Forging 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 factories-as-a-service team analyzes our current customers' production and supply chain challenges, builds data-driven presentations, designs and scopes factories of the future, and assists the Federal and Strategic sales team in forming long-term partnerships with the DOD, Primes, and other manufacturers.
This team is responsible for scoping, design, cost, schedule, and technology analysis, as well as proposals for major programs and manufacturing transformations across all manufacturing methods and domains.
With several major programs in flight, we are hiring rapidly for this team that will effectively analyze, design, scope, plan, and handover (or join) execution of large-scale manufacturing efforts.
The Role:

• Design structural and mechanical forge tooling for ferrous and non-ferrous aerospace components and assemblies for the complete suite of forging processes, focusing on mechanical, hydraulic, screw, and horizontal hot forming presses.
• Collaborate with engineers and vendors to source/build, and deploy forge tooling systems.
• Interface with technicians to validate, install, and optimize forge tooling usage
• Conduct FEA, flow simulations, and die stress analyses to validate designs
• Document technical specifications, usage guides, and safety procedures
• Drive testing, validation, and iteration of forge tooling solutions
• Lead efforts to commission custom production forge tooling and machinery
• Support automated forge tooling integration in collaboration with controls engineers, for the exchange of perishable tooling and changeover.
• Use hand calculations and analytical techniques to guide design
• Ensure all systems comply with OSHA and critical lifting requirements

What We're Looking For:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Aerospace, Physics, or a related STEM field.
• 5+ years in a forging production system environment with emphasis on rate production optimization, tool life improvement, and defect prevention.
• Strong understanding of the various forge manufacturing processes and first principles of bulk deformation for ferrous and non-ferrous products, and how forge tooling supports quality and production efficiency.
• Experience in designing forge tooling systems for complex and high production parts and their integration with larger assemblies and downstream operations, such as machining or welding.
• Ability to contribute to both prototyping and continuous improvement efforts.
• Demonstrated ability to perform FEA and die stress analysis to validate forge tooling under real-world conditions with proficiency in 3D modeling and simulation tools (e.g., SolidWorks, CATIA, NX, ANSYS, DEFORM, Forge, Q-Form, or related software).
• Knowledge of tool steel selection, fabrication, heat treatment, and assembly techniques suitable for high-load and high-temperature environments.
• Knowledge of material behavior for hot bulk forming processes, such as upsetting and extrusion of ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

What Will Set You Apart:

• Experience working with cross-functional teams including design, quality, and automation.
• 5+ years in a high production forging environment with emphasis on rate production optimization, tool life improvement, and defect prevention.
• Industry experience with critical operations such as designing for assembly, OSHA requirements, and essential considerations of lifting, rotating, and handling of hot tooling assemblies.
• Industry experience with tool steels for hot working, heat treatment, and coatings, as well as tool performance under high heats and loads with an understanding of thermal cycling and efficiency of changeover.
• Industry experience working and interacting within a multidisciplinary team, including engineers, technicians, suppliers/vendors, and facility personnel.

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.