Sheet Metal Engineering Specialist

Department: Capabilties

Location: Los Angeles, CA, San Francisco Bay Area, CA

Employment Type: FullTime

Hadrian - Manufacturing the Future

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’re accelerating our mission with the launch of Factory 3 in Mesa, Arizona, a 290,000-square-foot facility creating 350 new jobs. We are expanding rapidly to support thousands of future hires, launching Hadrian Maritime to expand into naval production, and introducing a Factory-as-a-Service model that delivers complete systems instead of individual parts.

Hadrian is backed by leading investors including T. Rowe Price, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, and Andreessen Horowitz, our fast-growing team is united around reindustrializing American manufacturing for the 21st century and beyond.

Join Us in Advancing Sheet Metal Manufacturing

We are building advanced sheet metal manufacturing systems by integrating cutting, forming, joining, and finishing into a tightly controlled, high-throughput production environment. From raw sheet processing through forming, welding, coating, and inspection, we treat sheet metal as a fully connected manufacturing system.

We are solving complex challenges in deformation control, dimensional accuracy, automation, and production scalability. This requires engineers with deep expertise in sheet metal processes and fabrication systems.

This is a general opportunity to engage sheet metal engineers with specialized experience across key process areas.

Core Specialty Areas

• Cutting & Material Processing: Flatbed laser cutting, punch-laser combo systems, sheet/plate cutting (up to ~60mm)

• Forming & Bending: Press brake, CNC bending, automated panel bending, CNC rolling

• Punching & Fabrication: Punching and forming operations, turret presses

• Joining & Welding: Welding processes, weld inspection, NDT

• Finishing & Surface Treatment: Deburring, painting, powder coating

• Inspection & Metrology: 3D scanning, CMM inspection, dimensional validation

• Production Systems & Automation: VLM (vertical lift modules), material storage systems, part flow optimization

What You’ll Do

• Develop, qualify, and optimize sheet metal fabrication processes for precision, repeatability, and throughput

• Control key variables (bend angles, springback, heat input, dimensional tolerances) to ensure part quality

• Partner with manufacturing, quality, and automation teams to deploy scalable production systems

• Lead root cause analysis for defects such as distortion, dimensional variation, and weld defects

• Create and maintain process documentation, control plans, and standard work

What We’re Looking For

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent hands-on experience

• Demonstrated expertise in at least one sheet metal process (cutting, forming, welding, or finishing)

• Strong understanding of material behavior (springback, strain hardening, distortion)

• Ability to interpret technical drawings, GD&T, and fabrication requirements

• Experience in production environments with a focus on process control and throughput

What Will Set You Apart

• Experience across the full sheet metal lifecycle (cutting → forming → welding → finishing → inspection)

• Familiarity with automated fabrication systems and production line integration• Experience in high-precision or high-volume manufacturing environments

• Background in aerospace, automotive, or other high-spec fabrication industries

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

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., 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.

Hadrian Is An Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the Company’s policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. The Company does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race inclusive of traits historically associated with race (including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, such as braids, locks and twists), color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, national origin (including, in California, possession of a drivers license), ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, height or weight, medical condition, family care status, military or veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, exercise of reproductive rights, any other basis protected by local, state, or federal laws, or any combination of the above characteristics. 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.