R&D Technician

Job Description

Job Description

The Role:

As an R&D Technician at Hadrian, you'll be on the front line of standing up new manufacturing capability at our FX facility, bringing new machines and processes online in direct support of multiple concurrent manufacturing programs. You'll work hands-on across laser cutting, resistance welding, hand soldering, water jet operation, and general assembly, partnering closely with engineers to develop and validate new processes before they move to steady-state production. We're hiring across a range of experience levels, so whether you're early in your career or a seasoned NPI technician, there's a seat for you on this team.

What You’ll Do

• Support development activities tied to new capability introduction at FX, including laser cutting, resistance welding, hand soldering, water jet operation, and general assembly.

• Operate, troubleshoot, and help bring online new equipment as it's landed on the factory floor.

• Partner with process and manufacturing engineers to iterate on new processes and NPI builds.

• Document setup, process parameters, and key learnings to support eventual handoff to production.

• Cross-train across capability areas as the FX R&D Technician team consolidates and grows.

What We’re Looking For

• Hands-on experience in one or more of: laser cutting, resistance/spot welding, hand soldering, or water jet operation.

• Comfort operating in an ambiguous, fast-moving R&D or NPI environment where processes aren't fully defined yet.

• Strong troubleshooting instincts and a bias toward figuring things out on the shop floor.

• Ability to clearly document setup steps and process parameters for others to follow.

• Willingness to cross-train into new processes and tools as capability needs shift.

What Will Set You Apart

• R&D experience at SpaceX or a similar company working on NPI programs (e.g., Starship), including hand laser welding, spot welding, laser cutting, or robot operations.

• Experience supporting multiple concurrent programs with shifting priorities.

• Familiarity with hand-held laser welders and general assembly work in addition to core joining/cutting processes.

• A track record of helping less experienced technicians ramp up on new equipment.