Corporate Development Manager

Hadrian Automation•Los Angeles, CA

10d

About The Position

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 recently raised $260 million Series C to accelerate this mission. We are excited to be launching a new Factory in Mesa, Arizona, a 270,000 square foot facility that will create 350 new jobs immediately. We are opening a new headquarters to support thousands of future hires, launching Hadrian Maritime to serve naval production, and introducing a Factory-as-a-Service model that delivers complete systems instead of individual parts. Hadrian works with startups, Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, and major defense contractors across space, shipbuilding, and aviation to scale production, reduce costs, and accelerate delivery on mission-critical programs. We are backed by leading investors including Lux Capital, Founders Fund, and Andreessen Horowitz. Our fast-growing team is united by a shared mission to reindustrialize American manufacturing for the 21st century and beyond! As a Corporate Development Manager at Hadrian, you will lead the end-to-end execution of strategic acquisitions that accelerate our growth and technological capabilities. This is a high-visibility role where you'll partner directly with the Leadership team to shape our inorganic growth strategy and execute transformative M&A transactions.

Requirements

4-7 years of experience in M&A-focused roles including investment banking (M&A group), private equity, or corporate development
Proven track record of leading or significantly contributing to successful M&A transactions from sourcing through close
Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Engineering, or related field
Expert financial modeling skills and deep understanding of valuation methodologies (DCF, comps, precedent transactions)
Strong business judgment with the ability to evaluate strategic fit alongside financial returns
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting to C-suite executives and boards
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously in fast-paced environments
High ownership mentality with a track record of driving results independently

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in aerospace, defense, manufacturing, or industrial sectors
Experience with technology acquisitions and assessing technical due diligence
Track record of sourcing proprietary deal opportunities outside of banker-led processes
Experience building corp dev processes and playbooks from early stages
Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, supply chains, or hardware businesses
Existing relationships within the aerospace and defense ecosystem
Passion for American manufacturing and national security
Entrepreneurial mindset with comfort operating in ambiguous, high-growth environments
Ability to think strategically while executing tactically with speed and precision
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build trust with founders and leadership teams
Intellectual curiosity and willingness to dive deep into complex technical and operational topics
Bias for action balanced with analytical rigor

Responsibilities

Own the complete deal lifecycle from initial outreach through closing, serving as the primary point of contact for target companies and their advisors
Lead financial modeling, valuation analysis, and investment recommendations
Develop comprehensive investment theses and present recommendations to executive leadership and the board of directors
Negotiate term sheets, letters of intent, and definitive acquisition agreements alongside legal counsel
Drive deal timelines and manage competing priorities across multiple simultaneous transactions
Design and execute proactive sourcing strategies to identify targets that enhance our manufacturing capabilities, technology stack, or customer relationships
Build deep relationships with investment bankers, industry advisors, and potential acquisition targets across aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing
Conduct strategic market assessments to identify white space opportunities and inform build vs. buy decisions
Partner with Product and Engineering leadership to evaluate technical capabilities and integration opportunities
Monitor competitive M&A activity and industry consolidation trends to inform our strategic positioning
Lead comprehensive due diligence processes across financial, operational, technical, commercial, and legal workstreams
Manage cross-functional teams including Finance, Legal, Product, Engineering, and Operations throughout the diligence and integration process
Identify and quantify key risks, synergies, and value creation opportunities
Develop data-driven frameworks to evaluate strategic fit and financial returns
Coordinate with external advisors including investment banks, accounting firms, and legal counsel
Develop detailed integration plans and oversee Day 1 readiness for acquired companies
Partner with operations teams to execute integration milestones and track value capture against deal thesis
Build scalable M&A playbooks, processes, and best practices as we grow our acquisition activity
Track post-acquisition performance metrics and conduct post-mortems to refine our approach
Help build the corporate development function as we scale our M&A activity
Contribute to the evolution of our M&A strategy and organizational capabilities