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Anduril

Builds autonomous weapons for the US and allies

Head of Manufacturing Test Engineering

Inspection & TestConfirmed live in the last 24 hours
Full-timeCosta Mesa, CA, USAIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

  • A bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
  • At least 10 years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing test engineering, including developing, deploying, and scaling high-volume, complex system production operations across multiple global sites.
  • Profound expertise in testing complex electro-mechanical assemblies, advanced electrical systems, and propulsion technologies.
  • Ability to lead, mentor, and inspire large, diverse engineering teams and foster professional growth and high performance.
  • Executive presence, communication, and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to explain technical strategies to non-technical audiences.
  • Financial acumen, including experience managing large departmental budgets and strategic capital expenditures.
  • Understanding of manufacturing processes, quality systems, and reliability engineering principles in high-volume, fast-paced environments.
  • Analytical skills for root cause analysis of non-conforming hardware and process deviations.
  • Familiarity with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), and Test Execution Systems (TES).
  • Eligibility to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

  • Define and execute a global manufacturing test strategy that scales from pre-production to mass production across international sites.
  • Lead a global engineering team, fostering innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
  • Communicate strategic visions and technical roadmaps to senior leadership, cross-functional stakeholders, and global partners to influence decisions.
  • Drive innovation in test methodologies and infrastructure for complex electro-mechanical assemblies, advanced electrical systems, and propulsion technologies, focusing on automation, standardization, and operational streamlining.
  • Lead the strategic design, procurement, and implementation of test infrastructure and equipment, optimizing cost-benefit and return on investment.
  • Collaborate with research and development, product development, and manufacturing teams to integrate design-for-testability principles early in the product lifecycle and improve manufacturability and global production readiness.
  • Lead operational excellence initiatives to enhance safety, reduce costs, improve quality, and increase productivity across manufacturing test operations.
  • Establish data analytics frameworks and reporting structures to support strategic decision-making, product and process enhancement, and performance optimization.
  • Implement training, documentation, and proactive maintenance strategies to develop team expertise, enable knowledge transfer, and ensure equipment uptime.
  • Serve as the technical authority and strategic advisor for manufacturing test matters, guiding complex problem-solving and long-range planning.

Desired Qualifications

  • Experience establishing and expanding global manufacturing test capabilities, including greenfield site development.
  • Familiarity with test automation software platforms and programming languages such as Python, C#, LabVIEW, and MATLAB for high-level system integration and data analysis.
  • Expertise designing and specifying test fixtures and equipment for challenging mechanical, electrical, and propulsion components.
  • Knowledge of reliability and environmental testing, including HASS, ESS, thermal cycling, vibration, and shock, for advanced physical systems.
  • Experience with hardware communication protocols relevant to complex system integration.
  • Currently holding and being able to maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance.

About the Company

Anduril

Builds autonomous weapons for the US and allies

Anduril builds autonomous weapons, such as drones, cruise missiles, and robot submarines, for the US military and its allies, often developing them with its own money before any order arrives. In 2024 it beat Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman for an Air Force contract to develop Fury, a pilotless jet that flies alongside crewed fighters. Its Lattice software merges camera and radar feeds into one live map and lets a few operators direct many drones and weapons at once, including other companies' systems. Governments buy its systems under contract, and Anduril builds much of the hardware in its own factories. Oculus founder Palmer Luckey co-founded Anduril in 2017, and it is based in Costa Mesa, California.

Company size
10,001+
Company stage
Private
Total funding
$11.5B
Headquarters
Costa Mesa, CA
Founded
2017

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