Director of Software Engineering, New Programs
About The Position
Hadrian is building autonomous factories by combining AI, advanced software, robotics, and full-stack manufacturing to help aerospace and defense companies produce mission-critical systems faster and at lower cost. The Forward Deployed team works alongside program and engineering teams on Hadrian’s largest and most critical programs with the U.S. Government, the Armed Forces, and major defense primes. The team adapts Hadrian’s products to customer needs, extending the Opus manufacturing autonomy platform or developing new products, and feeds lessons from customer work back into Hadrian’s broader product development. As Director, you will lead the Forward Deployed team across one or more programs and own their technical outcomes. You will oversee technical delivery for large-scale programs, working with government representatives, customers, prime partners, and Hadrian leadership. The role includes scaling the early-stage Forward Deployed team and leading major programs as Hadrian expands. You will own the technical roadmap and delivery from initial scoping through production; determine what the platform covers, what needs to be built, and what should be declined; and ensure software and systems support program rate, quality, schedule, and cost. You will bring program learnings to platform teams and help decide which Forward Deployed products should become part of Opus. You will serve as the primary technical contact for customer program leadership, government stakeholders, and prime partners, lead technical reviews, and manage scope and schedule decisions. You will hire and develop engineers, product managers, and designers, while remaining hands-on—from building early versions to closely reviewing shipped work.
Requirements
- Demonstrated history leading engineering and product teams and scaling a product from zero to one.
- Ability to work effectively with external and internal executives.
- Experience owning senior customer relationships and making company commitments that had to be delivered.
- Strong product judgment, including knowing what is worth building and what good user experience looks like.
- Experience shipping end-to-end products.
- Hands-on technical ability, including supporting architecture and review and taking ideas from design through delivery.
- Strong use of AI to accelerate discovery and execution, with concrete examples of increased productivity and a team workflow rebuilt around AI.
- Experience hiring builders into ambiguous roles and getting them productive quickly.
- Motivation to support Hadrian’s mission and deliver at the pace customers require.
Nice To Haves
- Founder or founding-team experience, particularly managing customer relationships and business decisions while continuing to build.
- Background in aerospace, defense, manufacturing, or work where hardware, software, and operations intersect.
- Forward-deployed or solutions leadership experience at a product company.
Responsibilities
- Lead the Forward Deployed team across one or more programs and own their technical outcomes.
- Own the technical roadmap and delivery, from initial ambiguous discussions through production.
- Determine which needs are covered by Opus, what should be built, and what work should be declined.
- Ensure software and systems contribute to program rate, quality, schedule, and cost targets.
- Share program learnings with Hadrian platform teams and help determine which Forward Deployed products should become part of Opus.
- Serve as the primary technical contact for customer program leadership, government stakeholders, and prime partners.
- Lead technical reviews and make decisions about tradeoffs among scope, schedule, and platform leverage.
- Hire and grow engineers, product managers, and designers, and set the team’s working standards.
- Remain hands-on, including building early versions and closely reviewing the team’s delivered work.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans for employees.
- 401(k).
- Relocation support may be provided in certain situations based on business need.
- Flexible vacation policy.
- Equity.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Education Level
No Education Listed
