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
The Quality Manager owns program quality end to end and leads the Quality Engineering team that supports it. You will build and lead a team of Quality Engineers across the program's process areas, own the integration of NAVSEA and SUBSAFE requirements into our AS9100D quality management system, and be the single point of accountability for whether product is built to spec, on schedule, and with the objective quality evidence to prove it.
What You'll Do
- Team leadership — build, lead, and develop the Quality Engineering team supporting the project across sheet metal, welding and forming, NDT, foundry and forging, machining, and additive manufacturing.
- Staffing and coverage — close the open QE positions on the program, set priorities, and ensure every process area has quality coverage.
- Development and standards — coach QEs, set consistent standards of practice, and grow special-process competency (welding, NDT) across the team.
- Cross-functional partnership — represent quality with Build Engineering, Operations, and the program team, and serve as the escalation point for quality decisions on Nautilus.
- Program quality for Nautilus — first-article inspection (AS9102), product qualification, and quality across the build from receipt to delivery.
- NAVSEA and SUBSAFE integration — bring NAVSEA and SUBSAFE / Material Level I requirements into the AS9100D QMS, with the controls, documentation, and objective quality evidence they require.
- Non-conformance and corrective action — control non-conforming material and customer escapes, drive root-cause and corrective action to closure, and own escape management for the program.
- Supplier and receiving quality — flow requirements to suppliers, verify certifications and OQE at receipt, and build receiving capability for controlled material.
- Audit readiness — prepare for and lead NAVSEA, customer, and AS9100 audits for the program, and own the internal-audit posture that keeps it compliant.
- Metrics and reporting — quality KPIs, escape trends, and program quality status to leadership.
What We’re Looking For
- 8+ years in quality within defense, marine, nuclear, or aerospace manufacturing, including direct people-management of a quality team.
- Proven command of AS9100 / ISO 9001 and hands-on experience integrating customer and regulatory requirements into a QMS.
- Working knowledge of NAVSEA and SUBSAFE / Material Level I requirements (objective quality evidence, controlled material, traceability, cleanliness).
- Track record building quality processes and teams in a fast-scaling or startup manufacturing environment.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance; U.S. person under ITAR.
What Will Set You Apart
- Background at a submarine prime or shipyard (e.g., General Dynamics Electric Boat, HII Newport News) or a qualified SUBSAFE supplier.
- AS9100 / ISO 9001 lead-auditor certification; familiarity with welding and NDT special-process controls (Nadcap).
- CQE, CMQ/OE, or equivalent quality certification.
- Experience standing up program quality from the ground up — writing the system, not just running it.
Benefits for Full-time Employees
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans for employees 401k
- Relocation support may be provided for certain situations, based on business need.
- Flexible vacation policy
- Equity
ITAR Requirements
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must 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 the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.
Use of AI in hiring
Hadrian uses AI-assisted tools in our recruiting and hiring processes to help our team work more efficiently. This may include tools that help organize and analyze recruiting data, as well as an AI-powered notetaker that can record and transcribe interviews and help coordinate feedback. These tools support our team and are not used to make hiring decisions. All candidate evaluations and hiring decisions are performed by humans. If an interview will be recorded, you will be notified in advance and may opt out at any time with no impact on your candidacy. Candidate data processed through these tools is subject to the same protections described in our Privacy Policy.
Consideration of Criminal History
Hadrian will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of all applicable laws. We do not ask about criminal history on our application, and we do not consider criminal history before making a conditional offer of employment.
Hadrian Is An Equal Opportunity Employer
Hadrian does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, marital status, mental status, physical disability or any other legally protected status. When necessary, the Company also makes reasonable accommodations for disabled candidates and employees, including for candidates or employees who are disabled by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.