Weld Engineering Manager, Development

Hadrian - Manufacturing the Future

Hadrian is building autonomous factories to reindustrialize America. By combining AI, advanced software, robotics, and full-stack manufacturing, we help aerospace and defense companies build rockets, satellites, aircraft, ships, and other mission-critical systems up to 10x faster and at significantly lower cost.

Following our $1.37B Series D at a $7.87B valuation, Hadrian is rapidly expanding our manufacturing footprint, launching new capabilities across welding, casting, forging, electronics, additive manufacturing, and more, while scaling our Factory-as-a-Service platform to transform how critical products are built.

Backed by leading investors including JPMorgan Chase, Valor Equity Partners, Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund, 137 Ventures, Lux Capital, T. Rowe Price, and Morgan Stanley, we’re building the future of American manufacturing—and looking for exceptional people to help make it happen.

If you’re ready to take on the most challenging and rewarding work of your career while helping create American manufacturing jobs for generations to come, you’re exactly who we’re looking for.

The Role:

We are seeking a Welding Engineer, Manager to lead the weld development team that develops and qualifies welds at our Los Angeles development facility and scales them into production for mission-critical aerospace, defense, and maritime hardware. You will lead welding engineers, own the selection of welding equipment and processes, and build out the team as Hadrian grows. This is an on-site leadership role for someone who has developed welds for demanding programs and understands what it takes to run them in production.

What You’ll Do

• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of welding engineers, including hiring, performance management, and career development

• Oversee the development and qualification of weld processes and their transition into production

• Own welding equipment and process selection, from defining requirements and evaluating vendors through installation and acceptance

• Partner with production, tooling, automation, quality, and program teams to align welding priorities with production goals

• Set welding standards and documentation practices, and serve as the welding point of contact for internal teams and customers

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Welding Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field (equivalent experience considered)

• 6+ years in welding engineering or weld process development, including 1+ years leading engineers or serving as a senior technical lead

• Strong experience developing and qualifying welds for Navy or aerospace hardware

• Prior production manufacturing experience and a clear understanding of what production needs from engineering

• Working knowledge of NAVSEA, AWS D17.1, ASME Section IX, or MIL-STD welding requirements

What Will Set You Apart

• Experience selecting and implementing robotic or automated welding systems

• Experience with laser beam, friction stir, or orbital welding of high-strength steel, stainless steel, nickel, titanium, or aluminum alloys

• Experience building a welding team or capability from an early stage

• Background in high-mix, low-volume or advanced manufacturing environments

Benefits for Full-time Employees

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans for employees 401k

• Relocation support may be provided for certain situations, based on business need.

• Flexible vacation policy

• Equity

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident, protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

Use of AI in hiring

Hadrian uses AI-assisted tools in our recruiting and hiring processes to help our team work more efficiently. This may include tools that help organize and analyze recruiting data, as well as an AI-powered notetaker that can record and transcribe interviews and help coordinate feedback. These tools support our team and are not used to make hiring decisions. All candidate evaluations and hiring decisions are performed by humans. If an interview will be recorded, you will be notified in advance and may opt out at any time with no impact on your candidacy. Candidate data processed through these tools is subject to the same protections described in our Privacy Policy.

Consideration of Criminal History

Hadrian will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of all applicable laws. We do not ask about criminal history on our application, and we do not consider criminal history before making a conditional offer of employment.

Hadrian Is An Equal Opportunity Employer

Hadrian does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, marital status, mental status, physical disability or any other legally protected status. When necessary, the Company also makes reasonable accommodations for disabled candidates and employees, including for candidates or employees who are disabled by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.