Head of Manufacturing Test Engineering

Anduril Anduril · Defense · Costa Mesa, CA · Manufacturing : Manufacturing Engineering : Manufacturing Engineering

Head of Manufacturing Test Engineering for a defense technology company building AI-powered military systems. The role focuses on defining and executing global manufacturing test strategies for complex mechanical, electrical, and propulsion systems, ensuring product quality and scalability. Responsibilities include leading engineering teams, driving test innovation, managing test infrastructure, collaborating with R&D, and establishing data analytics frameworks for decision-making.

What you'd actually do

  1. 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.
  2. Provide strong, inspirational leadership to a high-performing global engineering team, fostering innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.

Skills

Required

  • 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
  • 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
  • Exceptional executive presence, communication, and stakeholder management skills
  • 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.

Nice to have

  • 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.

What the JD emphasized

  • global manufacturing footprint
  • high-volume, technologically advanced products
  • complex mechanical, electrical, and propulsion systems
  • consistent delivery of superior quality products
  • ambitious manufacturing throughput requirements
  • strategic foresight
  • deep technical acumen
  • complex testing challenges
  • drive global scalability
  • automation, uniformity, and data-driven decision-making processes
  • seamless scalability
  • operational excellence
  • pre-production to mass production
  • diverse international sites
  • high-performing global engineering team
  • innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement
  • key executive liaison
  • strategic visions and technical roadmaps
  • senior leadership, cross-functional stakeholders, and global partners
  • influence key decisions
  • cutting-edge innovation in test methodologies and infrastructure
  • complex electro-mechanical assemblies
  • advanced electrical systems
  • propulsion technologies
  • automation, standardization, and operational streamlining
  • strategic design, procurement, and implementation of test infrastructure and equipment
  • robust capabilities for diverse hardware complexities
  • optimizing cost-benefit and ROI
  • design-for-testability principles
  • product lifecycle
  • manufacturability and global production readiness
  • operational excellence
  • safety, reducing costs, improving quality, and increasing productivity
  • manufacturing test operations
  • robust data analytics frameworks and reporting structures
  • actionable insights for strategic decision-making
  • continuous product/process enhancement
  • performance optimization across the enterprise
  • comprehensive training, documentation, and proactive maintenance strategies
  • elevate team expertise
  • facilitate knowledge transfer
  • ensure equipment uptime across the global footprint
  • ultimate technical authority and strategic advisor
  • manufacturing test matters
  • complex problem-solving and long-range planning
  • progressive leadership experience in manufacturing test engineering
  • developing, deploying, and scaling high-volume, complex system production operations
  • multiple global sites
  • Profound expertise in the testing of complex electro-mechanical assemblies, advanced electrical systems, and propulsion technologies.
  • lead, mentor, and inspire large, diverse engineering teams
  • fostering professional growth and high performance
  • Exceptional executive presence, communication, and stakeholder management skills
  • articulate complex technical strategies to non-technical audiences
  • Strong financial acumen
  • managing large departmental budgets and strategic capital expenditures
  • Deep understanding of manufacturing processes, quality systems, and reliability engineering principles
  • high-volume, fast-paced environments
  • Strong analytical skills for root cause analysis of non-conforming hardware and process deviations.
  • 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.
  • establishing and expanding global manufacturing test capabilities
  • greenfield site development
  • test automation software platforms and programming languages
  • Python, C#, LabVIEW, MATLAB
  • high-level system integration and data analysis
  • designing and specifying test fixtures and equipment
  • challenging mechanical, electrical, and propulsion components
  • reliability and environmental testing (HASS, ESS, thermal cycling, vibration, shock)
  • advanced physical systems
  • hardware communication protocols
  • complex system integration
  • Currently possesses and is able to maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance.