Senior Program Manager, Product Operations

Anduril Industries • Costa Mesa, CA

13h

About The Position

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company focused on transforming military capabilities with advanced technology. The Tactical Recon & Strike (TRS) division aims to build autonomous drones and solid rocket motors at scale, transitioning products from concept to operational capabilities. This role is for a Product Operations Program Manager within the TRS division, serving as a high-impact leader. It's described as a strategic problem-solver role, not a traditional program management position, focused on tackling critical business challenges, maturing products for high-rate production, and leading internal transformation initiatives. The ideal candidate will have a "Six Sigma Black Belt" mindset, adept at dissecting operational problems, using data for decision-making, and implementing scalable and efficient processes. This role acts as a critical link between product development and full-scale production, ensuring products are designed for manufacturability, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in program management, operations, or manufacturing, preferably in defense, aerospace, automotive, or other complex hardware industries.
• Demonstrated expertise in process excellence and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Proven track record of leading products through the maturation lifecycle, from low-rate initial production to full-rate, scalable manufacturing.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data to drive decision-making in ambiguous and fast-paced environments.
• Experience managing complex, multi-disciplinary projects and delivering them on-time and on-budget.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, supply chain management, quality systems, and production workflows.
• Outstanding communication and leadership abilities, with a proven ability to influence and align cross-functional teams and stakeholders at all levels.
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in a technical or business field.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification.
• Experience in a role focused on internal consulting, business transformation, or strategic operations.
• Experience launching new factories or production lines.

Responsibilities

• Act as an internal strike team leader to identify, analyze, and resolve the most complex operational, manufacturing, and business process issues that impede product maturity and scalability.
• Own the operational strategy for transitioning products from development to stable production, driving initiatives in operational excellence, Design for Manufacturability (DFM), process validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), and production readiness reviews.
• Implement and champion a culture of continuous improvement using methodologies like Lean Six Sigma and DMAIC, driving initiatives to improve production efficiency, reduce cost of goods sold (COGS), and enhance overall product quality.
• Lead high-priority, cross-functional projects spanning engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, quality, and finance, responsible for defining scope, building plans, and ensuring outcomes on an accelerated timeline.
• Develop and implement key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to monitor process health, identify risks, and provide transparent status updates to executive leadership on project status, risks, and milestones.
• Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate systemic risks—technical, operational, or logistical—that could impact the ability to scale production and meet customer demands.

Benefits

• Highly competitive equity grants
• Comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you’re supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next.

What This Job Offers

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