Tooling Engineer

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 We are hiring a Tooling Design Specialist to support the design, development, and deployment of tooling and fixturing used in precision manufacturing and inspection environments. This role spans CAD-based tooling design, shop-floor implementation, and continuous improvement, with a focus on enabling reliable, repeatable inspection and production processes as Hadrian scales its next-generation factory. You will work closely with engineering, quality, and operations teams to ensure tooling solutions are practical, manufacturable, and aligned with customer and internal requirements. This role helps expand tooling capacity, improve standardization, and reduce reliance on single points of failure as tooling demand grows.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent
1-3 years of experience in CAD-based tooling or fixture design (NX preferred)
2–4 years of experience reading and interpreting technical drawings and GD&T
2–4 years of experience in a machine shop or hands-on manufacturing environment
Practical understanding of tooling, fixturing, and precision manufacturing concepts
Experience with or interest in 3D printing for tooling applications
Ability to design tooling that is manufacturable, serviceable, and production-read
Strong problem-solving skills for resolving tooling, fixturing, and inspection issues
Working knowledge of basic metrology and CMM fixturing concepts, including alignment strategies
Solid understanding of GD&T, including datums, form, orientation, and location tolerances
Ability to collaborate effectively across engineering, quality, software, and operations teams

Nice To Haves

Advanced NX modeling experience
Advanced 3D printing experience, including DfAM and part marking
Experience developing or maintaining tooling standards or specifications
Hands-on machinist or technician background
Experience in aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments

Responsibilities

Design and support tooling and fixtures used in inspection and manufacturing workflows, including CMM fixturing
Create and modify CAD-based tooling designs, including machined and 3D-printed components
Interpret engineering drawings and apply GD&T principles to establish correct datum structures, orientation, and tolerance schemes
Collaborate with ME/QE, Quality, and CMM technicians to resolve drawing interpretation issues and fixturing challenges
Support the build, iteration, and deployment of tooling on the shop floor, incorporating feedback from operators and technicians
Troubleshoot existing tooling and fixtures to improve reliability, repeatability, and ease of use
Contribute to the development and refinement of tooling standards, specifications, and processes
Partner cross-functionally with software, engineering, and operations teams to support automation and process improvements
Support onboarding of customer requirements and provide DFM and inspection-driven feedback where applicable