ABOUT THE ROLE
A product-first, early-stage venture capital firm is hiring a full-time Investment Associate / Fellow based in Los Angeles for a two-year term. This is a specialized seat with a sharp focus on hard tech — spanning drones, defense, robotics, and the companies rebuilding American industrial infrastructure. It's a rare opportunity to build deep expertise, a broad network, and real deal experience at an influential seed-stage fund.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
- Lead technical due diligence on hard tech investment opportunities
- Run proactive outbound sourcing to identify and engage emerging founders
- Meet founders daily and develop a genuine understanding of the hard tech ecosystem
- Build a professional network in defense, robotics, aerospace, and industrial tech that would otherwise take a decade to develop
- Contribute to investment memos, portfolio support, and firm-wide initiatives
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
Required:
- Strong technical background — engineering, science, or a related discipline
- Genuine passion for hard tech: drones, defense, robotics, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, or adjacent sectors
- Intellectual curiosity, sharp analytical thinking, and the ability to evaluate complex technical claims
- Excellent communication skills — written and verbal — to engage founders and synthesize diligence findings
Nice to Have:
- Hands-on experience at a hard tech company in sectors such as aerospace, defense technology, robotics, advanced manufacturing, autonomous systems, energy, or space — whether at an established player or an early-stage startup
- Prior exposure to venture capital, investing, or startup operations
- An existing network within the hard tech founder or operator community
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
- Salary: $120,000 – $180,000 USD annually
- Two-year structured fellowship/associate program with meaningful ownership of work from day one
- Visa sponsorship: Not available
LOCATION
- On-site in Los Angeles, CA
- This is a full-time, in-person role — remote work is not offered