---
title: 'Associate General Counsel, Government Contracts at Hadrian Automation'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/associate-general-counsel-government-contracts-hadrian-automation-washington-efpr1sfr27c0'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-08'
---

# Associate General Counsel, Government Contracts at Hadrian Automation

- **Company:** [Hadrian Automation](https://feeny.ai/companies/hadrian-automation)
- **Location:** Washington, DC
- **Compensation:** $250k–$300k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-02-05
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/hadrian-automation/b9eb9fc8-8f20-40a7-813d-b896707b9b22/application

**Skills:** Government Contracts Law, FAR, DFARS, Contract Negotiation, Defense Contracting, Aerospace Contracting, National Security Contracting, In-house government contracts experience, Defense prime experience, Manufacturing program support, Classified or export-controlled program experience, Builder mindset

> The Associate General Counsel serves as a key subject-matter expert on U.S. government and defense-related contracts, providing strategic legal guidance across the lifecycle. This senior role involves advising executive leadership, negotiating agreements, ensuring compliance with FAR and DFARS, and managing outside...

## 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

The Associate General Counsel, Government Contracts will report to the General Counsel and will serve as a key subject-matter expert on government contracting, providing strategic legal guidance across the lifecycle of U.S. government and defense-related programs.

This is a senior, high-impact role for an experienced government contracts attorney who is comfortable operating with autonomy, advising executive leadership, negotiating agreements, tracking and advising on compliance, and enabling a fast-growing business to succeed in a highly regulated environment. You will help shape how Hadrian engages with government customers and defense primes while balancing compliance, risk, and execution velocity.

## WHAT YOU’LL DO

- Serve as a key legal advisor on U.S. government contracts and subcontracts, including prime and subcontractor relationships
- Advise on FAR, DFARS, and related agency regulations, including clause applicability and flow-down requirements
- Partner with Business Development, Program Management, Finance, and Operations on government-related pursuits, contract negotiations, execution, and longterm compliance
- Review, negotiate, and support: government contracts and task orders; subcontracts with defense primes and government suppliers; teaming agreements, CRADAs, and other collaboration agreements
- Provide guidance on compliance topics including cost accounting, audits, data rights, cybersecurity obligations, and procurement integrity
- Support internal stakeholders on contract performance issues, modifications, claims, disputes, and terminations
- Develop scalable processes, templates, and training related to government contracting compliance
- Collaborate with Legal Operations and Compliance teams to ensure systems support regulatory requirements
- Retain and manage outside counsel and consultants (and associated budgets) as needed for specialized government contracting matters

## WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

- JD from an accredited law school and active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction
- 10-15+ years of experience practicing government contracts law in a firm and/or in-house environment
- Significant experience supporting defense, aerospace, or national security-related programs
- Deep working knowledge of FAR/DFARS and government contracting principles
- Experience advising on both prime contracts and subcontracts
- Strong business judgment and ability to draft contract language, think creatively, tackle novel legal questions, and provide practical, risk-based guidance
- Excellent communication skills and confidence engaging with senior leaders
- Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, high-growth environments

## WHAT SETS YOU APART:

- In-house government contracts experience at a defense, aerospace, or manufacturing company
- Prior experience at a defense prime, major subcontractor, or government-focused law firm
- Familiarity with classified or export-controlled programs
- Experience supporting scaled production or manufacturing programs for government customers
- Builder mindset who thinks from first principles and with interest in shaping processes and infrastructure, not just advising on individual contracts
- Ability to balance regulatory rigor with execution speed in a startup environment
- A security clearance

## Compensation

For this role, the target salary range is $300,000 - $325,000 (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 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 https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/?id=ddtc_kb_article_page&sys_id=24d528fddbfc930044f9ff621f961987.

## 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 https://www.hadrian.co/privacy-policy.

## 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.

## About Hadrian Automation

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Hadrian builds AI-powered autonomous factories to manufacture precision components for the aerospace and defense industries, aiming to reindustrialize American manufacturing.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series C)
- **Headquarters**: Los Angeles, California, USA
- **Founded**: 2021
- **Founders**: Chris Power

## Core Business
- **Primary Industry**: Defense and Space Manufacturing, Advanced Manufacturing
- **Target Customers**: B2B; startups, Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, and major defense contractors across space, shipbuilding, and aviation.
- **Mission/Purpose**: To rebuild America’s industrial base with highly automated factories that combine process engineering, AI, and robotics, helping space and defense manufacturers produce at scale in the U.S. and giving American workers the tools to compete globally.

## Products & Services
- **Precision Components Manufacturing**: Produces precision parts for aerospace and defense customers, from prototype to production.
- **Opus (Factory Autonomy Platform)**: A full-stack, AI-powered platform that interprets legacy designs and automates manufacturing and inspection processes, enabling world-class speed, quality, and utilization.
- **Factories-as-a-Service**: Dedicated manufacturing or inspection cells deployed in Hadrian facilities or customer sites, as well as entire product, assembly, and component factories designed and operated by Hadrian.
- **Atlas Supply Chain Platform**: A "Supply Chain as a Service" offering that gives customers a single, scalable path from early development through full-rate production, managing end-to-end procurement across a vetted network of suppliers.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed.
- **Key Metric**: Total Funding of **$363.95M** across 8 rounds.
- **Revenue**: Annual revenue estimated at **$3.0M** (per LinkedIn).
- **Notable Investors**: Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Andreessen Horowitz, T. Rowe Price (led Series C).
- **Growth Signals**:
    - Headcount of **325 employees** (as of recent data), with **+112.9% YoY growth**.
    - **156 active job postings** (as of mid-2026), with job postings up **+457.1% YoY**.
    - Opened a new 270,000 sq ft factory in Mesa, AZ (Factory 3), creating 350 new jobs.
    - Unveiled **Factory Four**, a 2.2 million sq ft facility in Huntsville, AL.
    - Launched **Hadrian Maritime** to serve naval production.
    - Acquired **Datum Source** (2024) to strengthen supply chain capabilities.
    - Added veteran security and defense leaders (Caleb Sima as CSO, Wallis Laughrey as VP of Munitions) in June 2026.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Full-Stack Automation**: Their AI-powered "Opus" platform automates the entire manufacturing and inspection process, reducing reliance on skilled labor and increasing speed.
- **Speed & Cost**: Claims to deliver parts up to 10x faster and 2x cheaper than the legacy defense industrial base.
- **New American Workforce**: Their system trains factory technicians in 30 days or less, solving the skilled labor shortage.
- **Flexible Capacity**: Offers a "Factory-as-a-Service" model, providing dedicated facilities or production lines integrated into customer sites, reducing overhead for clients.
- **Deep Defense & Space Focus**: A clear, singular focus on the most demanding and high-stakes manufacturing challenges in the U.S., creating a strong moat.

## Strategic Focus
- **Scaling Production Capacity**: Rapidly expanding factory footprint (Torrance, Mesa, Huntsville) to meet surging demand from defense and space programs.
- **Broadening Capabilities**: Expanding into new domains like naval production (Hadrian Maritime) and munitions.
- **Deepening the Tech Stack**: Continuing to invest in Opus and the Atlas platform to drive further automation and efficiency.
- **National Security Mission**: Positioning itself as a critical partner in reindustrializing the U.S. defense industrial base.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-Driven**: A clear and compelling mission to rebuild America’s industrial base and enable a free, abundant, spacefaring future.
- **High-Growth Environment**: Explosive growth (headcount up 113% YoY) with hundreds of open roles across engineering, manufacturing, and business functions.
- **Impactful Work**: Directly contribute to building the factories and software that produce critical components for rockets, satellites, jets, and ships.
- **Culture of Solving Hard Problems**: The company explicitly seeks people who "solve hard problems" across software, hardware, and operations.
- **Locations**: Major hubs in **Los Angeles, CA**; **Mesa, AZ**; and **Washington D.C.**, with a new massive facility in **Huntsville, AL**.
- **Diverse Roles**: Actively hiring for Software Engineers, Manufacturing Engineers, Robotics Engineers, Technicians, and business talent.
- **Backing**: Strong financial backing from top-tier VC firms (a16z, Founders Fund, Lux Capital), providing stability and resources.

## Sources
1. [hadrian.co](https://www.hadrian.co/)
2. [hadrian.co/about](https://www.hadrian.co/about)
3. [hadrian.co/careers](https://www.hadrian.co/careers)
4. [linkedin.com/company/hadrianautomation](https://www.linkedin.com/company/hadrianautomation)
5. [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/hadrian-1)

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