Finance Manager, Mission Autonomy

Anduril Industries•Costa Mesa, CA

5d•$129,000 - $171,000

About The Position

Anduril’s Air Dominance & Strike (AD&S) Finance group is seeking a Finance Manager to join our team and support the Mission Autonomy (Software) business line. This role will own core FP&A responsibilities (close insights, forecasting, budgeting, and executive reporting) while partnering closely with Engineering, Product, Program Management, Growth, and Contracts to improve execution, investment decisions, and overall business performance. We are not looking for someone that will just be a service provider but someone that will have a seat at the table and drive strategic & operational growth within Mission Autonomy—helping build a scalable financial operating system for a rapidly evolving autonomy software portfolio. In practice, this role will support important decisions with analytical insight and strategic and tactical recommendations to drive the long-term success of the Mission Autonomy business line. You will lead business line forecasting, budgeting, and performance management, and communicate your findings to senior leadership. You will partner cross-functionally to operationalize hypotheses, take action, and continuously improve financial and operational rigor. This role requires a strong interest in solving puzzles with an ability to recognize patterns and collaborate via cross-functional partnership to drive effective decision-making. Success in this position comes from a dynamic mindset, strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and an operating posture that balances speed with rigor—especially in environments with evolving requirements and high mission impact. The ideal candidate can work autonomously with minimal direction, can own ambiguous workstreams end-to-end, and consistently drives work to completion.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field; MBA or relevant professional certification (CPA, CFA) is a plus
5+ years of experience in financial analysis, modeling, and forecasting within a corporate FP&A, investment banking or consulting environment
Experience supporting program finance, program execution cadence, or defense contracting environments is a plus
Experience supporting proposals, pricing, or deal finance in a cross-functional environment is a plus
Experience in software, aerospace, defense, or adjacent complex product environments is a plus
Strong expertise in cash flow management and working capital optimization
Advanced proficiency in Excel, financial modeling, and data analysis tools
Demonstrated ability to lead process improvement initiatives in a finance function
Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex financial information in an understandable manner
Proven track record of managing multiple projects in a deadline-driven environment
Ability to work autonomously with minimal direction, take ownership of ambiguous workstreams, and drive deliverables to completion
Experience with financial reporting tools and ERP systems (i.e. Anaplan, Netsuite, Oracle, Foundry)
Must be authorized to work in the United States

Responsibilities

Business Line FP&A (Forecasting, Budgeting, Close Insights) Own the Mission Autonomy financial operating rhythm: monthly close insights, forecasting, and variance drivers tied to engineering delivery and customer milestones
Lead annual and quarterly planning cycles, including target setting, resource allocation, and performance tracking against business objectives
Develop executive-ready reporting, dashboards, and narratives for AD&S leadership to drive decision-making
Partner with cross-functional leaders to surface risks and opportunities early and drive corrective actions
Unit Economics, Cost Structure, and Scaling Analysis Develop and maintain business-line models to quantify unit economics (software + integration + support), margin drivers, and scaling assumptions
Analyze cost drivers across labor, infrastructure, test, security/compliance, and field support to improve predictability and efficiency
Support build/buy/partner decisions and quantify ROI for tooling, infrastructure, and capability investments
Headcount Planning & Workforce Analytics Create comprehensive headcount and new hiring budgeting plans aligned to roadmap delivery and program commitments
Lead the headcount forecasting and reporting process, ensuring alignment with financial, operational and technical goals
Partner with People function, Talent Acquisition and department leaders to analyze staffing needs, hiring plans, and workforce costs
Support functional leaders to develop workforce plans as part of the annual planning process
Develop and maintain models to project salaries, benefits, and personnel-related expenses, ensuring accuracy in financial planning
Track actuals vs. forecast for headcount, compensation, and benefits, providing insights on variances and trends
IRAD & Internal Investment Management Partner closely with Mission Autonomy engineering and product leaders to create comprehensive budgeting plans for IRAD programs and strategic initiatives
Manage IRAD budget tracking, including burn, staffing mix, milestone outcomes, and post-gate spend visibility
Support trade studies for where to invest IRAD vs. customer-funded development to accelerate product maturity and repeatability
Program / Customer Execution Finance (Plus: Proposals and Pricing Support) Support program performance management by tracking actuals vs. forecast for key cost elements and deliverables; provide actionable insights to Program Management and Engineering leaders
Develop metrics and a monitoring plan to ensure effective implementation of program financial plans while identifying ways to continually improve performance
Support pricing strategy and proposal development for Mission Autonomy pursuits as needed, including modeling scope assumptions and post-award baseline set-up
Partner with Growth, Contracts, and Program teams to support deal constructs, assumptions, and change management to improve deliverability and financial outcomes
Process Improvement and Tooling Establish and continuously improve reporting processes and tools to increase transparency, speed, and decision quality
Drive process improvements across planning, forecasting, and performance management; standardize recurring deliverables where possible

Benefits

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.