Factory Automation Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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 our first Automation Engineer focused on Material Flow to own how parts move across Hadrian factories. You will scope, deploy, and operate AMR fleets, floor conveyance, overhead material movement via cranes / gantries / hoists, and the MES / WMS integration that turns Hadrian's cells into an actual factory instead of a collection of islands. You will work closely with Factory Automation, Operations, Facilities / EHS, Mechanical / Cell ME, and the factory software team that owns MES / WMS.
This is a hands-on, on-the-floor role. You will commission AMRs, conveyors, lift interfaces, and overhead movement systems; debug fleet managers, crane / gantry control boundaries, and PLC handshakes; and own the throughput, safety, and operator-adoption story for production material flow.
What You'll Do

• Scope, select, and commission AMR fleets: vendor trade-off, pilot, volume rollout, fleet-manager configuration, charging / docking, acceptance testing, and ramp support.
• Design conveyance runs (belt / roller / chain-on-edge / pallet / lift) for inter-cell and intra-cell flow with cycle-time math, WIP buffers, jam recovery, maintainability, and failure-mode handoff.
• Design overhead material movement where floor conveyance or AMRs are the wrong tool: bridge cranes, gantries, hoists, lift assists, below-the-hook tooling, safe zones, and operator workflow.
• Own traffic and lift-zone management: intersections, charging zones, docking, crane envelopes, mixed human / robot aisles, pedestrian crossings, suspended-load boundaries, and safety zones.
• Integrate AMRs, conveyance, and overhead movement with MES / WMS, PLCs, cell controllers, and crane controls via VDA 5050, OPC-UA, MQTT, REST, and discrete / safety-rated handshakes where appropriate.
• Simulate (AnyLogic / FlexSim / Emulate3D / Plant Simulation) to validate throughput, WIP, aisle layout, charging locations, crane coverage, lift zones, and safety constraints before buying hardware.
• Partner with cell-level MEs on pickup / dropoff / lift interfaces: dunnage, presentation, hard stops, rigging points, sensors, clearances, and recovery after failed transfers.
• Build the material-flow standards and runbook every future factory inherits.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's in ME, EE, Mechatronics, Industrial Engineering, or related.
• 3+ years deploying AMRs / AGVs, conveyance, overhead material-handling equipment, or hybrid material-flow systems in a production environment.
• Has personally commissioned at least one fleet (MiR, OTTO, Fetch, Zebra, Geek+, 6 River), one full conveyance run (Hytrol, Dematic, Intralox, Daifuku), crane / gantry / hoist cell interface, or similar production material-flow system.
• Working knowledge of VDA 5050, OPC-UA, MQTT, REST, PLC handshakes, and MES / WMS integration.
• Safety fluency for mixed pedestrian / robot aisles, lift zones, suspended loads, and operator recovery workflows.
• Simulation reps (AnyLogic / FlexSim / Emulate3D / Siemens Plant Simulation) or equivalent layout / throughput modeling.

What Will Set You Apart

• Factory-scale material-flow reps (20+ AMRs, full-factory conveyance network, or hybrid AMR / conveyance / overhead movement system).
• ROS / ROS2 exposure for when vendor fleets fall short.
• Crane / hoist / lift-assist integration experience, especially around heavy or awkward aerospace hardware.
• Python for data pulls and fleet / WMS / equipment analytics.
• Lean / industrial engineering fundamentals (takt, kanban, water-spider replacement).
• EV / battery / aerospace / maritime material-flow at volume.

Compensation
$140,000 - $220,000 (actual range may vary based on experience)
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 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 .
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 .
Hadrian Is An Equal Opportunity Employer
It is the Company's policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. The Company does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race inclusive of traits historically associated with race (including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, such as braids, locks and twists), color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, national origin (including, in California, possession of a drivers license), ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, height or weight, medical condition, family care status, military or veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, exercise of reproductive rights, any other basis protected by local, state, or federal laws, or any combination of the above characteristics. 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.