Manager, Build Engineering - Commodities

Hadrian Automation • Torrance, CA

9h • $175,000 - $250,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Hadrian is seeking a working manager to lead Build Engineers responsible for commodity parts across machining, tube and pipe, and sheet metal. The manager owns new product and process introduction for these commodities, from requirements definition and subscale development through first article, qualification, ramp, and transition into standard production. They are accountable for build outcomes across the team and for setting consistent standards for build plans, process definitions, and work instructions.

The role coordinates with Supply Chain, Capability Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Tooling Engineering, Quality, and Test to establish factory flows, define processes, address constraints, and bring products to production rate. The manager will develop and lead a team across three disciplines, prove out processes and first articles at an existing factory, and transfer qualified work into the new factory in Cherokee, Alabama. This is a hands-on role that requires staying close to factory operations and making timely technical decisions, including stepping in during high-priority builds. The position requires on-site work at the factory and regular travel to Cherokee, Alabama, up to 25% of the time.

Requirements

• 6–10+ years of experience in build, production, or manufacturing engineering, including hands-on experience with NPI or zero-to-one manufacturing efforts.
• At least 2 years of experience leading or managing engineers in a manufacturing environment, or a demonstrated record of informal technical leadership.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, or Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• Hands-on depth in at least one of machining, tube and pipe, or sheet metal fabrication, and working knowledge of the other two.
• Ability to interpret and define product requirements from customer specifications, engineering drawings, GD&T, and contract requirements.
• Experience structuring BOMs, work orders, and work instructions in PLM, ERP, or MES systems, including engineering change and configuration management.
• Demonstrated success coordinating across engineering, supply chain, quality, and production functions to deliver complex or first-of-kind builds.
• Ability to make sound decisions under schedule pressure with incomplete or evolving information.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to align technicians, engineers, and leadership around a single execution plan.
• Ability to work on-site at the factory and travel regularly to the Cherokee, Alabama factory, up to 25% of the time.
• Must meet U.S. Government export regulation eligibility requirements: be a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident, protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations.

Nice To Haves

• Experience owning a product or program from concept or prototype through production ramp at a high-growth manufacturing or hardware company.
• Background in precision manufacturing, machining, assembly, or inspection in aerospace, defense, or another mission-critical industry.
• Exposure to test engineering, materials and processes, or capability engineering functions.
• Experience managing a team through frequent design or priority changes.
• Familiarity with ERP, MES, or PLM systems and digital work instruction tools.
• Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement experience.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead a team of Build Engineers across machining, tube and pipe, and sheet metal; own team hiring, staffing, and leveling decisions.
• Own commodity-level NPI outcomes, from requirements definition and subscale development through first article and stabilized production.
• Ensure product requirements are interpreted and defined from customer specifications, drawings, and contracts before build plans are established.
• Set common standards across the three commodities for requirements definition, build plans, process definitions, BOM structures, work orders, Opus work instructions, and management of these materials in PLM, ERP, and MES systems.
• Coordinate individual Build Engineers' work into a coherent execution plan, including sequencing, prioritization, and risk mitigation across commodities and programs.
• Ensure Capability Engineering receives complete, stable process definitions early enough to select equipment that meets rate and quality requirements.
• Own make-or-buy recommendations across commodities, balancing in-house cell capacity against supplier capability with Supply Chain and Quality.
• Drive shared development work, including subscale development articles, weld joint qualification (PQR/WPS), fixturing, and datum strategy.
• Partner with Supply Chain, Capability Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Tooling Engineering, Quality, and Test to remove constraints before they affect builds.
• Act as the primary escalation point for commodity build issues and resolve problems involving drawings, tolerances, tooling, materials, and process flow.
• Lead transfer of qualified processes and first article builds from development into new production cells, maintaining clear ownership at each handoff.
• Represent the commodities team in program reviews, cross-functional planning, and leadership updates.
• Drive lessons learned across builds and transition stabilized processes into standard production.

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: Manager