Production Manager, Composite Manufacturing

Anduril Anduril · Defense · Morrisville, NC · Manufacturing : Aerostructures Production : Aerostructures Production

This role is for a Production Manager in composite manufacturing at a defense technology company. The company utilizes an AI-powered operating system and focuses on autonomy, AI, computer vision, and sensor fusion in its products. However, the production manager role itself is not directly involved in building or researching AI/ML models, but rather in managing the manufacturing processes of defense systems that may incorporate these technologies.

What you'd actually do

  1. Lead Composite Production Operations: Lead and manage a dedicated team of highly skilled technicians in the production of advanced composite structures, ensuring efficient, high-quality manufacturing and timely delivery.
  2. Drive Production Excellence: Strategically plan and tactically direct monthly production operations to consistently achieve and exceed on-time delivery (OTD) goals and overall production performance targets, with a focus on composite layup, curing, and assembly processes.
  3. Champion Quality & Safety: Instill a culture of uncompromising quality and safety, rigorously upholding standards unique to composite manufacturing (e.g., material handling, cure cycles, NDT, ply-level inspection), minimizing defects, and fostering a secure, compliant, and pristine work environment.
  4. Develop & Mentor Talent: Develop and mentor production Leads/Supervisors, providing active coaching and support to cultivate professional growth, enhance leadership skills, and facilitate robust cross-training initiatives.
  5. Lead Continuous Improvement: Drive and implement Lean manufacturing principles (e.g., 6S, Kaizen) and other continuous improvement methodologies to optimize composite manufacturing processes, enhance efficiency, reduce waste (e.g. scrap, rework), and solve complex operational challenges.

Skills

Required

  • Composite manufacturing
  • Production management
  • Team leadership
  • Quality assurance
  • Safety management
  • Lean manufacturing
  • Continuous improvement
  • ERP systems
  • MES systems
  • NPI processes
  • Change management
  • Employee development
  • Coaching
  • Mentorship
  • Communication skills
  • Organizational skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Ability to obtain U.S. Secret security clearance

Nice to have

  • Composite materials
  • Pre-preg layup
  • Resin infusion
  • Filament winding
  • Autoclave curing
  • Bonding
  • Machining
  • Pressed composites
  • Interpreting technical documentation for composites
  • Troubleshooting composite manufacturing processes

What the JD emphasized

  • proven ability to lead and drive a diverse portfolio of critical projects
  • advanced data analytics
  • strategic insights
  • optimize performance
  • enhance efficiency
  • achieve ambitious operational objectives
  • scalable and resilient processes
  • advanced composite manufacturing
  • production environments
  • direct leadership or management capacity
  • ERP and MES systems
  • NPI (New Product Introduction) processes
  • Lean manufacturing principles
  • change management (ECOs)
  • transition products from development to production
  • shop floor metrics
  • employee development
  • coaching
  • mentorship
  • high-performing teams
  • Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
  • superior organizational abilities
  • meticulous attention to detail
  • U.S. Secret security clearance