Robot Manipulation R&D Engineer

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.

The Role

Hadrian’s Robotics team builds hardware and software that powers next-generation manufacturing. We are looking for a Robot Manipulation R&D Engineer to lead the design, development, and deployment of intelligent automation systems for manufacturing environments.

Our mission is to scale Hadrian’s core machining business across multiple factories in the U.S. by building robotic systems that operators, technicians, and systems depend on every day. We move quickly, ship continuously, and turn real factory needs into production-ready products. This role is ideal for engineers passionate about pushing the boundaries of robotic dexterity, perception, and autonomy in real-world industrial applications.

What You’ll Do

• Develop novel algorithms and system architectures for robotic manipulation, grasping, and assembly in unstructured manufacturing environments.

• Design and implement end-to-end manipulation pipelines integrating perception (e.g., 3D vision), planning, and control.

• Collaborate with mechanical engineers to prototype and iterate on custom end-effectors, sensor mounts, and robotic tooling.

• Collaborate with stakeholders to collect, document, and translate operational needs into detailed technical requirements and interface specifications.

• Support team growth by contributing to hiring, mentoring junior engineers, and establishing technical best practices and workflows.

What We’re Looking For

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field with 3+ years of hands-on experience in robotic manipulation, control systems, or autonomous systems development.

• Strong proficiency in C++ or Python.

• Proven experience with motion planning, kinematics, and control of robotic arms

• Deep understanding of robot dynamics, force control, and grasp planning.

• Experience with simulation environment and hardware deployment.

• Experience leading cross-disciplinary teams and full product lifecycle ownership.

• Excellent communication and documentation abilities.

• Passionate about advancing manufacturing automation through robotics innovation.

Compensation

For this role, the target salary range is $160,000 - $260,000 (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.

• 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.