Manager, Build Engineering

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’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.

Role Summary

Hadrian is looking for a Manager, Build Engineering to lead the team that takes new products from zero to one on a dedicated customer program. You will own new product introduction end-to-end — from first article through qualification, ramp, and transition into standard production — and be accountable for the build outcomes of every engineer on your team.

This role sits at the center of the factory's cross-functional web. A new product doesn't reach one without Supply Chain, Capability Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Software, Materials & Processes, and Test all pulling in the same direction, and it's on you to keep those dependencies from becoming your engineers' problem to solve build by build. You will own the relationship expectations between your program's Build Engineers and every function that supports them, resolving constraints before they hit the floor.

This is a working manager role. You will build, coach, and level up a team of Build Engineers while staying close enough to the floor to make a real-time technical call or step in yourself during a high-priority build.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and grow a team of Build Engineers dedicated to a specific customer or program.

• Own program-level new product introduction (NPI) outcomes, from first article through stabilized production.

• Tie together the work of individual Build Engineers into one coherent execution plan — setting sequencing, prioritization, and risk mitigation across the program.

• Partner across Supply Chain, Capability Engineering, Production/Manufacturing Engineering, Software, Materials & Processes, and Test to unblock constraints before they impact the build.

• Serve as the primary escalation point for build issues within the program, resolving problems related to drawings, tolerances, tooling, materials, and process flow in real time.

• Coach, develop, and level up Build Engineers on the team; own staffing and leveling decisions.

• Represent the program in cross-functional planning, reviews, and leadership updates.

• Assess build and manufacturability risk at the program level and drive mitigation plans to protect schedule and quality.

• Drive lessons learned across builds and transition stabilized processes into standard production.

• Support engineering changes by evaluating program-level execution impact and aligning the team accordingly.

Required Qualifications

• 6–10+ years of experience in build, production, or manufacturing engineering, including hands-on experience with new product introduction (NPI) or zero-to-one manufacturing efforts.

• 2+ years of experience leading or managing a team of engineers in a manufacturing environment, or a demonstrated track record of informal technical leadership.

• Demonstrated success coordinating across engineering, supply chain, software, and production functions to deliver complex or first-of-kind builds.

• Strong ability to interpret engineering drawings, tolerances, BOMs, and process requirements.

• Comfort operating hands-on on the factory floor as well as managing and prioritizing at the program level.

• Ability to make sound decisions under schedule pressure with incomplete or evolving information.

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to align technicians, engineers, and leadership around a single execution plan.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience owning a product or program from concept/prototype through production ramp at a high-growth manufacturing or hardware company.

• Background in precision manufacturing, machining, assembly, or inspection within aerospace, defense, or other mission-critical industries.

• Exposure to test engineering, materials & processes, or capability engineering functions.

• Experience managing a team through frequent design or priority changes.

• Familiarity with ERP/MES/PLM systems and digital work instruction tools.

• Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement experience.

• 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 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 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.

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.