Investment Associate / Fellow (Hard Tech)

Clera

$120K — $180K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Strong technical background in engineering, science, or related discipline
  • Genuine passion for hard tech sectors like drones and defense
  • Intellectual curiosity and sharp analytical skills
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Responsibilities

  • Lead technical due diligence on hard tech investment opportunities
  • Run proactive outbound sourcing to engage emerging founders
  • Meet daily with founders to understand the hard tech ecosystem
  • Build a professional network in defense and robotics sectors
  • Contribute to investment memos and support portfolio initiatives

Benefits

  • Two-year structured fellowship/associate program
  • Meaningful ownership of work from day one
  • In-person role located in Los Angeles, CA
Full Job Description
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

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