What are the responsibilities and job description for the Tooling Engineer, Special Projects position at Hadrian?
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.
We recently raised $260 million dollar Series C to accelerate this mission. We are excited to be launching a new Factory in Mesa, Arizona, a 270,000 square foot facility that will create 350 new jobs immediately. We are opening a new headquarters to support thousands of future hires, launching Hadrian Maritime to serve naval production, and introducing a Factory-as-a-Service model that delivers complete systems instead of individual parts.
Hadrian works with startups, Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, and major defense contractors across space, shipbuilding, and aviation to scale production, reduce costs, and accelerate delivery on mission-critical programs. We are backed by leading investors including Lux Capital, Founders Fund, and Andreessen Horowitz. Our fast-growing team is united by a shared mission to reindustrialize American manufacturing for the 21st century and beyond!
The Role
You will be a member of Hadrian’s new Special Projects division, collaborating directly with our CEO and engineering leadership. This division is responsible for focusing on ambitious R&D projects and serving as engineering experts on new business opportunities.
This foundational role centers on the design, development, and implementation of precision tooling systems that support efficient, high-quality, large-scale manufacturing. This role will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to create innovative tooling solutions for large parts and assemblies, with a focus on performance, reliability, and scalability.
You will play a key role in supporting new production capabilities by contributing hands-on technical work and strategic input.
What You’ll Do
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.
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.
We recently raised $260 million dollar Series C to accelerate this mission. We are excited to be launching a new Factory in Mesa, Arizona, a 270,000 square foot facility that will create 350 new jobs immediately. We are opening a new headquarters to support thousands of future hires, launching Hadrian Maritime to serve naval production, and introducing a Factory-as-a-Service model that delivers complete systems instead of individual parts.
Hadrian works with startups, Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, and major defense contractors across space, shipbuilding, and aviation to scale production, reduce costs, and accelerate delivery on mission-critical programs. We are backed by leading investors including Lux Capital, Founders Fund, and Andreessen Horowitz. Our fast-growing team is united by a shared mission to reindustrialize American manufacturing for the 21st century and beyond!
The Role
You will be a member of Hadrian’s new Special Projects division, collaborating directly with our CEO and engineering leadership. This division is responsible for focusing on ambitious R&D projects and serving as engineering experts on new business opportunities.
This foundational role centers on the design, development, and implementation of precision tooling systems that support efficient, high-quality, large-scale manufacturing. This role will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to create innovative tooling solutions for large parts and assemblies, with a focus on performance, reliability, and scalability.
You will play a key role in supporting new production capabilities by contributing hands-on technical work and strategic input.
What You’ll Do
- Design structural and mechanical tooling for large aerospace components and assemblies
- Collaborate with engineers and vendors to source/build, and deploy tooling systems
- Interface with technicians to validate, install, and optimize tooling usage
- Conduct FEA and static analyses to validate designs
- Document technical specifications, usage guides, and safety procedures
- Drive testing, validation, and iteration of tooling solutions
- Lead efforts to commission custom production tooling and machinery
- Support automated tooling integration in collaboration with controls engineers
- Use hand calculations and analytical techniques to guide design
- Ensure all systems comply with OSHA and critical lifting requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Aerospace, Physics, or a related STEM field.
- 3 years in a large production system environment with emphasis on rate production optimization
- Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and how tooling supports quality and production efficiency.
- Experience in designing tooling systems for complex or large-scale parts and assemblies, such as machining or welding.
- Ability to contribute to both prototyping and continuous improvement efforts.
- Demonstrated ability to perform FEA and static analysis to validate tooling under real-world conditions with proficiency in 3D modeling and simulation tools (e.g., SolidWorks, CATIA, NX, or ANSYS).
- Knowledge of material selection and fabrication techniques suitable for high-load or high-temperature environments.
- Experience working with cross-functional teams including design, quality, and automation.
- 5 years in a large production system environment with emphasis on rate production optimization
- Industry Experience with critical operations such as designing for OSHA requirements and essential considerations of lifting
- Industry Experience with structural fabrication and load path efficiency of structures
- Industry Experience with large CAD assemblies and coordinating and executing on the fabrication, assembly, and testing of those systems
- Industry experience working and interacting within a multidisciplinary team, including engineers, technicians, suppliers/vendors, and facility personnel.
- 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
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.
Salary : $125,000 - $175,000
