Director of Workforce Development

Hadrian - Manufacturing The Future

Hadrian is building autonomous factories that help aerospace and defense companies manufacture rockets, satellites, jets, and ships up to 10 times faster and up to 2 times cheaper. By combining advanced software, robotics, and full-stack manufacturing, we are reinventing how America produces its most critical parts.

We recently raised $260 million dollar Series C to accelerate this mission. We are excited to be launching a new factory in Mesa, Arizona, a 270,000 square foot facility that will create 350 new jobs immediately. We are opening a new headquarters to support thousands of future hires, launching Hadrian Maritime to serve naval production, and introducing a Factory-as-a-Service model that delivers complete systems instead of individual parts.

Hadrian works with startups, Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, and major defense contractors across space, shipbuilding, and aviation to scale production, reduce costs, and accelerate delivery on mission-critical programs. We are backed by leading investors including Lux Capital, Founders Fund, and Andreessen Horowitz. Our fast-growing team is united by a shared mission to reindustrialize American manufacturing for the 21st century and beyond!

The Role

As Director of Workforce Development (WFD), you will be the architect and steward of Hadrian's talent engine. You own the full lifecycle of training across every factory, from green-field launch through steady-state optimization. You lead a small but high-leverage team of Training Program Specialists (TPS) who execute day-to-day programs you design. Your mission is to shift the learning curve of new factories leftward, optimizing cost-per-labor-unit while maintaining speed and effectiveness of training at scale.

What You'll Do

Strategic Leadership

Define and evangelize a multi-year training vision for scaling from one site to a distributed factory network

Build and update a capability roadmap (curriculum depth, LMS strategy, certifications, budget, headcount)

Present data-driven workforce recommendations to VP Ops and CEO

Team & Program Management

Hire, coach, and manage Training Program Specialists with clear objectives tied to factory metrics

Deploy training resources : intensive support during new factory builds, lighter oversight in steady state

Own training P&L negotiate LMS, vendor, and toolkit contracts

Process Standardization & Content Governance

Enforce a "train-before-release" gate : no process goes live without SOPs and training content

Maintain a centralized skills matrix with version control and recertification workflows

Continuously simplify procedures to routinize >

90% of tasks for entry-level technicians

Compliance & Culture

Ensure training records meet AS9100 / ITAR / DoD audit standards; lead training audits

Champion a "teach-then-automate" culture; measure leaders on knowledge transfer

Uphold a meritocratic ethos with clear progression paths for entry-level hires

Workforce Planning & Labor Costing

Lead labor financial analysis, reporting, and forecasting, including new factory build phases

Refine cost models to allocate direct vs. indirect labor burden; educate stakeholders

Advise on compensation and benefits strategy in partnership with HR and Finance

Training Program Development

Design engaging training programs balancing theory and hands-on practice

Collaborate with subject-matter experts to translate complex workflows into accessible modules

Training Culture

Support certified trainers during delivery; maintain high execution standards

Communicate training importance company-wide; foster enthusiasm for continuous learning

Employee Development & External Partnerships

Input into performance reviews; inform and mature the skills matrix

Develop partnerships with trade schools, universities, high schools for education pathways

Build advanced upskilling / apprenticeship programs compliant with local regulations

Change Management of Training & Capabilities

Anticipate business growth and shop floor changes; forecast training needs

Own change-management workflows for standards updates, compliance alignment, and recertification

Embed robust processes to handle rapid growth, frequent updates, and high-rate change in training systems

What We're Looking For

Passion for Training : Demonstrated dedication to helping people learn and achieve challenging goals.

Education : Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field.

Management Experience : Proven track record managing teams in complex, labor-intensive settings. Minimum 3+ years directly managing people.

Analytical & Process Skills : Ability to decompose complex workflows into simple, reliable processes performable by entry-level technicians. Industrial / process engineering background is a plus.

Operational Excellence : Experience leading distributed teams, driving operational excellence across geographies; advanced skills in expectation setting, KPI development, and oversight.

Strategic Communication & Stakeholder Management : Comfortable interfacing with executives; able to translate operational data into strategic recommendations. Superior written and verbal communication.

0-to-1 Experience : Comfortable with ambiguity and launching new initiatives; experience in dynamic environments requiring rapid prioritization and clear communication.

Travel Willingness : Up to ~50% travel to support factory launches, audits, and on-site training initiatives.

What Will Set You Apart

Experience in manufacturing or adjacent labor-intensive industries (e.g., hospitality, food service) with world-class training programs.

Familiarity with Learning Management Systems selection / build strategies, content authoring tools, or training analytics platforms.

Background in compliance (AS9100, ITAR, DoD) or regulated environments.

Technical aptitude or interest in mechanical processes to engage with engineering stakeholders.

Financial acumen in budgeting, P&L ownership, and labor cost modeling.

Experience designing higher-level technical training (e.g., CAM / CMM programming).

History of building partnerships with educational institutions or apprenticeship programs.

Benefits

100% coverage of platinum medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans for employees

401k

Relocation stipend if you're moving from outside of LA

Flexible vacation policy

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. 13