Head of Metal Additive Manufacturing, Systems Engineering

Hadrian - Manufacturing the Future

Hadrian is building autonomous factories that help aerospace and defense companies manufacture rockets, satellites, jets, and ships up to 10x faster and up to 2x cheaper. By combining advanced software, robotics, and full-stack manufacturing, we are reinventing how America produces its most critical parts.

Valued at $1.6B, we’re accelerating our mission with the launch of Factory 3 in Mesa, Arizona, a 290,000-square-foot facility creating 350 new jobs. We are expanding rapidly to support thousands of future hires, launching Hadrian Maritime to expand into naval production, and introducing a Factory-as-a-Service model that delivers complete systems instead of individual parts.

Hadrian is backed by leading investors including T. Rowe Price, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, and Andreessen Horowitz, our fast-growing team is united around reindustrializing American manufacturing for the 21st century and beyond.

The Role:

We’re looking for a hands-on systems engineering leader who can take metal additive manufacturing equipment from standalone machines to fully integrated, automated production systems. You will lead our in-house team of machine experts and own the technical integration of metal AM machines into our OPUS platform, including machine connectivity, control interfaces, telemetry, and production readiness. You will drive automation across the AM cell (material handling, build changeover, downstream workflows, safety interlocks) and partner closely with machine OEMs and automation vendors to unlock deeper capability, serviceability, and reliability. The ideal candidate brings deep metal AM and applications experience, strong systems integration and automation fundamentals, and a track record of industrializing complex equipment for repeatable, scalable production.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead end-to-end integration of metal additive manufacturing (AM) equipment, peripherals, and cell infrastructure into internal production systems, including connectivity, controls interfaces, telemetry, traceability, and enforceable safety interlocks.

• Define system architecture, technical requirements, interface control documents (ICDs), integration standards, and scalable machine acceptance criteria across multiple OEM platforms and sites.

• Drive automation and industrialization of AM production cells, including material handling, build changeover, downstream workflows, and operator safety, to improve throughput, utilization, and reliability.

• Establish and lead factory and site acceptance testing (FAT/SAT), commissioning, validation plans, and reliability programs (preventive maintenance, spares strategy, MTBF/MTTR tracking, structured root cause and corrective action).

• Build and develop a high-performing engineering team while partnering cross-functionally with Manufacturing, Software, Quality, Materials & Process, Supply Chain, and Operations to deliver scalable, production-ready systems.

What We’re Looking For:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Controls, Robotics, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience).

• 10+ years of experience in metal additive manufacturing systems engineering, automation, equipment engineering, or factory-scale integration, including hands-on experience with metal laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) systems.

• 3+ years of people leadership experience, including experience managing or leading technical teams.

• Demonstrated experience integrating complex manufacturing equipment into higher-level software systems (e.g., MES, SCADA, equipment management platforms, manufacturing data systems), including requirements definition and interface standards.

• Experience deploying and sustaining automation solutions in production environments, including safety systems, interlocks, commissioning, and structured problem-solving methodologies (e.g., 8D, 5 Whys, fishbone).

What Will Set You Apart:

• Master’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline.

• Experience designing, modifying, or enhancing metal AM systems beyond original OEM configurations to improve performance, reliability, or capability.

• Established professional relationships with metal AM machine OEMs or automation vendors.

• Deep technical knowledge of LPBF subsystems, including powder handling, optics, motion systems, gas flow management, sensing/monitoring, and post-build processing workflows.

Compensation:

For this role, the target salary range is $220,000 - $250,000 (actual range may vary based on experience).

This is the lowest to highest salary we reasonably and in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future. An employee's pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors, including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.

Benefits

• 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

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.

Hadrian Is An Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the Company’s policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. The Company does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race inclusive of traits historically associated with race (including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, such as braids, locks and twists), color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, national origin (including, in California, possession of a drivers license), ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, height or weight, medical condition, family care status, military or veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, exercise of reproductive rights, any other basis protected by local, state, or federal laws, or any combination of the above characteristics. 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.