Hadrian - Manufacturing the Future

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:

Join us in shaping the future of aerospace and defense manufacturing. As the Senior Manager, Additive Materials & Process Laboratory, you will lead Hadrian's Materials and Process (M&P) Laboratory, a comprehensive testing and characterization facility supporting additive manufacturing, welding, casting, forging, and supply chain quality activities. You will own laboratory operations, ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, Nadcap accreditation in applicable disciplines, customer specification compliance, and the technical roadmap for laboratory automation across both software and hardware. You will lead a team of laboratory engineers, technicians, and specialists responsible for delivering accurate, traceable, and timely test data that enables Hadrian to qualify materials, qualify processes, and release production hardware.

What You’ll Do:

Laboratory Leadership and Operations: Lead day-to-day operations of the M&P Laboratory across all functional areas. Build and lead a team of engineers, technicians, and specialists; set test priorities, manage capacity, define turnaround time targets, and ensure rigorous response to nonconformances and customer escapes.

Accreditation and Customer Compliance: Drive ISO/IEC 17025 and Nadcap accreditation across the laboratory, including AC7101 and slash sheets for materials testing, and Heat Treating, NDT, or Chemical Processing where in scope. Maintain audit readiness, lead initial accreditation and successive surveillance assessments, and close findings within required timelines. Ensure the laboratory meets prime customer specifications (Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX, GE Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, NAVSEA), and serve as the technical interface to customer quality representatives during audits and source visits.

Mechanical Testing: Own all mechanical testing capability including tensile (room temperature, cryogenic, and elevated temperature), compression, Rockwell hardness, Vickers and Knoop microhardness, Charpy impact, fracture toughness, fatigue crack growth, low- and high-cycle fatigue, creep, weld bend testing, and PIP testing for additive feedstocks, in compliance with the applicable ASTM, AMS, ISO, and customer standards.

Metallography and Advanced Characterization: Own metallographic preparation and inspection (sectioning, mounting, grinding and polishing, etching, optical microscopy on the Keyence platform) and advanced characterization (SEM, EDS, SEM, powder morphology). Define preparation procedures by alloy and product form, ensure operator qualification, and maintain instrument calibration and reference material traceability.

Chemical and Physical Analysis: Own chemical analysis (OES, XRF, combustion analyzers for C/S and O/N/H) and physical testing (DSC, TGA, dilatometry, particle size distribution, Carney flow, density). Maintain method compliance with applicable ASTM, AMS, and customer standards, including AMS 7002 for additive powder feedstock.

Sample Preparation, Heat Treat, and Environmental Testing: Own coupon and specimen preparation (CNC, waterjet, large band saw, EDM), heat treat furnace operations, and environmental testing (corrosion chamber, environmental chamber) per ASTM B117, G85, and applicable customer standards.

Laboratory Automation: Lead the deployment and continuous improvement of laboratory automation across both software (LIMS, instrument data acquisition, electronic test reports, and integration with QMS, MES, and PLM) and hardware (robotic specimen handling, automated metallographic preparation, automated optical inspection, autosamplers). Define the automation roadmap, build the business case, and execute deployment.

Method Validation, Calibration, and Measurement Uncertainty: Develop, validate, and control all test methods. Own the calibration program with traceability to NIST or equivalent National Metrology Institute, and maintain the laboratory's measurement uncertainty program in alignment with the ISO/IEC Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement. Maintain proficiency testing, internal QC samples, and control charts.

Capital Planning, Continuous Improvement, and NPI: Own the laboratory equipment capital plan across welding, additive, casting, forging, and supply chain product streams using a tiered priority framework. Drive continuous improvement using Six Sigma, Lean, FMEA, and SPC methodologies. Partner with Engineering and Applications to support new product introduction through APQP, PPAP, and AS9102 First Article Inspection.

What We’re Looking For:

Master's degree in Materials Science, Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, or related discipline required; Ph.D. is a plus.

8+ years of experience in a materials and process or metallurgical laboratory environment supporting aerospace, defense, or other regulated industries, with at least 3 years of direct people leadership.

Direct hands-on experience operating and managing equipment across mechanical testing, metallography, advanced characterization (SEM/EDS), chemical analysis, physical testing, sample preparation, and environmental testing.

Demonstrated experience leading or supporting an ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation effort, with working knowledge of Nadcap AC7101 and slash sheet requirements applicable to materials testing laboratories.

Strong working knowledge of relevant ASTM, ISO, AMS, and AWS test standards (e.g., E8, E9, E18, E384, E23, E1820, E647, E466, E139, E3, E407, E1019, E415, B213, B214, B527, B962, AMS 7002), plus statistical methods including SPC, gauge R&R, MSA, and measurement uncertainty per the ISO/IEC Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement.

Hands-on experience with laboratory automation, including LIMS deployment or major LIMS configuration and at least one form of hardware automation such as robotic specimen handling, automated metallographic preparation, or automated optical inspection.

Excellent communication and cross-functional leadership abilities. Willing to travel up to 20%, primarily within the U.S., with occasional international travel.

U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident (required for ITAR compliance).

What Will Set You Apart:

Direct experience as the ISO/IEC 17025 Quality Manager or Technical Manager of an accredited laboratory.

Direct experience as a Nadcap-designated representative, internal Nadcap auditor, or laboratory leader through a successful Nadcap initial accreditation.

Working knowledge of additive manufacturing processes (PBF-LB and DED) and direct experience qualifying powder feedstock to AMS 7002 (chemistry, particle size distribution, morphology, and flow).

Direct experience with SEM, EDS, EBSD, and micro-CT applied to AM and conventionally produced metallic materials.

AS9100 Lead Auditor or Six Sigma (Green or Black Belt).
Exceptional oral and written communication skills.

Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.

Attention to detail and problem-solving skills.

Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.

Strong organizational and planning skills in a fast-paced environment.

A positive "get things done" attitude and flexibility in our ever-changing environment.

Compensation:

For this role, the target salary range is $175,000 - $250,000 (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.

Benefits for Full-time Employees

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

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.

Hadrian Is An Equal Opportunity Employer

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.