a16z American Dynamism Engineering Fellows

The American Dynamism Engineering Fellows Program is a 12-month, full-time, paid program on Andreessen Horowitz's American Dynamism investing team. a16z announced it on May 21, 2024 for early-career engineers and researchers with expertise at the intersection of hardware and software, such as autonomy, simulation, controls and AI, who want to scale their impact in defense, energy, space, industrials, manufacturing and public safety.

Fellows join the investment team to learn how a16z identifies opportunities, diligences companies, makes decisions and supports founders; help the team think through new technologies (for example, how neural-network simulation will disrupt fields that rely on numerical solvers, or how LLMs and diffusion models will change hardware design and manufacturing); work with portfolio companies on technical problems and hiring; and take part in technical conferences and open source projects.

a16z frames the program around what it sees in the best American Dynamism companies: highly technical founders, the ability to anticipate technological turning points, and the capacity to recruit great engineers to hard cross-disciplinary problems. After the year, fellows might join a startup or research lab, start a company or go into venture capital. The 2024 application link is no longer live, and no new cohort has been announced.

The American Dynamism Engineering Fellows Program aims to cultivate early-career engineers and researchers who are passionate about building businesses in critical infrastructure sectors. By embedding fellows within the investment team, the program provides a unique opportunity to learn the venture capital lifecycle while focusing on sectors that support national interests.

Candidates should highlight their technical projects and any relevant commercial experience in their applications. Passion for the sectors of focus is crucial.

Early-career engineers and researchers with expertise at the intersection of hardware and software (autonomy, simulation, controls, AI). Must be passionate about defense, energy, space, industrials, manufacturing, or public safety sectors.

The program is open for applications. Candidates should have a few years of commercial work experience (ideally at a startup) or advanced degrees with exceptional technical projects.

• A full-time, paid year on a16z's American Dynamism investing team.
• Hands-on exposure to sourcing, diligence, investment decisions and portfolio support.
• Technical research on how new technologies will change engineering-heavy industries.
• Work with portfolio founders on technical problem solving and hiring.
• Support to attend technical conferences and contribute to open source.
• A year of meetings with founders in defense, energy, space, industrials, manufacturing and public safety.

Announced May 21, 2024 as a 12-month, full-time program. The 2024 application (Greenhouse job 5990418003) has closed, and a16z has not announced a new application window or cohort dates.

The program launched in 2024, so outcomes are limited. a16z's current team page lists Engineering Fellows, including John Aguillard and Nathan Abramoff. a16z expects fellows to go on to startups, research labs, their own companies or venture capital.