Head of Manufacturing Test Engineering
Anduril · Costa Mesa, United States · 4mo ago
Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century’s most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril’s family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.
As the Head of Manufacturing Test Engineering, you will play a pivotal leadership role in defining and executing the manufacturing test strategy across Anduril's rapidly expanding global manufacturing footprint. You are charged with establishing and scaling rigorous testing protocols for our high-volume, technologically advanced products, with a specific emphasis on complex mechanical, electrical, and propulsion systems. Your strategic leadership will ensure the consistent delivery of superior quality products to our customers worldwide, while meeting ambitious manufacturing throughput requirements. This position demands an exceptional blend of strategic foresight, executive presence, and deep technical acumen to resolve complex testing challenges, drive global scalability, and enhance our automation, uniformity, and data-driven decision-making processes.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
- Lead the definition and execution of a comprehensive global manufacturing test strategy, ensuring seamless scalability and operational excellence from pre-production to mass production across diverse international sites.
- Provide strong, inspirational leadership to a high-performing global engineering team, fostering innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Serve as a key executive liaison, adeptly communicating strategic visions and technical roadmaps to senior leadership, cross-functional stakeholders, and global partners to influence key decisions.
- Drive cutting-edge innovation in test methodologies and infrastructure, specializing in 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, ensuring robust capabilities for diverse hardware complexities while optimizing cost-benefit and ROI.
- Collaborate extensively with R&D, product development, and manufacturing teams to integrate design-for-testability principles early in the product lifecycle, enhancing manufacturability and global production readiness.
- Champion initiatives that drive operational excellence, including enhancing safety, reducing costs, improving quality, and increasing productivity across all manufacturing test operations.
- Establish robust data analytics frameworks and reporting structures to provide actionable insights for strategic decision-making, continuous product/process enhancement, and performance optimization across the enterprise.
- Implement comprehensive training, documentation, and proactive maintenance strategies to elevate team expertise, facilitate knowledge transfer, and ensure equipment uptime across the global footprint.
- Act as the ultimate technical authority and strategic advisor for all manufacturing test matters, guiding complex problem-solving and long-range planning.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing test engineering, with a proven track record of developing, deploying, and scaling high-volume, complex system production operations across multiple global sites.
- Profound expertise in the testing of complex electro-mechanical assemblies, advanced electrical systems, and propulsion technologies.
- Proven ability to lead, mentor, and inspire large, diverse engineering teams, fostering professional growth and high performance.
- Exceptional executive presence, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical strategies to non-technical audiences.
- Strong financial acumen, including experience managing large departmental budgets and strategic capital expenditures.
- Deep understanding of manufacturing processes, quality systems, and reliability engineering principles in high-volume, fast-paced environments.
- Strong 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).
- Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Advanced degree (Master's or Ph.D.) in a relevant engineering discipline or MBA.
- Proven experience in establishing and expanding global manufacturing test capabilities, including greenfield site development.
- Familiarity with test automation software platforms and programming languages (e.g., Python, C#, LabVIEW, MATLAB) for high-level system integration and data analysis.
- Expertise in designing and specifying test fixtures and equipment for challenging mechanical, electrical, and propulsion components.
- Strong knowledge of reliability and environmental testing (HASS, ESS, thermal cycling, vibration, shock) specifically for advanced physical systems.
- Experience with various hardware communication protocols relevant to complex system integration.
- Currently possesses and is able to maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance.
The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:
Benefits
At Anduril, we invest in our people. Our comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you’re supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next. For more information, Explore Our Benefits.
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