Metal Manufacturing Engineer, Additive (DED)

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.

Join us in shaping the future of aerospace and defense manufacturing. As an Additive Manufacturing Engineer - Applications focused on Directed Energy Deposition (DED), you will serve as a technical bridge between customer requirements and production-ready DED manufacturing solutions. You will work closely with customers and internal teams to evaluate part feasibility, guide Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM), support process development, and help scale DED programs from early engagement through qualification and production.

This is a hands-on, customer-facing engineering role at the intersection of applications engineering, manufacturing execution, and process development. You will help solve real-world DED manufacturing challenges, convert those solutions into repeatable manufacturing methods, and support the successful launch of high-impact aerospace and defense programs.

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• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Mechanical, Materials, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Welding, or related field.

• 4+ years of experience in additive manufacturing, manufacturing engineering, applications engineering, process engineering, or development of metallic additive technologies, preferably with DED.

• Hands-on knowledge of metal DED processes and production workflow, including design considerations, pre-process planning, deposition, post-processing, inspection, and qualification.

• Experience with DfAM principles specific to DED and the interaction between deposition strategy, machining, distortion control, and downstream manufacturing performance.

• Working knowledge of welding metallurgy, heat input control, residual stress management, and mechanical performance in deposited metallic structures.

• Experience working with engineering drawings, GD&T, tolerance interpretation, and inspection planning.

• Experience supporting part development from prototype through qualification or early production.

• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze technical issues and recommend practical solutions.

• Ability to communicate effectively with customers, engineers, technicians, suppliers, and cross-functional teams.

• Willingness to travel up to 15-20%, primarily within the U.S.

• U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident required for ITAR compliance.

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.

• Experience supporting aerospace and defense applications in regulated manufacturing environments, including qualification of flight-critical or mission-critical hardware.

• Experience with process validation, qualification planning, capability studies, statistical process control, multifactorial DOE, or first article execution.

• Familiarity with aerospace manufacturing standards and quality systems, including NASA, ESA, AS9100, EN9100, or comparable customer requirements.

• Experience with wire-based DED processes, with familiarity across powder-fed DED or adjacent metal AM technologies.

• Experience with robotic toolpath programming, CAM systems, welding simulation tools, or thermal-mechanical modeling relevant to DED.

• Metallurgical experience with copper alloys, nickel-based superalloys, titanium, aluminum, or other high-performance alloys relevant to DED.

• Experience with metrology, NDT, heat treatment, and process control methods used for DED hardware qualification.

• Experience with machine OEMs, materials suppliers, software providers, external processors, or contract manufacturers supporting additive workflows.

• Working knowledge of complementary conventional manufacturing processes such as CNC machining, casting, forging, and welding.

• Experience with ERP, MRP, MES, or production planning systems such as SAP or similar tools.

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.

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 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.