People Partner

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. 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. Our CEO, Chris Power, discusses the importance of what we're building in this video.

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.

We are a lean but mighty team (and growing!) people that 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.

Joining the People Team @ Hadrian

At Hadrian, we’re not just building autonomous factories — we’re building the teams, systems, and culture that will power the future of aerospace and defense manufacturing. As we scale, the People team plays a critical role in shaping how we attract, enable, and retain world-class talent across both engineering and advanced manufacturing.

Working on the People team at Hadrian means designing and operationalizing the foundation of a company that blends cutting-edge robotics, AI, and precision manufacturing — while supporting a workforce that spans software engineers, machinists, program managers, and everything in between.

We’re looking for builders: thoughtful, action-oriented team members who care deeply about people, process, and performance — and who want to help create a company culture that’s as strong as the infrastructure we’re deploying.

If you're energized by complexity, mission-critical work, and the chance to shape the trajectory of a generational company from the inside out, we’d love to hear from you.

The Role

We are looking for a People Partner who can play the critical role in enabling both our people and our business to perform at their highest levels. People Partners support a complex and diverse workforce — spanning highly specialized engineers, hourly skilled trades, and operational leaders — and recognize that different teams require different approaches to thrive.

This People Partner should be an embedded collaborator who work closely with leadership across functions to drive performance, build strong teams, and develop systems that support both the human and operational needs of the business. They need to have a focus on improving talent development, navigating organizational complexity, and supporting a culture of accountability, growth, and high trust.

This role requires someone who can move fluidly between the strategic and the tactical, with a deep understanding of the distinct needs of both exempt and non-exempt employees in a regulated, high-integrity environment.

People Partners at Hadrian are both business-minded and people-first — equally comfortable designing scalable programs as they are handling sensitive situations with discretion and care.

Responsibilities (include but are not limited to):

• Act as a trusted advisor to leaders across automation, GTM and factory ops teams to align people strategies with business goals.

• Proactively manage and resolve employee relations issues with high judgment and discretion, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and company policies.

• Support and guide the implementation of performance management cycles, feedback culture, and employee development frameworks tailored to diverse workforce needs.

• Equip managers with the tools, training, and guidance needed to effectively lead teams across all levels of the organization, from engineering to the shop floor.

• Champion initiatives that promote employee engagement, high trust, and a sense of belonging — while also reinforcing accountability and performance standards.

• Support org-level transitions such as reorgs, leadership changes, and policy rollouts with clear planning, thoughtful communication, and change enablement.

• Interpret and apply people policies in ways that maintain fairness, clarity, and consistency across sites, shifts, and job types.

• Partner closely with peers in People Ops, Talent, and Total Rewards to drive holistic and scalable people programs that serve the full org.

Requirements:

• 3+ years of relevant industry experience.

• Thrives in a dynamic environment with a diverse set of employees and evolving business needs; can flex between tactical support and long-term strategic thinking.

• Understands the business, its drivers, and how people programs impact operations, performance, and culture.

• Brings discipline to processes, follow-through, and documentation — especially in a compliance-driven and audit-sensitive environment.

• Navigates sensitive conversations with empathy, clarity, and maturity; builds trust across all levels of the organization.

• Clearly conveys information, decisions, and feedback in ways that resonate with both desk-based employees and hourly team members on the shop floor.

• Handles complex, gray-area people issues with sound judgment, risk awareness, and an eye for practical solutions.

• Builds strong relationships with stakeholders across the business to enable aligned and executable people strategies.

Admired Skills:

• Prior experience supporting both exempt and non-exempt populations, ideally in environments with manufacturing, engineering, or high-compliance requirements

• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills; clear and concise communication style. Comfortable working with large groups and facilitating discussions to create a positive and engaging experience.

• Superb organizational skills, with experiencing triaging many requests and priorities in a high-volume, dynamic environment.

Compensation and Benefits

For this role, the target salary range is $115,000 - $180,000 (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.

In addition to salary and equity, we offer:

• 100% coverage of platinum medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans for employees

• 401k

• Relocation stipend if you’re moving from outside of LA

• Discretionary 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.