Investment Associate / Fellow (Hard Tech) at Clera-AI

Los Angeles, California, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

17 Oct, 26

Salary

180000.0

Posted On

19 Jul, 26

Experience

0 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Technical Due Diligence, Outbound Sourcing, Analytical Thinking, Technical Writing, Founder Engagement, Investment Memo Writing, Portfolio Support, Market Research

Industry

technology;Information and Internet

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

Responsibilities

Lead technical due diligence and proactive outbound sourcing to identify emerging hard tech founders. Develop a deep professional network in defense, robotics, and aerospace while contributing to investment memos and portfolio support.