Production Program Manager

Anduril Anduril · Defense · McHenry, MS · Manufacturing : Rocket Motor Systems Production : Production Operations

Anduril Industries, a defense technology company, is seeking a Production Program Manager to oversee the manufacturing and production lifecycle of their AI-powered systems. This role involves driving efficiency, managing schedules, mitigating risks, and ensuring successful project execution from development through full-scale production. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in operations program management, manufacturing, and cross-functional collaboration, preferably within the defense or aerospace sectors.

What you'd actually do

  1. Drive continuous improvement initiatives aligned with our COGs objectives to enhance production efficiency, scalability, and cost effectiveness during the development and pre-production phase.
  2. Monitor project budgets, track progress and ensure we are continually focused on identifying and solving issues to enable a successful transition to full scale production.
  3. Provide regular updates to internal teams and leadership, ensuring transparency on project status, risks, and solutions.
  4. Ensure appropriate allocation of materials, labor and equipment to meet production readiness goals.
  5. Identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks and roadblocks that could impact project timelines or operational readiness.

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Operations Management or related field
  • 8+ years of experience in operations program management, production, manufacturing, preferably in defense, aerospace, or complex hardware industries
  • Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, supply chain management, and production workflows
  • Experience launching new products with condensed timelines
  • Experience with project management methodologies (Agile, Lean, TPS, Six Sigma, etc.)
  • Proficiency in project management tools (Jira, Confluence, MS Project, Gantt Charts)
  • Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and organizational skills
  • Strong communication and leadership abilities to influence and align cross functional teams
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with evolving priorities
  • Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. security clearance

Nice to have

  • Experience in defense, aerospace, or automotive manufacturing
  • Experience with ERP, MRP, MES, PLM systems

What the JD emphasized

  • defense technology
  • military capabilities
  • AI-powered operating system
  • autonomy
  • computer vision
  • sensor fusion
  • manufacturing and production lifecycle
  • production programs
  • efficiency
  • schedules
  • risks
  • on time, within scope, and on a budget
  • manufacturing operational excellence
  • prototypes for scalable production
  • global scale
  • Process Optimization
  • COGs objectives
  • production efficiency
  • scalability
  • cost effectiveness
  • development and pre-production phase
  • Budget & Cost Control
  • Stakeholder Communication
  • Resource Management
  • Risk Management
  • Cross Functional Collaboration
  • pre-production efforts
  • program transition to full scale production
  • operations program management
  • production
  • manufacturing
  • defense, aerospace, or complex hardware industries
  • manufacturing processes
  • supply chain management
  • production workflows
  • launching new products
  • condensed timelines
  • project management methodologies
  • Agile, Lean, TPS, Six Sigma
  • project management tools
  • Jira, Confluence, MS Project, Gantt Charts
  • problem-solving
  • analytical
  • organizational skills
  • communication and leadership abilities
  • fast-paced, dynamic environment
  • evolving priorities
  • U.S. security clearance
  • defense, aerospace, or automotive manufacturing
  • ERP, MRP, MES, PLM systems