Director of Quality, Additive Manufacturing

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.

This is a hands‑on leadership role for a true AM quality expert. You will own the full qualification lifecycle, from Installation Qualification (IQ) through Operational Qualification (OQ) and Material Qualification (MQ), ensuring Hadrian's processes meet or exceed the requirements of AMS 7003, AMS 7032, NASA‑STD‑6030/6033, NAVSEA Technical Publications, and prime customer specifications. This role spans multiple AM modalities, including Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) and Directed Energy Deposition (DED) processes, with specific emphasis on Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) qualification for U.S. Navy and submarine industrial base applications.

You will be responsible for qualification across both PBF‑LB and DED; however, deep hands‑on expertise in one of these modalities is required, with working knowledge of the other sufficient to provide technical direction and grow into full ownership. You will work cross‑functionally with Hadrian's Materials and Process (M&P) team, Applications team, and Systems team to achieve results. In this model, you own the requirement set, including qualification criteria, process control standards, KPV limits, and acceptance specifications, while the M&P, Applications, and Systems teams conduct the implementation.

Your deep knowledge of AM process physics, laser and/or arc‑based energy sources, feedstock metallurgy, and qualification methodology will be the foundation on which Hadrian builds a scalable, auditable, and production‑ready AM operation.

• Cross‑Functional Requirements Ownership:
  Own the AM quality requirement set across Hadrian's operations. Collaborate with the Materials and Process (M&P) team, Applications team, and Systems team to define qualification criteria, process control standards, KPV limits, material acceptance specifications, and documentation requirements. Ensure requirements are clearly communicated and properly implemented through ongoing oversight and compliance verification. Serve as the quality authority during cross‑functional reviews, providing technical direction while partner teams execute implementation activities.
• Machine Qualification and Process Validation:
  Own the end‑to‑end qualification framework for AM equipment, including IQ, OQ, and MQ. Define qualification requirements, acceptance criteria, and test matrices. Collaborate with the Materials and Process (M&P) team to develop build layouts and qualification plans; M&P executes those plans while this role provides oversight and ensures compliance. Ensure all machines are maintained in a known, calibrated state with active qualification status.
• KPV Management and Process Control:
  Define and own the requirements for Key Process Variables including laser power, beam caustics (spot size, shape, M2, thermal shift, location of focus), scan field calibration, shielding gas flow, and oxygen content. Collaborate with M&P and Systems teams to establish tolerance bands, measurement frequencies, SPC programs, and process window studies per AMS 7003 and AMS 7032 guidance. Ensure ongoing compliance through oversight and review of KPV data.
• Laser Diagnostics and Beam Characterization:
  Define requirements and acceptance criteria for all laser power…