Investment Associate / Fellow (Hard Tech)

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