Staff Program Manager, Product Operations

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century’s most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril’s family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.

ABOUT THE TEAM

Anduril’s Tactical Recon & Strike (TRS) is a division with two missions: 1) build highly capable autonomous drones, and 2) build solid rocket motors at scale. We transform products like Ghost, Anvil, Bolt, and Altius from early concepts into fully operational capabilities by partnering closely with specialist engineering, operations, and production teams. Through our Anduril Rocket Motor Systems (RMS) team, we design and manufacture solid rocket motors using advanced materials, proprietary formulations, and high-volume production methods—delivering safe, reliable propulsion systems that support a wide range of mission requirements.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking a Product Operations Program Manager to serve as a high-impact leader within the TRS division. This is not a traditional program management role. You will be a strategic problem-solver, deployed to tackle critical business challenges, mature products for high-rate production, and lead transformative internal initiatives.

The ideal candidate has a "Six Sigma Black Belt" mindset, capable of dissecting complex operational problems, using data to drive decisions, and implementing robust processes that enable scalability and efficiency. You will be the critical link between product development and full-scale production, ensuring our systems are not only designed for performance but also for manufacturability, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.Success in this position hinges on your ability to:

1. Execute with Precision: Dive deep into ambiguous and complex operational challenges, diagnose root causes, and drive solutions to completion.
2. Optimize and Mature: Lead the transition of products from development to production readiness, focusing on process optimization, operational excellence, continuous improvement, design for manufacturability (DFM), and supply chain stability.
3. Lead Transformation: Build and manage strategic initiatives, internal transformation efforts, or emergent opportunities that require dedicated, agile leadership to achieve specific, time-sensitive outcomes.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Strategic Problem Solving: Act as an internal strike team leader to identify, analyze, and resolve the most complex operational, manufacturing, and business process issues that impede product maturity and scalability.
• Product Maturation Leadership: Own the operational strategy for transitioning products from development to stable production. You will drive initiatives in operational excellence, Design for Manufacturability (DFM), process validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), and production readiness reviews.
• Process Excellence & Continuous Improvement: Implement and champion a culture of continuous improvement using methodologies like Lean Six Sigma and DMAIC. Drive initiatives to improve production efficiency, reduce cost of goods sold (COGS), and enhance overall product quality.
• Cross-Functional Initiative Management: Lead high-priority, cross-functional projects that span engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, quality, and finance. You will be responsible for defining project scope, building the plan, and ensuring outcomes are achieved on an accelerated timeline.
• Data-Driven Operations: Develop and implement key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to monitor process health, identify risks, and provide transparent status updates to executive leadership on project status, risks, and milestones.
• Risk Identification & Mitigation: Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate systemic risks—technical, operational, or logistical—that could impact our ability to scale production and meet customer demands.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in program management, operations, or manufacturing, preferably in defense, aerospace, automotive, or other complex hardware industries.
• Demonstrated expertise in process excellence and continuous improvement methodologies
• Proven track record of leading products through the maturation lifecycle, from low-rate initial production to full-rate, scalable manufacturing.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data to drive decision-making in ambiguous and fast-paced environments.
• Experience managing complex, multi-disciplinary projects and delivering them on-time and on-budget.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, supply chain management, quality systems, and production workflows.
• Outstanding communication and leadership abilities, with a proven ability to influence and align cross-functional teams and stakeholders at all levels.
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in a technical or business field.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification.
• Experience in a role focused on internal consulting, business transformation, or strategic operations.
• Experience launching new factories or production lines.

US Salary Range

$165,000—$218,000 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including: 

Healthcare Benefits 

• US Roles: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans at little to no cost to you. 
• UK & AUS Roles: We cover full cost of medical insurance premiums for you and your dependents. 
• IE Roles: We offer an annual contribution toward your private health insurance for you and your dependents.

 

Additional Benefits 

• Income Protection: Anduril covers life and disability insurance for all employees. 
• Generous time off: Highly competitive PTO plans with a holiday hiatus in December. Caregiver & Wellness Leave is available to care for family members, bond with a new baby, or address your own medical needs. 
• Family Planning & Parenting Support: Coverage for fertility treatments (e.g., IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carriers, along with resources to support you and your partner from planning to parenting. 
• Mental Health Resources: Access free mental health resources 24/7, including therapy and life coaching. Additional work-life services, such as legal and financial support, are also available. 
• Professional Development: Annual reimbursement for professional development 
• Commuter Benefits: Company-funded commuter benefits based on your region. 
• Relocation Assistance: Available depending on role eligibility.

 

Retirement Savings Plan 

• US Roles: Traditional 401(k), Roth, and after-tax (mega backdoor Roth) options. 
• UK & IE Roles: Pension plan with employer match. 
• AUS Roles: Superannuation plan.

 

The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process. 

Protecting Yourself from Recruitment Scams

Anduril is committed to maintaining the integrity of our Talent acquisition process and the security of our candidates. We've observed a rise in sophisticated phishing and fraudulent schemes where individuals impersonate Anduril representatives, luring job seekers with false interviews or job offers. These scammers often attempt to extract payment or sensitive personal information.

To ensure your safety and help you navigate your job search with confidence, please keep the following critical points in mind:

• No Financial Requests: Anduril will never solicit payment or demand personal financial details (such as banking information, credit card numbers, or social security numbers) at any stage of our hiring process. Our legitimate recruitment is entirely free for candidates.

• Please always verify communications:

  • Direct from Anduril: If you receive an email from one of our recruiters, it will only come from an @anduril.com address.
  • Via Agency Partner: If contacted by a recruiting agency for an Anduril role, their email will clearly identify their agency. If you suspect any suspicious activity, please verify the agency's authenticity by reaching out to contact@anduril.com.

   

• Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Outreach: If you receive any communication that appears suspicious, contains grammatical errors, or makes unusual requests, do not engage. Always confirm the sender's email domain is @anduril.com before providing any personal information or clicking on links.

• What to Do If You Suspect Fraud: Should you encounter any questionable or fraudulent outreach claiming to be from Anduril, please report it immediately to contact@anduril.com. Your proactive caution is invaluable in protecting your personal information and upholding the security and trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts.

Data Privacy

To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/.