Strategy & Operations Associate, Special Projects

The Role

Hadrian is scaling and growing extremely fast and we need to execute. We can’t afford to lose time on missing context, duplicated work, or decisions made with limited data. We are building a world class Strategy and Operations team within our R&D / Special Projects group to run projects that design, launch, drive adoption, formalize, and transition the operating model to enable this hyper growth. This is an operator role with a technical bent focused on outcomes and adoption.

This role rapidly designs and prototypes v1 requirements / inputs / workflows and can self-serve lightweight analysis and systems (e.g., retool automations) before handing off to other team members.

What You’ll Do

• Project ownership and outcomes: Independently define scope, success metrics, exit criteria, and deliverables for a project; run the operating cadence; deliver measurable outcomes just process and documents
• System design: Translate ambiguous cross-functional problems into a sustained system with clear inputs, decisions, outputs, enforcement, and named owners
• Technical prototyping and measurement: Prototype simple workflows where needed, self-serve basic analysis, and define and measure KPIs so adoption and durability can be measured; partner with teammates to productionize
• Rapid v1 launch and iteration: Ship a v1 mechanism within 3 to 6 weeks; pilot with one to two teams; gather usage feedback and iterate to improve
• Cross-functional execution: Drive execution across teams through clear ownership, dependency management, follow-through, and selective escalation
• Executive-ready communication: Write decision memos and narrative updates with crisp recommendations and explicit tradeoffs; produce durable documentation that enables consistent execution
• Adoption and handoff: Drive adoption until the mechanism runs on time without “policing”
• Operate in ambiguity: When problems are underspecified, rapidly create structure in the first few hours (clarify the decision to be made, define constraints, propose a v1 approach, and drive to a real pilot)
• Be a factory teammate when needed: for example: help install a machine or ship a part

What We’re Looking For

Ideal profile: Top-tier consultant or equivalent operator with 1-4 years of experience and demonstrated implementation and scrappy system builder instincts

Experience: 1–3 years post-grad in top-tier consulting (MBB, Strategy&, ATK, LEK, etc.) with evidence of implementation, or Strategy and Operations / Business Operations / Chief of Staff-type roles at high-tempo orgs, or high-growth startup operator roles (program ops, planning, bizops) particularly in Defense Tech

Experience: Experience in manufacturing or operations, preferably in defense tech

Compensation

For this role, the target salary range is $135,000 - $175,000 (actual range may vary based on experience).

Benefits

• 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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.