Head of Qualification

Hadrian Automation • Torrance, CA

12h • $150,000 - $220,000

About The Position

Hadrian is building autonomous factories using AI, advanced software, robotics, and full-stack manufacturing to help aerospace and defense companies produce mission-critical systems faster and at lower cost. The company is expanding its manufacturing capabilities and Factory-as-a-Service platform.

The Head of Qualification will serve as the technical lead for Hadrian's part qualification work with defense customers, including Department of War and U.S. Army programs. Customers bring legacy sustainment parts with incomplete or outdated technical data or unreliable supply sources, and this role owns the process of qualifying those parts for renewed production, from initial technical-data review through a qualification package accepted by the government. The role works alongside engineers and Hadrian's programs and software teams.

This is a hands-on engineering position requiring the person to directly solve technical problems and bring prior experience in this type of engineering. The role also develops qualification standards, processes, and internal capabilities in response to recurring needs and customer feedback.

Requirements

• Engineering degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Aerospace, or a similar field.
• Significant hands-on design or manufacturing engineering experience, including recent work performed directly by the candidate.
• A track record of engineering decisions that withstood challenge by another engineering organization, such as a customer, prime contractor, or government authority.
• Experience with technical data packages, drawings and GD&T, military specifications, and defense quality requirements such as AS9100, FAI, and source inspection.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment while understanding and working through the typical pace of Department of War work.

Nice To Haves

• Customer-facing or program management experience.
• Prior military service or civilian Department of War experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead qualification activities with military customers, owning the pipeline from intake through government acceptance and setting standards for qualifying new parts, sources, and advanced manufacturing techniques.
• Perform engineering work directly when needed, including design-for-manufacturing reviews and process planning, and lead cross-functional teams to qualify parts on time.
• Serve as the technical interface for qualification issues and operational blockers, and drive them to resolution.
• Act as Hadrian's technical counterpart to Department of War customer program offices, depots, and engineering staff.
• Make and defend engineering determinations concerning parts, specifications, and equivalency.
• Translate government requirements, technical data packages, and quality standards into executable qualification and manufacturing plans.
• Identify, advocate for, and develop internal capabilities based on recurring qualification needs and customer feedback.
• Design and implement scalable qualification processes, including feedback loops with software teams, to support operational excellence and continuous improvement.

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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior