Staff Production Program Manager

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

This role is for a Staff Production Program Manager at Anduril Industries, a defense technology company. The role focuses on overseeing the manufacturing and production lifecycle of advanced defense technologies, working cross-functionally with engineering, supply chain, and operations teams. Key responsibilities include process optimization, budget control, stakeholder communication, resource management, new product introduction, risk management, and cross-functional collaboration. The ideal candidate has 8+ years of experience in operations program management, production, or manufacturing, preferably in defense or complex hardware industries, with a strong understanding of manufacturing processes and project management methodologies.

What you'd actually do

  1. Process Optimization – Drive continuous improvement initiatives aligned with our COGs objectives to enhance production efficiency, scalability, and cost effectiveness
  2. Budget & Cost Control – Monitor project budgets, track progress and ensure we are continually focused on solving the largest problems to improve the bottom line
  3. Stakeholder Communication – Provide regular updates to internal teams and leadership, ensuring transparency on project status, risks, and solutions
  4. Resource Management – Ensure appropriate allocation of materials, labor and equipment to meet production goals
  5. New Product Information (NPI) – Be productions point of contact for all changes to existing product as well as new products in our pipeline
  6. Risk Management – Identify, assess , and mitigate potential risks and roadblocks that couple impact project timelines or operational objectives
  7. Cross Functional Collaboration – Coordinate between commercial, engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, quality and leadership teams to align production efforts with business objectives

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

  • 8+ years of experience in operations program management, production, manufacturing, preferably in defense, aerospace, or complex hardware industries
  • Experience launching new products with condensed timelines
  • Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. security clearance