Robot Manipulation R&D Engineer

Overview

Robot Manipulation R&D Engineer role rian — 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 recently raised $260 million dollar Series C to accelerate this mission. We are launching a new Factory in Mesa, Arizona, a 270,000 square foot facility that will create 350 new jobs immediately. We are opening a new headquarters to support thousands of future hires, launching Hadrian Maritime to serve naval production, and introducing a Factory-as-a-Service model that delivers complete systems instead of individual parts.

Hadrian works with startups, Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, and major defense contractors across space, shipbuilding, and aviation to scale production, reduce costs, and accelerate delivery on mission-critical programs. We are backed by Lux Capital, Founders Fund, and Andreessen Horowitz. Our fast-growing team is united by a shared mission to reindustrialize American manufacturing for the 21st century and beyond!

Hadrian’s Robotics team builds hardware and software that powers next-generation manufacturing. We are looking for a Robot Manipulation R&D Engineer to lead the design, development, and deployment of intelligent automation systems for manufacturing environments.

Our mission is to scale Hadrian’s core machining business across multiple factories in the U.S. by building robotic systems that operators, technicians, and systems depend on every day. We move quickly, ship continuously, and turn real factory needs into production-ready products. This role is ideal for engineers passionate about pushing the boundaries of robotic dexterity, perception, and autonomy in real-world industrial applications.

• Develop novel algorithms and system architectures for robotic manipulation, grasping, and assembly in unstructured manufacturing environments.
• Design and implement end-to-end manipulation pipelines integrating perception (e.g., 3D vision), planning, and control.
• Collaborate with mechanical engineers to prototype and iterate on custom end-effectors, sensor mounts, and robotic tooling.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to collect, document, and translate operational needs into detailed technical requirements and interface specifications.
• Support team growth by contributing to hiring, mentoring junior engineers, and establishing technical best practices and workflows.

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field with 3+ years of hands-on experience in robotic manipulation, control systems, or autonomous systems development.
• Strong proficiency in C++ or Python.
• Proven experience with motion planning, kinematics, and control of robotic arms.
• Deep understanding of robot dynamics, force control, and grasp planning.
• Experience with simulation environment and hardware deployment.
• Experience leading cross-disciplinary teams and full product lifecycle ownership.
• Excellent communication and documentation abilities.
• Passionate about advancing manufacturing automation through robotics innovation.

For this role, the target salary range is $160,000 - $260,000 (actual range may vary based on experience).

• 100% coverage of medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans for employees
• 401k
• Relocation stipend if you’re moving from outside of LA
• Flexible vacation policy

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.

It is the Company’s policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. The Company does not…