support of job-related designations and learning and development opportunities, and other bespoke benefits.

Please submit resume through LinkedIn. If we require any additional information, we will reach out directly.

Interview Process

Thank you for your interest in a role at Star Mountain Capital. Please note that due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may not be able to respond to each one individually. If your resume is a match for the role you've applied for or other potential opportunities, we will reach out to start the conversation. If you do not hear from us immediately, please understand that we are carefully reviewing all applications and will keep your resume on file for future opportunities that align with your experience and qualifications.