Investment Associate / Fellow (Hard Tech)

Clera•Los Angeles, CA

7d•$120,000 - $180,000•Onsite

About The Position

A product-first, early-stage venture capital firm is hiring a full-time Investment Associate / Fellow based in Los Angeles for a two-year term. This is a specialized seat with a sharp focus on hard tech — spanning drones, defense, robotics, and the companies rebuilding American industrial infrastructure. It's a rare opportunity to build deep expertise, a broad network, and real deal experience at an influential seed-stage fund.

Requirements

Strong technical background — engineering, science, or a related discipline
Genuine passion for hard tech: drones, defense, robotics, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, or adjacent sectors
Intellectual curiosity, sharp analytical thinking, and the ability to evaluate complex technical claims
Excellent communication skills — written and verbal — to engage founders and synthesize diligence findings

Nice To Haves

Hands-on experience at a hard tech company in sectors such as aerospace, defense technology, robotics, advanced manufacturing, autonomous systems, energy, or space — whether at an established player or an early-stage startup
Prior exposure to venture capital, investing, or startup operations
An existing network within the hard tech founder or operator community

Responsibilities

Lead technical due diligence on hard tech investment opportunities
Run proactive outbound sourcing to identify and engage emerging founders
Meet founders daily and develop a genuine understanding of the hard tech ecosystem
Build a professional network in defense, robotics, aerospace, and industrial tech that would otherwise take a decade to develop
Contribute to investment memos, portfolio support, and firm-wide initiatives