Investment Associate Fellow

### 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](https://himalayas.app)