Director, Technical Operations - Manufacturing

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century's most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril's family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Director of Technical Operations - Manufacturing will lead highly skilled and specialized technical teams within the manufacturing organization. This role is responsible for building, scaling, and continuously improving the advanced technical capabilities required to achieve and sustain world-class manufacturing line performance. The individual will develop and execute technical strategies that enable operational excellence, drive manufacturing process innovations, and ensure cross-functional alignment across engineering, quality, supply chain, and production.

The Director will be a critical leader in enabling factory readiness, product maturity, and operational scalability for both low-rate and high-rate production of advanced, complex hardware systems. Success in this role requires deep technical expertise, strong leadership, and the ability to implement strategies that align with corporate objectives and customer requirements.
WHAT YOU'LL DO

Strategic Leadership

• Define and execute the Technical Operations strategy that enables best-in-class manufacturing line performance across multiple product families and sites.
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Program Management to align technical strategies with business objectives.
• Champion a culture of technical excellence, continuous improvement, and world-class operational discipline.

Technical Team Leadership

• Lead cross-functional technical teams (e.g., industrial engineering, manufacturing process engineering, equipment engineering, automation/controls, and technical support).
• Build organizational capabilities in core areas such as process control, advanced analytics, and root cause analysis.
• Develop technical roadmaps for equipment, tooling, automation, and digital factory initiatives.

Operational Excellence

• Drive improvements in throughput, yield, quality, and cost efficiency by deploying advanced technical solutions.
• Oversee implementation of robust technical standards, failure mode mitigation strategies, and process control frameworks.
• Ensure factory readiness for new product introduction (NPI), including pilot builds, scaling strategies, and transition to full-rate production.

Innovation & Capability Development

• Lead deployment of smart factory and Industry 4.0 initiatives, leveraging digital systems, MES, and data analytics to optimize operations.
• Oversee technical readiness reviews, equipment qualification, and process capability assessments.
• Stay current with emerging technologies in automation, process science, and technical operations; evaluate and implement relevant innovations.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate closely with Corporate Technology and R&D teams to ensure alignment of system design and architecture with manufacturability needs.
• Partner with Quality and Reliability Engineering to embed technical operations practices that drive first-pass yield and reduce rework/scrap.
• Provide executive-level reporting on technical performance, risk management, and roadmap execution.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Applied Science, or related technical discipline (Master's or Ph.D. preferred)
• 15+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing, technical operations, or advanced process engineering in high-tech, aerospace/defense, or complex hardware industries.
• Proven track record of leading technical teams in delivering measurable improvements in line performance, yield, and cost efficiency.
• Expertise in statistical process control (SPC), Design of Experiments (DOE), Failure Mode & Effects Analysis (FMEA), and root cause corrective action (RCCA).
• Experience implementing smart factory / Industry 4.0 technologies (MES, digital twins, automation, predictive analytics).
• Strong leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated success in scaling operations from prototype/low-rate to full-rate/high-volume production.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience in defense/aerospace manufacturing with compliance to AS9100, ITAR, and related standards.
• Familiarity with ERP/PLM/MES systems integration for technical operations.
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to link technical strategies to business outcomes.
• Innovative, results-oriented leader who thrives in fast-paced, highly technical environments.

US Salary Range

$220,000 - $292,000 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:

Healthcare Benefits

• US Roles: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans at little to no cost to you.
• UK & AUS Roles: We cover full cost of medical insurance premiums for you and your dependents.
• IE Roles: We offer an annual contribution toward your private health insurance for you and your dependents.

Additional Benefits

• Income Protection : Anduril covers life and disability insurance for all employees.
• Generous time off : Highly competitive PTO plans with a holiday hiatus in December. Caregiver & Wellness Leave is available to care for family members, bond with a new baby, or address your own medical needs.
• Family Planning & Parenting Support: Coverage for fertility treatments (e.g., IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carriers, along with resources to support you and your partner from planning to parenting.
• Mental Health Resources: Access free mental health resources 24/7, including therapy and life coaching. Additional work-life services, such as legal and financial support, are also available.
• Professional Development: Annual reimbursement for professional development
• Commuter Benefits: Company-funded commuter benefits based on your region.
• Relocation Assistance: Available depending on role eligibility.

Retirement Savings Plan

• US Roles: Traditional 401(k), Roth, and after-tax (mega backdoor Roth) options.
• UK & IE Roles: Pension plan with employer match.
• AUS Roles: Superannuation plan.

The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process.

To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/ .

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