Hadrian – Manufacturing the Future
Hadrian is building autonomous factories that help aerospace and defense companies make rockets, jets, and satellites 10x faster and 2x cheaper. Our CEO, Chris Power, discusses the importance of what we're building in this video.
We are a lean but mighty team (and growing!) of people who are passionate about building critical infrastructure to support the nation and the advancement of humanity.
We've raised >$200m to achieve this vision, with multiple rounds from Lux Capital, A16Z, Founders Fund, Construct Capital, Caffeinated Capital and more.
We use AI and Robotics to automate and scale factories that are globally cost-competitive and future-proof from the dramatic skilled labor shortage that is facing the Advanced Industrial Base.
Hadrian works with startups, Primes, and Tier 1/2s in all markets to cost-down, scale, or otherwise enable them to hit production rates on critical programs in Rocketry, Satellites, Shipbuilding, Commercial, and Military aircraft and other core, mission-critical industries.
The Role
In this role you’ll be a founding member of Hadrian’s new Special Projects division, working directly with the CEO and engineering leadership. The responsibility of this division is to target moonshot R&D projects and provide engineering expertise on new business opportunities with customers.
We are seeking an expert welding technician to join our team as a foundational member of our fabrication and automation operations. This is a hands-on, high-impact role for a technical leader who thrives at the intersection of craftsmanship, process development, and cross-functional collaboration. You’ll be responsible for establishing and evolving both manual and robotic welding capabilities and help build a world-class fabrication shop from the ground up that will support products for aerospace, automotive, maritime, and defense applications. This role is ideal for someone who combines deep technical welding expertise, especially in aluminum, with the ability to think systematically about manufacturability, automation and team growth.
You will be pioneering and reshaping advanced manufacturing across Aerospace & Defense in the US and will be the ripple for so much more.
What we’re looking for:
High school diploma or equivalent; trade school or technical certification preferred.
8+ years of welding industry experience
Experience with GMAW and GTAW weld processes on both aluminum and steel
Strong knowledge of aluminum welding techniques, distortion control, and weld joint design.
Diagnose weld defects, distortion, and suggest corrective actions for both repair and process optimization
Capable of reading engineering drawings and fabricating components using metalworking tools, including 3-axis mills, lathes, manual GTAW, and GMAW
Able to collaborate with automation engineers to suggest process or equipment improvements in both mechanized and robotics systems.
Experience with suggesting methods for part fixturing or tooling required for welding
Experience with confined space, height, and hot work
Experience working with cranes, lifting fixtures, and maneuvering parts in place
Be able to perform general visual inspection on welds, clean up, and repair as necessary.
Responsibilities will include:
Perform expert-level welding of aluminum (GMAW and GTAW)
Interpret and apply welding codes, blueprints, CAD, and WPS in compliance with industry standards such as AWS D1.2
Troubleshoot complex weld issues (distortion, porosity, fusion defects) and develop corrective actions.
Conduct or assist in weld inspections, including visual, bend, and NDT prep
Collaborate with weld engineers, automation engineers, and QA to optimize processes, validate new WPSs, and support weld qualification efforts.
Lead and mentor welders, apprentices, and fabricators in best practices for aluminum welding.
Maintain and calibrate welding equipment, fixtures, and wire feed systems.
Support manual, robotic, or mechanized welding systems where applicable.
Specify and purchase the necessary equipment to establish a welding fabrication shop that supports general manufacturing operations.
Strong communications, problem-solving skills, expertise in fabrication/welding, and exceptional working pace
What will set you apart:
Knowledge of robotic welding integration or automation support
Experience with interpreting non-destructive inspection results, like x-ray to understand the size and location of defects
Leadership and training aptitude; previous experience mentoring or conducting skills assessments.
Benefits:
• 100% coverage of platinum medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans for employees
• 401k
• Relocation stipend if you’re moving from outside of LA
• Flexible vacation policy
It is the policy of Hadrian Automation, Inc. to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
ITAR Requirements
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., 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.