Staff Program Manager, Software

Anduril Industries•Costa Mesa, CA

21h•Onsite

About The Position

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company focused on transforming military capabilities through advanced technology. The Tactical Recon & Strike (TRS) division builds autonomous drones and solid rocket motors, turning concepts into operational capabilities. This role is for a Software Program Manager within TRS, serving as the strategic product leader for software-enabled defense systems. The position is at the intersection of customer needs, technical execution, and business growth, defining the future of software platforms for autonomous systems and mission-critical operations. The Software Program Manager will own the product vision and roadmap, act as the voice of the customer internally and the face of product strategy externally, and partner with Growth, engineering, and Technical Program Managers (TPMs) for execution. The ideal candidate has deep technical fluency, strategic product thinking, and an understanding of defense customer requirements, particularly in military sales. They will translate operational challenges into product requirements, drive prioritization, and foster continuous improvement and customer obsession.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or related technical field.
5+ years of experience in software product management, technical program management, or software engineering leadership roles, preferably in defense, aerospace, or complex hardware-software systems.
Strong technical foundation with the ability to engage credibly with software engineers on architecture, algorithms, and implementation approaches.
Demonstrated experience defining product strategy, building product roadmaps, and driving product delivery in fast-paced, customer-focused environments.
Proven track record of working directly with customers to gather requirements, validate solutions, and drive adoption.
Experience coordinating cross-functional teams including engineering, operations, and business development to deliver complex products.
Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make data-driven decisions in ambiguous situations.
Outstanding communication skills, with the ability to articulate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and translate customer needs into technical requirements.
Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related technical field.
Military experience or demonstrated experience in the military sales/defense contractor space, with understanding of DoD acquisition processes, program of record lifecycles, and military customer organizations.
Experience with autonomous systems, robotics, drone technology, or embedded software systems.
Background in Agile/Scrum product development methodologies and modern software development practices.
Experience with defense-specific requirements such as ITAR compliance, cybersecurity frameworks (e.g., RMF), and military standards (e.g., MIL-STD-882E).
Prior experience in both product management and engineering roles, demonstrating the ability to bridge strategic and technical domains.
Track record of successful product launches in highly regulated or safety-critical industries.
Experience working in high-growth startups or innovation-focused organizations within the defense industrial base.
Familiarity with product analytics tools, roadmapping software, and requirements management systems.

Responsibilities

Own and maintain the software product roadmap for TRS systems, ensuring alignment with customer needs, technical feasibility, and business priorities.
Define product vision and strategy based on deep understanding of military operational requirements, competitive landscape, and emerging technology trends.
Make data-driven prioritization decisions, balancing customer requests, technical debt, platform investments, and innovation initiatives.
Establish and track key product metrics (KPIs) that measure adoption, performance, customer satisfaction, and business impact.
Partner closely with Growth teams to develop customer engagement strategies, inform proposal development, and shape capture plans for key opportunities.
Serve as the primary product voice in customer interactions, translating operational challenges into product capabilities and conducting product demonstrations for military stakeholders.
Build deep relationships with military end-users and program offices to understand mission requirements, operational workflows, and capability gaps.
Leverage military sales experience and defense domain knowledge to anticipate customer needs and position products effectively in the competitive landscape.
Work with internal engineering teams to translate product vision into detailed requirements, user stories, and acceptance criteria.
Coordinate with Technical Program Managers (TPMs) to ensure development execution aligns with roadmap commitments and delivery timelines.
Make technical trade-off decisions in collaboration with engineering leadership, balancing performance, schedule, cost, and risk.
Champion software engineering best practices, including continuous integration/deployment, automated testing, and design for reliability and maintainability.
Serve as the central coordination point between engineering, operations, quality, supply chain, and business development teams.
Lead product reviews, design reviews, and customer feedback sessions to drive alignment and rapid iteration.
Identify and resolve cross-functional blockers that impede product development or customer delivery.
Communicate product status, risks, and decisions clearly to executive leadership and key stakeholders.
Implement robust product development processes that enable scalability, predictability, and quality.
Establish feedback loops with customers, field operations, and support teams to drive continuous product improvement.
Lead initiatives to improve software delivery velocity, reduce defects, and enhance user experience.
Drive operational excellence in product management practices, including requirements management, release planning, and product analytics.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans at little to no cost to you.
Life and disability insurance for all employees.
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.
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.
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.
Annual reimbursement for professional development.
Company-funded commuter benefits based on your region.
Relocation Assistance: Available depending on role eligibility.
Traditional 401(k), Roth, and after-tax (mega backdoor Roth) options.