Programs Lead – Strategic Operations, Federal Programs and Special Projects

Hadrian is building autonomous factories that help aerospace and defense companies make rockets, jets, and satellites 10x faster and 2x cheaper. Our CEO, Chris Power, discusses the importance of what we're building in this video.

We are a lean but mighty team (and growing!) of people who are passionate about building critical infrastructure to support the nation and advance humanity.

We've raised >$200m to achieve this vision, with multiple rounds from Lux Capital, A16Z, Founders Fund, Construct Capital, Caffeinated Capital, and more.

We use AI and Robotics to automate and scale factories that are globally cost-competitive and future-proof from the dramatic skilled labor shortage facing the Advanced Industrial Base.

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.

As a Program Strategist focused on Strategic Operations and Federal Programs, you will lead high-impact initiatives that accelerate Hadrian’s growth in the defense and aerospace sectors. You will diagnose systemic manufacturing inefficiencies, design scalable solutions, and translate insights into actionable program strategies, business cases, and proposal narratives. This role blends operational analysis, strategic program design, and federal go-to-market execution to advance Hadrian’s mission: building an autonomous, scalable manufacturing base for national security. 

You will act as a force multiplier across Hadrian—bridging shop floor signals, executive priorities, and government opportunities—to define and stand up new programs that unlock scale and capability across the U.S. defense industrial base. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Strategic Ops Analysis: Lead deep dives into manufacturing performance using value stream mapping, process mining, and operational KPIs (OEE, yield, cycle time) to identify root causes of throughput, cost, and schedule risks. 

• Program Modeling & Structuring: Build quantitative models that convert operational inefficiencies into program-level roadmaps, investment cases, and ROI frameworks aligned with Hadrian’s growth strategy. 

• Federal Program Development: Shape and develop early-stage program constructs and business cases tailored to federal opportunities, including bid strategy, capability mapping, and delivery frameworks. 

• Stakeholder Integration: Operate across technical, operational, and executive teams to ensure program assumptions, risks, and metrics are clearly aligned internally and externally. 

• Execution Readiness: Partner with engineering and program teams to scope initial program phases and translate strategy into detailed automation/tooling requirements and staffing plans. 

• Pipeline Visibility: Maintain structured program tracking (Airtable, CRM tools) across the federal pipeline—from origination through scoping and handoff—surfacing risks and milestones to executive leadership. 

• Strategic Comms: Support executive communications through high-fidelity presentation materials, framing documents, and strategic narratives that position Hadrian with key partners across government and industry. 

• Have 7+ years of experience in manufacturing strategy, federal programs, or operations consulting with exposure to complex technical environments and senior stakeholders. 

• Are fluent in Excel-based modeling, ROI analysis, and translating operational data into strategic outcomes. 

• Are experienced in proposal development, government contracting, or navigating federal acquisition environments. 

• Thrive in fast-paced, ambiguous environments and bring structure to early-stage programs or initiatives. 

• Communicate clearly and visually, especially in executive decks, business cases, and technical storytelling. 

• Are comfortable operating between machine shop realities and C-suite expectations. 

• Are open to traveling 20–50% to customer and manufacturing sites across the U.S.

• Background in the DoD ecosystem - e.g., prior service, PEO/acquisition office experience, or industrial base management roles. 

• Familiarity with Lean Six Sigma principles and manufacturing systems such as MES/ERP platforms (SAP, DELMIA, Teamcenter). 

• Exposure to simulation tools or methods (e.g., discrete-event modeling) for operational or factory design, working knowledge of SQL, and familiarity with programming languages such as Python or R. 

• Prior experience supporting early program incubation - building the frameworks, models, or processes that scale delivery. 

• Track record of building reusable strategic assets - from content libraries to diagnostic frameworks to rollout playbooks. 

• Experience in developing government proposal materials, including responses to Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and Requests for Quotations (RFQs), preferably within defense or aerospace sectors. 

• 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

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.

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.