Full-Time
Workforce Programs Manager
Updated on 9/11/2026
Hadrian
201-500 employees
Automates factories for precision aerospace components
Compensation Overview
$150k - $225k/yr
No H1B Sponsorship
Los Angeles, CA, USA + 2 more
More locations: Mesa, AZ, USA | Torrance, CA, USA
In Person
Relocation support may be provided in certain situations based on business need.
US Citizenship Required
Bachelor's, Master's
 Business & Strategy (1) |
|---|
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- 7+ years in workforce planning, labor modeling, program management, or business development, with demonstrated experience translating program or contract requirements into operational workforce plans.
- Background in or strong familiarity with manufacturing, defense, or government contracting environments.
- Track record of building headcount or labor models for new programs or capability expansions, where the output was an executable plan rather than a strategy document.
- Experience in customer-facing or federal program work, including interpreting a government statement of work and presenting a workforce plan to a customer.
- A business and commercial mindset, with the ability to understand the commitments created by a closed deal and quantify them.
- Strong cross-functional communication, with the ability to represent workforce realities to program and factory leadership and translate them back to institutional partners.
- Comfort operating where the playbook is still being written.
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Workforce Development, Public Policy, or a related field; equivalent experience is considered.
- U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency, protected-individual status, or eligibility to obtain the required U.S. Department of State authorizations under International Traffic in Arms Regulations requirements.
- Embed with the sales and federal teams during program pursuit to scope workforce requirements before commitments are finalized.
- Read and interpret statements of work, contract terms, and program milestones, and translate them into executable workforce plans.
- Identify the labor, training, and certification obligations a program creates, and surface risks and gaps while there is still time to address them.
- Build labor models and headcount plans for new programs and capability expansions, covering factory technician, weld technician, non-destructive testing technician, and indirect and support headcount.
- Validate that labor assumptions in deal and operational models are internally consistent and flow through to real headcount outputs.
- Own the workforce-cost view of a program and defend it to finance, operations, and program leadership.
- Design the training and certification strategy for new capabilities, including regulated programs such as Naval Sea Systems Command welder workmanship and new non-destructive testing method tracks.
- Map external certification and audit requirements into the training plan so compliance is built in from the start.
- Define cohort timing, trainer ratios, and lead times from hire to certification, working backward from program readiness dates.
- Own the framework for determining whether a workforce need is best met by building internally or sourcing through an external partner, with a default toward insourcing.
- Manage the portfolio of institutional partnerships, including community colleges, trade schools, universities, veteran programs, and high school pathways.
- Represent Hadrian in partner negotiations and memorandum-of-understanding development, manage ongoing relationships, and hold partners to defined quality and output standards.
- Treat partnerships as foundational pre-employment pipeline tools rather than substitutes for building Hadrian's own capability.
- Work closely with the Director of Workforce Development to ensure the Workforce organization is staffed and structured to scale with the program portfolio.
- Provide forward-looking inputs needed to hire, build curriculum, and stand up training operations ahead of program demand.
- Maintain visibility for internal stakeholders into the workforce pipeline across all active and pursued programs.
- Defense business development or proposal development experience with a workforce or labor component.
- Familiarity with Naval Sea Systems Command, Submarine Safety, or similar regulated certification and audit frameworks.
- Experience standing up training programs in regulated manufacturing environments.
- Background in advanced or precision manufacturing.
- Experience with workforce development grants, government funding programs, or public-private partnerships.
- Familiarity with community college systems and dual-enrollment or early-college program design.
- A grounded point of view on next-generation manufacturing workforce development based on actual program requirements.
Hadrian builds automated factories across the United States to manufacture precision metal components for the space and defense sector. It targets bottlenecks from owner-operated machine shops by deploying scalable, automated manufacturing lines that can produce flight-grade parts much faster and cheaper. The factory system combines advanced scheduling, capacity management, and a proprietary operating system to run production with real-time visibility into parts and inspection results. Lead times are 5-21 days depending on part complexity. Unlike traditional shops, Hadrian owns and operates the factories and sells the produced components directly to manufacturers, aiming to improve New Product Introduction (NPI) and overall production throughput. The company’s goal is to enable faster, more cost-effective production of rockets, satellites, jets, and drones by expanding a nationwide network of automated, highly capable factories.
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
Series D
Total Funding
$2.3B
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
Founded
2020
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- August 2026 Series D raised $1.37 billion, signaling strong investor appetite for scale.
- August 14, 2026 credit facility added $360 million for machinery and infrastructure expansion.
- Hadrian will add munitions and autonomous systems lines, broadening revenue beyond precision parts.
What critics are saying
- Hadrian's valuation depends on Pentagon and prime contractor demand staying euphoric through 2027.
- Rapid factory expansion risks quality failures, schedule slips, and expensive underutilized capacity.
- Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and RTX can shift work away if Hadrian misses delivery.
What makes Hadrian unique
- Opus ties quoting, machining, and inspection into one software-defined factory stack.
- Hadrian operates four factories across California, Arizona, and Alabama, spanning nearly 3 million square feet.
- Factories-as-a-Service lets primes buy capacity instead of building brittle supplier networks.
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Benefits
Substantial equity grants
Healthcare, vision, dental, & life Insurance
Stipends for relocation, home office and/or flights to LA
Exposure to Tier 1 VCs & Angel Investors
If you leave to start your own company, we'll invest and help you fundraise
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 0%1 year growth
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↑ 0%Hadrian has closed a $360 million revolving credit facility to expand its US manufacturing infrastructure and meet production targets for defence and aerospace programmes. Morgan Stanley Senior Funding served as lead arranger, with joint lead arrangers including Western Alliance Bank, J.P. Morgan, and First Citizens Bank. The financing follows Hadrian's $1.37 billion Series D fundraise announced last week, which valued the advanced manufacturing company at $7.87 billion. The credit facility will support buildout of Hadrian's factory network and machinery investments. Hadrian currently operates four facilities totalling nearly 3 million square feet in California, Arizona, and Alabama, with additional sites under development. The company builds highly automated factories combining robotics and AI for space and defence manufacturers.
Hadrian raises $1.37B to accelerate U.S. defense, aerospace manufacturing. Opus, Hadrian's proprietary software stack for production autonomy, powers its factories. Source: Hadrian Hadrian Automation last week said it has brought in $1.37 billion in new equity financing. The company plans to use the funding to accelerate the buildout of the domestic manufacturing capacity needed to deliver U.S. military, aerospace, and industrial systems. "Production is now the frontline of deterrence," stated Chris Power, founder and CEO of Hadrian. "America's ability to lead will depend on whether we can build, train, and scale faster. This financing allows Hadrian to accelerate building the Factories of the Future, expand into new mission-critical production capabilities, and invest in the technicians and engineers who will rebuild America's industrial base." Founded in 2020, Hadrian is building highly automated factories that use process engineering, AI, machine learning, and robotics. The Torrance, Calif.-based company's stated goal is to "reindustrialize America and compete head to head with China's industrial base." Not to be confused with the Hadrian bricklaying robot from Peth, Australia-based Fastbrick Robotics (FBR), Hadrian operates a 100,000-sq.-ft. (9,290.3-sq.-m) factory in Torrance and is developing other production sites. R&D and production capabilities to expand. Hadrian said its latest financing will support new factories, expanded research and development, and more production capabilities as it builds the industrial infrastructure required to deliver complete mission-critical systems at speed and scale. At a time when the demand for trusted U.S. manufacturing capacity continues to outpace supply, the company said it is growing "the AI-powered production network needed to strengthen deterrence, accelerate delivery, and restore America's ability to build." The capital will accelerate Hadrian's ability to deliver not just precision parts, but also full mission-critical systems, it claimed. With its "factories-as-a-service" model, Hadrian said it can rapidly scale production across munitions, shipbuilding, and other high-priority programs. Since its Series C round just 12 months ago, Hadrian has rapidly expanded its manufacturing footprint. The company opened new factories in Mesa, Ariz., and Muscle Shoals, Ala., bringing its capacity to just under 3 million sq. ft. (278,709.1 sq. m) across four sites. It noted that it is expanding in regions central to America's industrial future. Over the next year, Hadrian plans to open additional factories and plans to expand into new production lines. This includes munitions and autonomous systems for national security needs. Hadrian also asserted that it is creating a new workforce model for U.S. manufacturing. The company is hiring and training operators, engineers, and technologists to work inside its factories, "where software, robotics, and human ingenuity come together on the factory floor." Hadrian is valued at $7.8 billion. Hadrian's latest funding brought its valuation to $7.87 billion. It is Hadrian's second funding round this year. In January, it obtained investment that at the time brought its valuation to $1.6 billion. WCM Investment Management, Washington Harbour Partners, Valor Equity Partners, 137 Ventures, and Baillie Gifford co-led the most recent round. JPMorganChase's Strategic Investment Group joined as anchor co-lead, investing through the firm's Security and Resiliency Initiative. The round also included major financing from 1789 Capital, as well as participation from Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, funds managed by Apollo, and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates. Other investors included CapitalG, Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund, Lux Capital, Altimeter, Construct Capital, and existing investors.
Hadrian raises $1.37B for AI-powered defense factories. Published on 9 August 2026 at 8:04 am - Written by Chris Martin - Reading duration: 3 minutes Hadrian, the AI-powered defense manufacturing startup, raised $1.37 billion in Series D funding announced August 6, bringing its valuation to $7.87 billion - a nearly fivefold increase from the $1.6 billion valuation the company achieved just seven months earlier in January. The financing round was co-led by WCM Investment Management, Washington Harbour Partners, Valor Equity Partners, 137 Ventures, and Baillie Gifford, with JPMorganChase's Strategic Investment Group joining as anchor co-lead through its Security and Resiliency Initiative. The round also drew major participation from 1789 Capital, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, funds managed by Apollo, T. Rowe Price Associates, CapitalG, Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund, Lux Capital, Altimeter, and Construct Capital, according to the company's press release. The capital will accelerate Hadrian's expansion of highly automated factories across the United States. According to the announcement, the company operates four facilities covering just under 3 million square feet - two in Torrance, California, and newly launched sites in Mesa, Arizona, and Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The funding will support new factories, expanded research and development, and additional production capabilities as Hadrian builds out its manufacturing network for defense and aerospace sectors. Hadrian's "Factories-as-a-Service" model enables rapid scaling of production across munitions, shipbuilding, and other high-priority programs, according to the company. CEO Chris Power stated that "production is now the frontline of deterrence" and that the financing allows Hadrian to "accelerate building the Factories of the Future, expand into new mission-critical production capabilities, and invest in the technicians and engineers who will rebuild America's industrial base." The company plans to expand its workforce from 700 to 2,000 employees and launch additional factories over the coming year, including new production lines for munitions and autonomous systems. Hadrian is also broadening access to technician equity, giving workers a direct stake in the company's success as it scales operations. Hadrian's rapid valuation growth reflects a broader surge in defense tech investment. According to multiple sources, defense tech startups have raised more than $14.6 billion in the first half of 2026 alone, surpassing the full-year 2025 total. The Pentagon's growing reliance on advanced manufacturing and AI-powered production has fueled investor interest in companies addressing critical supply chain gaps. Comparable defense tech firms like Anduril Industries have also secured massive funding rounds - Anduril raised $5 billion at a $61 billion valuation in May 2026, and was in discussions for additional funding at a $100 billion valuation by late July. Hadrian's funding round comes as the U.S. government prioritizes domestic defense manufacturing capacity to meet surging Pentagon demand. The company's expansion into munitions and autonomous systems production directly addresses critical gaps in America's defense industrial base, positioning Hadrian as a key player in the effort to accelerate military production and strengthen deterrence capabilities. Sources. * PR Newswire - Official Hadrian Series D announcement with full financing details, investor list, and CEO quote * CNBC - Hadrian's $1.37B Series D funding, $7.9B valuation, and context on defense tech spending surge * Manufacturing Dive - Hadrian's funding round, workforce expansion plans, and new production capabilities * Tech Crunch - Hadrian Series D funding details and comparison to other defense tech funding * Axios - Hadrian's $1.37B Series D and near-$8B valuation with context on defense production demand * Anduril - Anduril's $5B Series H funding round at $61B valuation for precedent comparison * Reuters - Defense tech funding trends and Anduril's $100B valuation discussions for context * Startupfortune - Defense tech startup funding totals for H1 2026 ($14.6B) for broader context Give your feedback. Chris Martin is a US economics and current affairs journalist covering the intersection of policy, markets, and everyday financial life. With a background in financial reporting and a sharp eye for the stories behind the numbers, Chris brings clarity to some of the most complex issues shaping the American economy today. At ECIKS.org, Chris covers breaking developments across domestic economic policy, business strategy, Wall Street movements, and political decisions that ripple through financial markets. His reporting blends rigorous data analysis with accessible storytelling making critical information useful for investors, entrepreneurs, and engaged citizens alike. ECIKS.org is an independent media. Support ECIKS by adding ECIKS to your Google News favorites:
United States advanced manufacturing company Hadrian raised $1.37 billion in Series D funding at $7.9 billion valuation, Hadrian founded in 2020 by Chris Power, investors include WCM Investment Management, Washington Harbour Partners, Valor Equity Partners, 137 Ventures, Baillie Gifford, JPMorgan Strategic Investment Group, Apollo, Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund & 1789 Capital. Aug 8, 2026 8th August 2026 | Hong Kong United States advanced manufacturing company Hadrian has raised $1.37 billion in Series D funding at $7.87 billion valuation. Hadrian was founded in 2020 by Chris Power. Hadrian investors include WCM Investment Management, Washington Harbour Partners, Valor Equity Partners, 137 Ventures, Baillie Gifford, JPMorgan Strategic Investment Group, Apollo, Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund and 1789 Capital. Hadrian - Hadrian is the factory of the future, transforming the U.S. industrial base by building highly automated factories that supercharge American workers with process engineering, AI, machine learning, and robotics to Reindustrialize America and compete head to head with China's industrial base. Its mission is to enable space and defense manufacturers to produce domestically at globally competitive costs, restoring U.S. industrial supremacy and countering China's manufacturing advantages. Currently, Hadrian operates a 100,000-square-foot factory in Torrance, CA, and is in the process of developing other production sites. "United States advanced manufacturing company Hadrian raised $1.37 billion in Series D funding at $7.9 billion valuation, Hadrian founded in 2020 by Chris Power, investors include WCM Investment Management, Washington Harbour Partners, Valor Equity Partners, 137 Ventures, Baillie Gifford, JPMorgan Strategic Investment Group, Apollo, Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund & 1789 Capital"
The week's 10 biggest funding rounds: A big week for big checks. August 7, 2026 Want to keep track of the largest startup funding deals in 2026 with its curated list of $100 million-plus venture deals to U.S.-based companies? Check out The Crunchbase Megadeals Board. This is a weekly feature that runs down the week's top 10 announced funding rounds in the U.S. Check out last week's biggest funding deal roundup here. Startups raised funding rounds with a lot of zeroes at the end this week. Three companies - Hadrian, Base Power and Valar Atomics - secured financings of $1 billion or more. Additionally, a robust lineup of companies in sectors including AI, e-commerce, cybersecurity, biotech and even mining also announced sizable new rounds. 1. Hadrian, $1.37B, manufacturing: Hadrian, a developer of highly automated factories, raised $1.37 billion in Series D funding led by WCM Investment Management, Washington Harbour Partners, Valor Equity Partners, 137 Ventures, JP Morgan Chase and Baillie Gifford. The financing sets a $7.87 billion valuation for the 6-year-old, Torrance, California-based company. 2. (tied) Base Power, $1B, energy storage: Austin-based Base Power, a developer of residential battery energy storage systems, secured $1 billion in Series D financing at a $13 billion post-money valuation. Ribbit Capital, Addition, Valor Equity Partners and JP Morgan Chase led the financing, which coincided with the launch of the company's Base Core home battery. 2. (tied) Valar Atomics, $1B, nuclear power: Valar Atomics, a developer of technology and infrastructure to deliver nuclear energy, closed on $1 billion in Series B funding led by Sequoia Capital. The El Segundo, California-based company also secured a $200 million credit facility led by Erebor and JP Morgan. 4. Lumilens, $700M, AI connectivity: Lumilens, developer of a connectivity platform for AI infrastructure, emerged from stealth and announced more than $700 million in new funding. Atreides Management, Bain Capital Ventures, Meritech Capital, Seligman Ventures and Spark Capital led the financing for the San Jose, California-based startup. 5. Whatnot, $545M, live shopping: Live shopping marketplace Whatnot bagged $545 million in Series G funding. The round reportedly set a $20 billion valuation for the Los Angeles-based company, with Iconiq Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Avra as lead investors. 6. Mariana Minerals, $310M, critical minerals: Mariana Minerals, a software-focused developer of projects for supplying critical minerals, picked up $310 million in Series B financing led by Khosla Ventures. The 4-year-old company engineers, builds and operates mines and refineries using its software platform. 7. Volta, $300M, AI infrastructure: Volta, a developer of AI cloud infrastructure, emerged from stealth and said it raised a Series A at a $2.4 billion valuation, led by Azora, Andreessen Horowitz, Altimeter and Nvidia. 8. Horizon3, $250M, cybersecurity: San Francisco-based cybersecurity provider Horizon3, announced a $250 million Series E. NightDragon and New Enterprise Associates led the round, which set a valuation of more than $2 billion, triple the value set for its Series D last year. 9. LifeMine Therapeutics, $188M, biotech: Watertown, Massachusetts-based drug discovery startup LifeMine Therapeutics secured $188 million in Series E funding led by Milky Way Investments. The funding will go toward clinical development of its lead program and advance its pipeline of transplantation and immunology therapies. 10. HappyRobot, $150M, agentic AI: HappyRobot, developer of an agentic AI platform geared for enterprises in sectors including logistics, financial services, utilities and manufacturing, raised $150 million in Series C funding led by Prysm Capital and Eurazeo. Methodology. Mindstate Design Labs, Inc tracked the largest announced rounds in the Crunchbase database that were raised by U.S.-based companies for the period of Aug. 1-7. Although most announced rounds are represented in the database, there could be a small time lag as some rounds are reported late in the week.