Automation Controls Engineer

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

Factory automation is key to Hadrian’s operations. Our team owns the responsibility of designing and delivering elegant equipment solutions that bridge the gap between our core manufacturing processes and the rest of factory operations. We're looking for someone who thrives at the intersection of mechanical systems, real-time control, and software architecture. You'll own the design and optimization of control systems that power our factory automation platform—working alongside mechanical engineers, software architects, and manufacturing teams to ship robust, scalable solutions.

You won't just write PLC code. You'll architect the entire control strategy for equipment that moves parts between processes, orchestrates multi-step manufacturing workflows, validates product quality, and feeds data back to our operations teams. Your designs will span motion control, pneumatics, multi-axis robotics, integrated safety systems, industrial networking, and modern software architectures. You'll make tradeoffs between performance and reliability, simplicity and capability, local control and centralized coordination. And you'll do it in a fast-paced environment where requirements evolve just as fast as we do.

What You'll Do

• Design and implement modular, scalable PLC software architectures across multiple manufacturing use cases

• Oversee equipment deployment from design through commissioning in production environments

• Develop reusable control libraries and frameworks to standardize equipment design across the organization

• Architect multi-axis motion control solutions involving coordinated servo motors, robots, conveyance, and pneumatic actuators

• Design robust industrial networking architectures for real-time control and process monitoring

• Integrate equipment with high-level systems (SCADA, MES, ERP) to enable data visibility and traceability

• Troubleshoot and optimize electrical systems, motor circuits, and power delivery in operational equipment

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field (electro-mechanical preferred) or equivalent experience

• 5+ years designing and deploying automated industrial equipment

• Proficiency programming on different industrial control platforms (Beckhoff TwinCAT and/or Siemens S7 preferred)

• Direct exposure to industrial communication protocols (EtherCAT, PROFINET, OPC-UA, ADS, etc.)

• Working knowledge of automated equipment safety systems and protocols (TwinSAFE, SIMATIC Safety, FSoE, PROFIsafe, etc.)

• Hands-on experience with industrial robot programming and control (Fanuc, ABB, or KUKA)

• Demonstrated ability in industrial motion control (servo tuning, VFD configuration, axis coordination)

• Ability to design and troubleshoot electrical systems for equipment (24VDC through 480VAC)

• Strong collaborative skills working effectively with mechanical, software, manufacturing engineers, and build technicians

What Will Set You Apart

• A forward-looking, object oriented approach to industrial software development

• Modern software revision control & CI/CD practices (Git, Copia, Jenkins, etc.)

• Experience with relational and time-series databases (Postgres, MySQL, etc.)

• Ability to program in a variety of modern software languages (Python, JS, Rust, C#, etc.)

• Exposure to machine vision systems for robotic guidance, metrology, or quality inspection

• Deep understanding of various core manufacturing technologies (pneumatics, hydraulics, welding, machining, assembly, etc.)

• A taste for fast-paced environments, aggressive goals, and bringing fresh ideas to attack unique manufacturing challenges
  

Compensation

For this role, the target salary range is $154,000-$266,000 (actual range may vary based on experience). This is the lowest to highest salary we reasonably and in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future. An employee's pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors, including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.

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.