Lead Manufacturing Engineer, Sentry

Anduril Industries • Irvine, CA

23h

About The Position

ABOUT THE TEAM The Manufacturing Team at Anduril is at the forefront of producing revolutionary defense hardware, rapidly iterating and scaling cutting-edge solutions for national security. We design, build, and deploy advanced systems, from static installations and autonomous ground vehicles to complex integrated platforms. As a Lead Manufacturing Engineer, you will join this high-impact team, focusing your expertise on the critical Sentry production line. Our team's scope encompasses the entire manufacturing value chain, where we are responsible for translating innovative designs into mission-ready products. This involves everything from leading Design for Manufacturability (DFM) initiatives, advanced tool and fixture design & selection, and robust process creation & optimization, to strategic vendor sourcing & collaboration, comprehensive quality planning & control, and meticulous work documentation. We are a results-driven team relentlessly focused on pushing the boundaries of what's possible, ensuring our warfighters have the most advanced and reliable equipment to defend our nation. As the Lead Manufacturing Engineer for Sentry production, you will serve as the pivotal technical and strategic leader, orchestrating all manufacturing engineering efforts across the entire Sentry product line. In this highly impactful role, you will directly lead, mentor, and empower a team of manufacturing engineers, guiding them in the relentless pursuit of operational excellence. This demands a blend of deep technical mastery and exceptional leadership to drive critical initiatives, including pioneering innovative process improvements, ensuring the highest echelons of production quality, and seamlessly transitioning new Sentry product designs from R&D into scalable, full-rate production. You will be instrumental in leveraging your expertise to optimize existing manufacturing processes for significant cost reduction and efficiency gains, while simultaneously charting the course for the introduction and rapid scale-up of next-generation Sentry technologies. Success in this position requires a proactive approach to setting ambitious objectives, fostering robust cross-functional collaboration with design, supply chain, and quality teams, and relentlessly driving rapid project execution to meet urgent mission requirements.

Requirements

• Degree in a technical field such as engineering, math, or a hard science.
• 8+ years in manufacturing or similar prototyping position.
• Demonstrated in-kind or direct team leadership skills, with backing examples.
• An attitude of world-class mission assurance, quality, attention to detail, and dedication.
• A genuine interest in manufacturing and thirst for learning.
• Demonstrated ability to creatively deliver hardware in a resource-constrained environment.
• Personal experience physically manufacturing hardware via any means (machining, fabrication, soldering, assembly, etc.). Work on personal or extracurricular projects is a plus.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance.

Nice To Haves

• Experience building or transforming successful production operation organizations and leading large-scale change management initiatives that influence culture, define tools & processes and improve competencies.
• Demonstrated success in scaling product testing and production from tens/hundreds to hundreds/thousands.
• Experience leading and managing teams on fast-paced, complex projects.
• Skills in cost analysis, cost reduction strategies, and managing production budgets
• Hands-on experience with software & firmware flashing or end-of-line testing & troubleshooting
• Software scripting experience in any language.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team responsible for delivering on-time completion of development and production units within a product group.
• Execute the manufacturing of a certain product or set of products, from initial prototyping through large full-scale production.
• Work with design engineers during the development process to drive design for manufacturing best practices into the design effort, and help facilitate the transition from design to prototype to rate production.
• Act as a manufacturing lead for mechanical integration, fabrication and avionics with subject matter expertise in these areas and key experience in design for manufacturability.
• Own documentation required for successfully manufacturing product group hardware at scale, such as MBOM’s, work instructions & requirements, etc.
• Uphold and advise on quality management and business application programs as they pertain to manufacturing within your area.
• Facilitate make versus buy decisions, and coordinate with internal supply chain teams to manage vendors to ensure quality deliveries on time.
• Collaborate with internal customers and manufacturing planning teams to define capacity planning actions to meet customer needs and expectations.
• Analyze metrics for continuous improvement initiatives (cost reduction, QI reduction & capacity increase).
• Instill a culture of innovation, teamwork, and accountability within the manufacturing engineering product team.
• Develop production and test methodologies and implement best practices to enable scaling production capabilities for larger, more complex products.
• Travel to suppliers and partner sites to do initial sourcing work, solve ongoing production issues, and implement process procedures as required.

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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level