Senior Manager, Manufacturing Engineering, Space

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

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company seeking a Senior Manager of Manufacturing Engineering for its space programs. The role involves leading manufacturing engineering teams, developing processes for space-qualified hardware, and ensuring manufacturability, cost-effectiveness, and quality. Responsibilities include strategic leadership, new product introduction (DFM/DFA, MRR, TRR), and cross-functional collaboration with design, supply chain, and operations. Requires 8+ years of experience in space manufacturing or systems engineering, team leadership, and hands-on hardware experience. Familiarity with CAD, MES, and ERP systems is needed. The company mentions AI, autonomy, computer vision, and sensor fusion in its general description, but the core responsibilities of this role are in manufacturing engineering for space programs.

What you'd actually do

  1. Recruit, mentor, develop, and lead a high-performing team of manufacturing engineers and integration & test engineers and foster a culture of innovation, excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  2. Serve as the primary manufacturing engineering lead for several assigned space programs, ensuring technical alignment and execution.
  3. Oversee the development, implementation, and optimization of manufacturing processes for complex, high-precision space-qualified hardware, including structures, propulsion, avionics, thermal systems, and optical components.
  4. Ensure robust Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles are integrated throughout the product lifecycle, influencing design decisions from early concept phases.
  5. Establish and enforce rigorous quality control standards and inspection methods, ensuring all hardware meets stringent space-grade requirements and a zero-defect mentality.

Skills

Required

  • Technical degree in engineering, math, or hard science
  • 8+ years of experience in space and satellite manufacturing, systems engineering, or design of electromechanical hardware
  • Experience in unit-level/space vehicle/system integration, assembly, and environmental testing
  • Background in integration and testing of avionics/optical payloads, solar, propulsion, ADCS, or other space hardware
  • Proven team leadership skills
  • Personal experience physically manufacturing hardware
  • Ability to understand new concepts quickly and apply them accurately
  • Familiarity with CAD software, Manufacturing Execution systems, and ERP/MRP systems
  • Willingness to travel frequently (>25%)
  • Demonstrated success in scaling product testing and production
  • Active security clearance or ability to obtain a security clearance

Nice to have

  • Experience in test hardware and software development
  • Software scripting experience in python
  • Experience writing test plans, procedures, and work instruction documentation
  • Ability to work effectively in space manufacturing environments
  • Demonstrated skill at driving and questioning design and customer requirements

What the JD emphasized

  • space-qualified hardware
  • space-flight quality standards
  • space programs
  • space components
  • space-grade requirements
  • space manufacturing