--- title: 'Automation Engineer, Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) at Hadrian Automation' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/automation-engineer-non-destructive-testing-ndt-hadrian-automation-los-angeles-jg1ags5fnf2v' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-22' --- # Automation Engineer, Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) at Hadrian Automation - **Company:** [Hadrian Automation](https://feeny.ai/companies/hadrian-automation) - **Location:** Los Angeles, CA - **Compensation:** $145k–$230k - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-05-01 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-22 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/hadrian-automation/6afeb639-dd2b-4531-901d-e57eeebec097/application **Skills:** Robot/Motion Systems, Industrial Controls, Fanuc, ABB, Kuka, Yaskawa, Beckhoff TwinCAT, Siemens TIA, UT Inspection, Vision Inspection, Radiography, CT Scanning, Data Logging, MSA, Gauge R&R, POD/ROC, Radiation Safety, LOTO, EHS Compliance, Python > Design and deploy automation for advanced Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) inspection cells including UT, VT, RT, and CT. Responsibilities include robot/motion path design, sensor integration, data pipeline development, and station commissioning while ensuring safety and production continuity. ## 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 hiring an Automation Engineer, NDT to design and deploy automation for advanced NDT inspection cells across UT, VT, RT, and CT. This is an end-to-end automation role for someone who has direct experience building inspection capability in the real world. You will own robot / motion paths, sensor integration, acquisition timing, station sequencing, operator UX, data traceability, safety, and production commissioning. You will partner with certified NDT personnel and Quality on method validation, acceptance criteria, and audit evidence. This is not an NDT technician role and not a generic controls role. We are looking for someone who has personally designed, deployed, or commissioned automated inspection / NDT systems and knows what breaks when those systems hit production. ## What You'll Do - Design and deploy automated inspection cells for advanced NDT methods including ultrasonic testing (UT), visual testing / visual inspection (VT), radiographic testing (RT), and computed tomography (CT). - Own the cell automation stack: robot / motion path, sensor integration, deterministic triggering, acquisition PC, sequencer, HMI / operator UX, data logging, and production handoff. - Plan scan / inspection paths that balance coverage, probability of detection, cycle time, kinematics, collision risk, and operator workflow. - Integrate modality-specific hardware: phased-array UT probes, cameras / lighting / optics, digital radiography sources and detectors, CT turntables / reconstruction flows, and related acquisition systems. - Partner with certified NDT personnel and Quality to validate methods against applicable standards and customer requirements. - Build structured inspection data pipelines for SPC, traceability, customer handoff, and archival. - Own station safety with EHS: radiation for RT / CT, laser / lighting for VT, couplant / water / ergonomics for UT, collision and LOTO for all modalities. - Commission on the floor, debug drift / escapes / false calls / timing issues, and hold the line when inspection blocks production. - Qualify vendors and integrators; write acceptance tests, red-line designs, and keep suppliers honest. - Codify reusable inspection automation patterns so the next station inherits a platform instead of a one-off science project. ## What We're Looking For - 3+ years designing, deploying, or commissioning automated inspection / NDT systems in production or high-reliability environments. - Direct ownership of at least one automated inspection station involving robot / motion, sensor acquisition, station sequencing, data logging, and acceptance / production handoff. - Deep practical experience in at least one advanced NDT modality: - UT: phased-array, TFM / FMC, encoded scanning, robotic scan paths, couplant handling. - VT: 2D / 3D / multispectral vision, lighting, optics, calibration, dimensional / cosmetic inspection, gauge R&R. - RT: digital radiography, source / detector integration, shielding, interlocks, radiation safety. - CT: turntable / positioning, reconstruction pipeline, volumetric analysis, large-data workflow. - Measurement rigor: MSA / gauge R&R, POD / ROC where applicable, uncertainty, acceptance criteria, and audit-ready evidence. - Working knowledge of robot / motion systems and industrial controls such as Fanuc, ABB, Kuka, Yaskawa, Beckhoff TwinCAT, or Siemens TIA. - Comfort debugging across mechanical, controls, acquisition, software, data, Quality, and operator workflows. - Bachelor's degree in EE, ME, Mechatronics, Robotics, Physics, Materials, or related STEM, or equivalent direct experience. - ITAR eligible. What Will Set You Apart - Radiation safety officer / state radiation safety training for RT / CT. - GD&T, CMM, metrology, or dimensional inspection background. - Python or C# for acquisition glue, vendor SDK wrappers, data processing, or inspection automation tooling. - Experience with inspecting to industry standards such as NAS 410, SNT-TC-1A, ASTM, AWS D1.x, MIL-STD, NAVSEA, or customer-specific aerospace / defense inspection requirements. - Experience designing and deploying automation into production. - Offline robot programming and simulation experience with RoboDK, Process Simulate, Visual Components, or native robot tools. - Production experience in aerospace, defense, medical, power generation, nuclear, or shipbuilding environments where customers audit inspection methods. - Experience turning one-off inspection stations into reusable platforms: calibration workflows, scan-path templates, fixture standards, data schemas, and acceptance tests. ## Compensation $145,000 - $230,000 (actual range may vary based on experience) This range reflects what we reasonably expect to pay at the time of posting. Compensation depends on education, experience, skills, location, performance, and business 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](https://www.hadrian.co/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 rrace, 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. ## 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. 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