Welding Engineer, Special Projects at Hadrian Automation

Job description

Hadrian - Manufacturing the Future Hadrian is building autonomous factories to reindustrialize America. By combining AI, advanced software, robotics, and full-stack manufacturing, we help aerospace and defense companies build rockets, satellites, aircraft, ships, and other mission-critical systems up to 10x faster and at significantly lower cost. Following our $1.37B Series D at a $7.87B valuation, Hadrian is rapidly expanding our manufacturing footprint, launching new capabilities across welding, casting, forging, electronics, additive manufacturing, and more, while scaling our Factory-as-a-Service platform to transform how critical products are built. Backed by leading investors including JPMorgan Chase, Valor Equity Partners, Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund, 137 Ventures, Lux Capital, T. Rowe Price, and Morgan Stanley, we’re building the future of American manufacturing—and looking for exceptional people to help make it happen. If you’re ready to take on the most challenging and rewarding work of your career while helping create American manufacturing jobs for generations to come, you’re exactly who we’re looking for. The Role We are seeking a Welding Engineer to support the development of Hadrian’s next-generation automated factory systems for mission-critical aerospace and defense components. You will work alongside a highly driven team of design, automation, and manufacturing engineers to bring welded assemblies from concept through full-rate production. This is a hands-on, factory-integrated role requiring strong technical depth in materials and welding processes, as well as comfort operating in high pace manufacturing environments. What You’ll Do • Develop, qualify, and optimize welding processes including, but not limited to laser beam welding, gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), orbital tube welding, resistance welding, gas metal arc welding (GMAW), friction stir welding, or plasma arc welding • Work with welding of high strength steel, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, and other high-performance alloys • Collaborate closely with design, tooling, automation, and manufacturing engineers to implement new parts and welding technologies into production • Partner with NDE personnel to evaluate weld quality on development and production hardware, and support the implementation of advanced inspection techniques • Support production scale-up by creating detailed welding work instructions, defining equipment maintenance plans, and authoring Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS) and Procedure Qualification Records (PQR) • Ensure compliance with applicable aerospace, defense, and maritime welding standards What We’re Looking For • Bachelor’s degree in Welding Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field (equivalent experience considered) • 2+ years of experience in welding engineering or weld process development • Fundamental understanding of: • Laser beam welding, gas tungsten arc welding, orbital tube welding, resistance welding, gas metal arc welding, friction stir welding, or plasma arc welding • High-strength steel, stainless steel, nickel-based alloys, titanium, and aluminum alloys • Self-motivated with strong attention to detail • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and clearly communicate status and results across a broad range of internal and external stakeholders What Will Set You Apart • Experience in aerospace, defense, shipbuilding, or offshore manufacturing • Familiarity with standards such as: • AWS (e.g., D1.1, D1.2, D17.1), ASME Section IX, MIL-STD welding requirements, ABS, NAVSEA, DNV, or other maritime classification standards • Experience with robotic or automated welding systems • Exposure to NDT processes and inspection program development • Experience qualifying and managing external weld suppliers • Background in high-mix, low-volume or advanced manufacturing environments Compensation For this role, the target salary range is $120,000-$250,000 (actual ran