Quality Compliance Engineer, SUBSAFE

Hadrian Automation; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Relocation support

Flexible vacation

Equity

Job summary

Hadrian is building autonomous factories to reindustrialize America, delivering subsystems for naval shipbuilding and critical defense programs. The SUBSAFE Compliance Engineer will own SUBSAFE and Material Level I compliance, overseeing the processes, documentation, material controls, and audit posture required to procure, receive, build, and deliver submarine-safety material without compromise.

You will be the single point of accountability for compliance, defensibility, and audit readiness,

Qualifications

• 5+ years in quality within defense, marine, nuclear, or aerospace manufacturing with SUBSAFE responsibility.
• Working knowledge of NAVSEA documentation and OQE processes.
• Experience building/running material-control and non-conformance processes in regulated, audited environments.
• Ability to obtain U.S. security clearance; U.S. person under ITAR.

Responsibilities

• Material Level I / SUBSAFE material control, procurement flow-down, inspection, segregation, storage, and disposition per NAVSEA requirements.
• Establish and audit OQE records packages to prove conformance and ensure traceability.
• Define SUBSAFE boundary and apply controls, documentation, and qualifications accordingly.
• Write and maintain SUBSAFE / L1 procedures integrated with AS9100D quality management system.
• Manage non-conforming SUBSAFE material, root-cause analysis, CAPA, and escalation pathways to quality and customer.
• Prepare for NAVSEA and customer audits and support the qualification/authorization process; lead internal SUBSAFE audits.
• Coordinate supplier/SubSAFE receiving controls and flow requirements to uphold material integrity.

Skills

SUBSAFE compliance

Quality management

Audit readiness

NAVSEA knowledge

OQE records

Supplier controls

Training programs

Tools

NAVSEA 0924-062-0010

NAVSEAINST 4855.34

AS9100D

OQE documentation

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.

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 Role:

The SUBSAFE Compliance Engineer owns Hadrian’s SUBSAFE and Material Level I (L1/SS) compliance: the processes, documentation, material controls, and audit posture that let us procure, receive, build, and deliver submarine-safety material without compromise. You will be the single point of accountability for whether Hadrian’s SUBSAFE work is compliant, defensible, and audit ready.

What You’ll Do

• Material Level I / SUBSAFE material control — procurement flow-down, receipt inspection, identification, segregation, storage, movement, and disposition of L1/SS material and its remnants, per NAVSEA 0924-062-0010 and applicable customer requirements.
• Objective Quality Evidence (OQE) — establish and audit the records package (chemical, mechanical, and performance test data; certifications; traceability) that proves conformance and ensure OQE is complete before material is released or delivered.
• Certification boundary integrity — define what falls inside the SUBSAFE boundary for each part, and ensures controls, documentation, and personnel qualifications are applied accordingly.
• Procedures and work instructions — author and maintain SUBSAFE / L1 procedures (material handling, cleanliness, traceability, non-conforming material, escapes), integrated with Hadrian’s AS9100D quality management system.
• Non-conformance and escapes — control non-conforming SUBSAFE material, drive root-cause and corrective action, and own the escalation path to Central Quality and the customer.
• Audit and qualification readiness — prepare for and support NAVSEA and customer audits and the activity qualification and authorization process (NAVSEAINST 4855.34), and own internal SUBSAFE audits.
• Supplier and receiving controls — flow SUBSAFE / L1 requirements to suppliers, verify certifications at receipt, and build out receiving capability to handle SUBSAFE material as volume ramps.
• Training — qualify Hadrian personnel who handle SUBSAFE material and build the workforce awareness the program depends on.

What We’re Looking For

• 5+ years in quality within a defense, marine, nuclear, or aerospace manufacturing environment, including direct SUBSAFE and/or Material Level I responsibility.
• Working command of SUBSAFE requirements and the governing NAVSEA documentation (0924-062-0010; NAVSEAINST 4855.34), OQE, controlled-material handling, traceability, and cleanliness.
• Experience building or running material-control and non-conformance processes in a regulated, audited environment.
• Ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance; U.S. person under ITAR.

What Will Set You Apart

• Background at a submarine prime or shipyard (e.g., General Dynamics Electric Boat, HII Newport News) or a qualified SUBSAFE supplier.
• AS9100 / ISO 9001 lead-auditor experience; familiarity with welding and NDT special-process controls.
• CQE, CMQ/OE, or equivalent quality certification.
• Comfort standing up a program from the ground up in a fast-moving environment — writing the procedure that does not exist yet, not just enforcing one that does.

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.