Investment Associate / Fellow (Hard Tech & Deep Tech)

Clera

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

Qualifications

  • Strong technical background in engineering, physics, aerospace, robotics, or related disciplines
  • Genuine curiosity and passion for hard tech sectors like defense and robotics
  • Ability to evaluate complex technical claims and perform rigorous due diligence
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills for translating technical information
  • Self-directed work style, comfortable in less structured environments

Responsibilities

  • Lead technical diligence on hard tech investment opportunities
  • Conduct outbound sourcing to identify promising founders early on
  • Meet founders daily and assess early-stage companies for investment
  • Build and maintain a deep network in the hard tech ecosystem
  • Synthesize insights into clear investment memos and recommendations
  • Represent the firm at events, conferences, and within technical communities

Benefits

  • Full-time, two-year term position
  • Visa sponsorship is not available
  • On-site role in Los Angeles, California
Full Job Description
About the Role

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.

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