Hardware Automation Lead, Special Projects

Hadrian Automation•Los Angeles, CA

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 dollar 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! The Role Hadrian is seeking an Engineering Manager, Controls & Automation to lead technical execution for the Special Projects controls and automation engineering team. This role is responsible for translating product intent and system architecture into executable engineering plans and delivering industrial automation systems aligned with the company’s capability development roadmap. This is a hands-on leadership role that combines people leadership, technical ownership, and direct involvement in automation system design, deployment, and commissioning. The Engineering Manager will lead a small, highly technical team while remaining closely engaged with the hardware, software, and operational realities of the manufacturing floor.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Controls Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
Demonstrated experience leading or managing industrial controls or automation engineering teams.
Strong hands-on background with PLC-based control systems, robotics, industrial networking, and machine safety systems.
Experience delivering complex industrial automation systems in manufacturing or production environments.
Ability to translate product and operational requirements into clear, executable engineering plans.
Proven track record of meeting delivery commitments under schedule, scope, and resource constraints.
Willingness and ability to support on-site commissioning and travel to factory locations as required.

Nice To Haves

Experience deploying automation solutions across multiple factories or production lines.
Deep familiarity with commissioning, troubleshooting, and sustaining equipment through development and production.
Systems-level understanding across mechanical, electrical, controls, and software domains.
Experience with advanced manufacturing, robotics integration, or custom automation development.
Strong cross-functional communication skills, including working with product managers, operations, and executive stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Lead day-to-day execution of controls and automation initiatives in alignment with product, factory, and capability roadmaps.
Own task planning, work breakdown structures, sequencing, and technical execution for industrial automation projects.
Serve as the primary technical escalation point for PLCs, robotics, machine safety systems, industrial networks, and controls software.
Partner cross-functionally with Product Management, Factory Development, Operations, and Safety to ensure solutions meet functional, schedule, and compliance requirements.
Drive on-time delivery of automation systems from concept through commissioning and production handoff.
Establish and maintain best practices for controls architecture, code quality, documentation, testing, and change management.
Support on-site commissioning, debugging, and ramp-up of automated equipment in active production environments.
Balance rapid iteration and near-term delivery needs with long-term platform maintainability and scalability.
Mentor and develop engineers through technical guidance, prioritization support, and performance feedback.