Director of Manufacturing Operations

Anduril; Ashville (OH); On-site; USD 190,000 - 252,000; Full time

Job summary

Anduril is seeking a Director of Manufacturing Operations for its Air Dominance & Strike division, based at Arsenal-01, Columbus, OH. You will lead managers, supervisors, and technicians across prototypes to full-rate production of Fury, Barracuda, and Roadrunner.

Ideal candidates combine technical acumen with strong people leadership, aiming to scale innovative products while aligning resources with strategic goals. Relentless focus on safety, quality, and on-time delivery is essential.

Qualifications

• 6+ years in manufacturing and production operations management.
• 3+ years as a supervisor or production ops leader at director level or above.
• 3+ years of experience managing managers.
• Experience leading 100+ operator/technician workforce.
• Experience partnering with designers and engineers.
• Strong understanding of product life cycle, Lean, and change management.
• Excellent verbal and written communication; organized and reliable.
• Passion for developing employees and coaching staff.
• Eligible for US Secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Deliver outcomes for the AD&S Production organization.
• Create a clear vision for Manufacturing Operations.
• Support and strengthen the AD&S Production vision with leadership.
• Manage projects portfolio to achieve the vision.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering, Design, Planning, Quality, and Supply Chain.
• Deliver quality products on time and at target cost.
• Own production programs and culture on the floor.
• Communicate effectively with senior leadership and customers.
• Lead with urgency, ownership, and enthusiasm daily.

Skills

Manufacturing leadership

Operations management

LEAN manufacturing

People development

Cross-functional collaboration

Budget & cost control

Communication

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s in a technical field

Job description

Director of Manufacturing Operations, AD&S

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 ROLE

We’re hiring a Director of Manufacturing Operations to oversee all production within our Air Dominance & Strike division, from rapidly maturing prototypes through full-rate production at scale. In this role, you will be responsible for managing a team of highly talented managers, line supervisors, and technicians who manufacture both our current key autonomous products, Fury, Barracuda, and Roadrunner, and our emerging capabilities. This is a highly dynamic role that requires both technical and frontline people management skills. This role is at the forefront of delivering exceptional customer experiences, fostering team development, and overseeing operations at Arsenal-01 and HQ. As a Director in the Air Dominance & Strike Production organization, you must be a technical leader with the expertise to evaluate, qualify, manage, and advocate for an increasing number of sophisticated parallel pursuits. This role is crucial in ensuring that both manufacturing sites and operations align with the division's strategic direction and receives the appropriate resourcing, in addition to balancing innovation with practical execution to drive the business line's manufacturing operational success. Success in this role demands consistent achievement across hardware production, team management, manufacturing operations, and financial goals. The ideal candidate combines technical acumen with effective communication, strong time-management skills, and a passion for leading transformative change. The ideal candidate should be energetic, highly organized, and deeply committed to scaling innovative products. While individual contributions are valued, teamwork is crucial for achieving the highest level of success while maintaining our Anduril culture above all. Please note: This role will be based at Arsenal-01 in Columbus, OH. A successful candidate will be expected to work out of Columbus, OH. Based on eligibility, relocation assistance may be available. There will likely be 25% - 50% travel required for the role.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• deliver outcomes for the Air Dominance & Strike Production organization
• Create a clear vision for Manufacturing Operations
• You are a key leader in supporting and strengthening the vision of AD&S Production
• Manage the portfolio of projects necessary to achieve your vision for Manufacturing Operations
• Collaborate successfully with leaders across our production organization
• Leaders include Manufacturing Engineering, Design Engineering, Planning, Quality, and Supply Chain
• Deliver quality products, on-time and at cost
• Own attainment for both current and emerging programs
• Own the culture on the floor
• Be a stakeholder in all programs, policies, etc. that affect life on the floor
• Maximize for what’s right both for Anduril’s future and maintaining a strong team culture
• Coach, mentor and support Manufacturing Operations Managers and Production Supervisors
• Create and maintain a high bar for excellence
• Clearly communicate up and out
• Provide consistent and high-quality briefs both up, to Anduril Senior Leadership, and out, to AD&S Customers
• show up every day with a high level of urgency, ownership, and enthusiasm to get the job done

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 6+ years experience managing manufacturing and production operations
• 3+ years in a supervisor or production operations management role at the Director level or above
• 3+ years of experience as a manager of managers
• Experience managing operator / technician workforce of 100+ within direct organization
• Experience working directly and communicating with designers and engineers
• A full understanding of the product life cycle (NPI to scaled production), LEAN manufacturing principles, and change management
• Extremely reliable, organized, and detail-oriented with excellent verbal & written communication skills
• You have a passion for employee development and enjoy the process of training and developing both new hires and veteran production staff
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor or Master’s degree in a technical field (engineering, business, or applied science)
• Working knowledge of AS9100 standards and OSHA laws

US Salary Range

$190,000 - $252,000 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:

At Anduril, we invest in our people. Our comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you’re supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next. For more information, Explore Our Benefits .