Build Engineer, Large Scale Machining

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

Hadrian is looking for a Build Engineer, Large Scale Machining to own how our largest machined parts get made, including castings, forgings, plate weldments, and hull-scale structures. You will own each part from the first design review through qualification, ramp, and handoff to standard production. You are the bridge between the product and Capability Engineering: you interpret the product requirements, drive DFM, establish the build flow and sequence, and hand Capability Engineering a well-defined machining problem to solve.

You will own new product and new process introduction for large machined parts end-to-end. Large parts are where precision gets hard: tight features are spread across multiple setups, and a datum scheme has to survive stress relief, flips, and weld. You set how each part flows through the factory, define the machining processes it needs, and work across Design, Supply Chain, Capability Engineering, Tooling, Quality, and Operations to bring it to rate. Decisions made during NPI set the cost, lead time, and quality of these parts for their life, and the processes you introduce become large-format machining capabilities Hadrian uses on the programs that follow.

This role sits on the Build Engineering Commodities team alongside sheet metal and tube and pipe. It is hands-on. You will be at the machine for first parts, and you will own the outcome.

What You’ll Do

• Interpret and define product requirements from customer specifications, drawings, and contract requirements, and translate them into machining requirements, critical characteristics, and inspection needs.

• Reverse engineer parts and assemblies where technical data is incomplete or legacy, to establish design intent, critical features, and a buildable sequence.

• Review models and drawings for machinability at scale, including casting stock allowance, datum structure, tolerance stack across setups, tool and probe access, and distortion risk, and drive changes before design freeze.

• Own the end-to-end machining route (rough, stress relief, semi-finish, finish, and inspection), including handoffs to weld, cladding, and assembly.

• Set the setup count, where datums are established and carried forward, and where match-machining with mating assemblies is required.

• Define the high-level process for each operation (envelope, critical features, material condition, cycle time against rate, and inspection approach) and hand it to Capability Engineering complete and on time.

• Define lift points, handling, and part flow through the factory so rigging and logistics can plan around the part.

• Own design intent for large-part fixtures, workholding, lift fixtures, and inspection aids, partnering with Tooling Engineering on detailed design and build.

• Provide setup sheets, datum schemes, and critical-feature intent to CNC Programming.

• Build and maintain BOM structures, work orders, and Opus work instructions in Hadrian's PLM, ERP, and MES systems, and own engineering change and configuration control as the design matures.

• Recommend make/buy decisions, write technical packages for buy parts, and own both paths when a program runs them in parallel.

• Plan and execute subscale development articles and full-scale qualification builds, including alternate-material development where it buys down risk, and own first article delivery.

• Own disposition and root cause for new-product non-conformances, and drive corrective action into the design, the plan, or the process.

What We’re Looking For

• 5+ years of experience in build, manufacturing, or production engineering with direct ownership of large machined parts (roughly 2 m and up, castings, forgings, or heavy weldments) from requirements through production.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering, or equivalent hands-on experience.

• Experience interpreting and defining product requirements from customer specifications, drawings, and contract quality clauses, and translating them into build requirements.

• Strong GD&T and tolerance-stack skills across multi-setup parts, with a proven datum strategy.

• Working knowledge of large-format machining (horizontal boring mills, gantry and bridge mills, large 5-axis machining centers, and VTLs) and large-part metrology, deep enough to drive DFM and set the build flow.

• Experience reverse engineering parts or assemblies from incomplete technical data, legacy drawings, or physical parts.

• Experience structuring BOMs, work orders, and work instructions in PLM, ERP, or MES systems, including engineering change and configuration management.

• Proficiency in 3D CAD.

• Comfort operating hands-on on the factory floor and making sound decisions under schedule pressure.

• Able to work on-site at our [site] factory.

What Will Set You Apart

• Hands-on experience running or programming large-format machines, including reading and critiquing CNC toolpaths.

• Experience with distortion control on large parts, including stress relief sequencing, stock strategy, and thermal effects.

• Experience with difficult materials such as Monel and other nickel-copper alloys, stainless steel, dissimilar-metal joints, and cladded surfaces.

• Exposure to weld qualification (PQR/WPS) where machined features meet weld joints.

• Background in aerospace, defense, naval, or energy programs with first article and customer source inspection.

• Experience standing up a new cell or factory while the product was still in development.

• 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

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.

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.

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 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.