Investment Associate / Fellow (Hard Tech & Deep Tech)

About the Role

We are an early-stage venture capital firm investing in the next generation of hard tech and deep tech companies — spanning drones, defense, robotics, autonomous systems, and the broader rebuilding of American industry. We are hiring a full-time Investment Associate / Fellow based in Los Angeles for a two-year term. This is a specialized, high-ownership seat designed for someone with a genuine technical foundation and a passion for the companies pushing the frontier of physical technology.

You will be embedded in deal flow from day one — leading technical due diligence, sourcing founders proactively, and building a network in the hard tech ecosystem that would typically take a decade to develop.

What You'll Do

• Lead technical diligence on hard tech investment opportunities across areas such as drones, defense, robotics, propulsion, manufacturing, and industrial automation

• Run outbound sourcing — identify and engage promising founders before they're widely known

• Meet founders daily, develop conviction on early-stage companies, and contribute to investment decisions

• Build and maintain a deep network across the hard tech and defense-adjacent startup ecosystem

• Synthesize technical and market insights into clear investment memos and recommendations

• Represent the firm at events, conferences, and within technical communities

What We're Looking For

Required:

• Strong technical background — engineering, physics, aerospace, robotics, or a related hard science/engineering discipline

• Genuine curiosity about and passion for hard tech: defense, drones, robotics, space, advanced manufacturing, and industrial technology

• Ability to evaluate complex technical claims and conduct rigorous engineering or scientific due diligence

• Excellent written and verbal communication — you can turn technical depth into a clear investment narrative

• High agency, self-directed work style; comfortable operating with minimal structure

Strongly preferred — experience at or deep familiarity with companies in sectors such as:

• Commercial space launch, satellite, or orbital logistics

• Defense technology, autonomous systems, or directed energy

• Advanced manufacturing, precision machining, or industrial robotics

• Electric vehicles, alternative propulsion, or energy systems

• AI-driven field autonomy or mission-critical software

Candidates with 2–5 years of experience at hard tech startups or established aerospace/defense technology companies are particularly encouraged to apply.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $120,000 – $180,000 USD annually

• Full-time, two-year term position

• Visa sponsorship is not available

Location

This role is on-site in Los Angeles, California. Candidates must be based in or willing to relocate to the Los Angeles area.

Originally posted on Himalayas