Director, Compliance

Hadrian; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401k

Relocation support

Flexible vacation

Equity

Job summary

Hadrian is shaping the future of American manufacturing by building autonomous factories and a global Factory-as-a-Service platform. We seek a Director of Compliance to design and lead our program across export controls, government contracts, and ethics.

The role partners with engineering, programs, supply chain, and leadership to embed controls from day one, ensuring FAR/DFARS alignment while advancing our innovative capabilities and rapid factory launches.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of compliance experience in aerospace, defense, or another highly regulated industry.
• 5+ years leading compliance teams or programs.
• Deep hands-on ITAR and EAR knowledge, including classification and licenses.
• Working knowledge of FAR/DFARS, audits, and NIST 800-171/CMMC.
• Experience building or running an ethics and business conduct program.
• Ability to understand engineering and manufacturing to write effective controls.
• Strong judgment balancing compliance risk with business priorities.
• Must be a U.S. person and able to obtain/maintain a U.S. security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead Hadrian’s compliance program and team across export, government contracts, and ethics.
• Own ITAR and EAR compliance, classifications, licenses, and tech control plans.
• Ensure FAR/DFARS compliance, audits, and disclosures with Legal and Contracts.
• Lead cybersecurity compliance with IT and Security (NIST 800-171, CMMC).
• Oversee code of conduct, ethics hotline, and internal investigations.

Skills

Compliance leadership

ITAR knowledge

EAR knowledge

FAR/DFARS

NIST 800-171/CMMC

Ethics program

Security clearance

Education

JD or security certs

Tools

GRC tools

Job description

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.

The Role

As the Director, Compliance, you’ll build and lead Hadrian’s compliance program across three areas: export controls, government contracts, and ethics and business conduct. You’ll work alongside engineering, programs, supply chain, and leadership so compliance is built into how we design, buy, build, and sell from day one. You’ll set the policies, controls, and training that keep us compliant. You’ll also be the person who finds a compliant way forward when a rule seems to block the work.

What You’ll Do

• Build and lead Hadrian’s compliance program and team, setting the strategy, priorities, and metrics for export, government contracts, and ethics compliance
• Own ITAR and EAR compliance, including jurisdiction and classification (J/C) decisions, export licenses and agreements, technology control plans, and foreign person access
• Make sure Hadrian meets FAR/DFARS requirements and flow-downs, and partner with Legal and Contracts on audits (DCAA/DCMA) and mandatory disclosure
• Lead cybersecurity compliance with IT and Security, including NIST 800-171 and CMMC
• Own the code of conduct, ethics hotline, and internal investigations, plus anti-corruption, conflict of interest, and procurement integrity programs
• Work alongside program and engineering teams to build controls into new programs, capabilities, and factory launches from the start
• Design classification and review processes that are fast and consistent, using automation and AI where it makes sense
• Build and deliver company-wide training on export controls, government contracts, and ethics
• Run compliance risk assessments and internal audits, lead corrective actions, and report on program health to leadership
• Be Hadrian’s main point of contact with government agencies, customers, and primes on compliance matters
• Keep up with regulatory changes and turn them into clear guidance the business can act on

What We’re Looking For

• 12+ years of compliance experience in aerospace, defense, or another highly regulated industry
• 5+ years leading compliance teams or programs
• Deep hands-on knowledge of ITAR and EAR, including classification, licensing, and technology control plans
• Working knowledge of FAR/DFARS, government audits, and NIST 800-171/CMMC
• Experience building or running an ethics and business conduct program
• Ability to understand engineering and manufacturing well enough to write controls that work on the factory floor
• Strong judgment that balances compliance risk with business priorities
• Must be a U.S. person, and able to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance

What Will Set You Apart

• Experience building a compliance program from the ground up at a fast-growing defense or hardware company
• Experience in manufacturing environments with export-controlled technical data and hardware
• Experience with voluntary disclosures, DDTC or BIS matters, or government investigations
• Background working on co-production or international defense programs
• An active security clearance
• A JD, or certifications such as CUSECO, ECoP, or CCEP
• A knack for finding compliant ways through regulatory roadblocks instead of just saying no

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 export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident, 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.

Consideration of Criminal History

Hadrian will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of all applicable laws. We do not ask about criminal history on our application, and we do not consider criminal history before making a conditional offer of employment.

Hadrian Is An Equal Opportunity Employer

Hadrian does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, marital status, mental status, physical disability or any other legally protected status. 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.