Director of Production, Optics

Anduril Industries, Inc.; Waltham (MA); On-site; USD 220,000 - 292,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity grants

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Anduril Industries in Massachusetts is seeking a Director of Production, Optics to own production outcomes for optics manufacturing within the Imaging Business Line. You will lead a team of technicians and production staff, drive on-time delivery, quality, cost, and continuous improvement across optical assemblies for defense systems.

The role blends frontline technical leadership with people management, requiring strategic planning, cross-functional collaboration with Supply Chain, Quality, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering or related field.
• 8+ years in optical or complex electro-mechanical production, with 3+ years in a senior production leadership.
• Proven experience standing up, scaling and managing production of optical assemblies, precision hardware, or imaging systems — defense, aerospace, or adjacent industries strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of optical assembly processes, clean room manufacturing environments, and optical test and inspection methods.
• Proven expertise with ERP, MRP, and MES systems, coupled with a strong understanding of Lean manufacturing, NPI, and change management (ECOs).
• Ability to interpret complex technical documentation (drawings, schematics, work instructions) and troubleshoot processes and equipment.
• Demonstrated success in employee development, coaching, and mentorship.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, highly organized, and detail-oriented.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Own all production outcomes for the Optics Production across Imaging product lines, including ramp plans, headcount, and the standing up of new manufacturing lines.
• Develop and execute a long-term strategy to rapidly scale production volumes to full-rate production.
• Lead cross-functional teams (including Production, Supply Chain, Quality, and Manufacturing Engineering) through strong leadership, advocacy, and a consistent on-site presence.
• Drive processes and systems needed throughout the product development lifecycle to mature products to full-rate production.
• Establish and manage the team to KPIs for financial, quality, and on-time delivery to optimize manufacturing operations.
• Oversee the production of optical product lines, managing a team of technicians and production staff to ensure efficient assembly, test, and delivery of imaging and optical hardware.
• Drive daily and weekly production execution across optical assembly lines and the supporting supply base, owning all production outcomes across delivery, cost, and quality targets.
• Own visibility and flow across the end-to-end value stream from supplier material deliveries through internal optical assembly, test, and shipment.
• Advise on development and oversee the implementation of digital technologies (PLM, ERP, MES, QMS) to scale operations.
• Champion quality and safety across clean room and optical environments.
• Lead 5S, Lean manufacturing, and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and throughput.
• Provide regular updates to senior leadership on production status, risks, and resource needs.

Skills

Production leadership

Lean manufacturing

ERP/MRP/MES

Cross-functional leadership

Process improvement

Quality & safety

Team management

Communication

Security clearance eligibility

Education

Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering or related field

Tools

ERP/MRP/MES systems

Job description

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 JOB

The Director of Production, Optics will own all production outcomes for Optics production for the Imaging Business Line. the production organization responsible for building and delivering precision optical assemblies for advanced defense systems. This role requires both frontline technical leadership and strong people management — you will be responsible for the team, the output, and the operational health of the optical production value stream. Success demands consistent achievement across team development, on-time delivery, quality, cost, and continuous improvement, ensuring execution of mission-critical optical products.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Production Ownership & Strategy: Own all production outcomes for the Optics Production across Imaging product lines, including ramp plans, headcount, and the standing up of new manufacturing lines. Develop and execute a long-term strategy to rapidly scale production volumes to full-rate production.
• Leadership & Team Management: Serve as a strategic leader and tactical do-er, driving all people and resources across production to achieve outcomes. Lead cross-functional teams (including Production, Supply Chain, Quality, and Manufacturing Engineering) through strong leadership, advocacy, and a consistent on-site presence, holding them accountable to meeting demands, deadlines, and goals.
• Operational Excellence: Drive processes and systems needed throughout the product development lifecycle to mature products to full-rate production. Establish and manage the team to key performance indicators (KPIs) for financial, quality, and on-time delivery to optimize manufacturing operations' impact on the business.
• Own Production Operations: Oversee the production of optical product lines, managing a team of technicians and production staff to ensure efficient assembly, test, and delivery of imaging and optical hardware. Drive daily and weekly production execution across optical assembly lines and the supporting supply base, ultimately owning all production outcomes across delivery, cost, and quality targets in the Operating plan.
• Value Stream Management: Own visibility and flow across the end-to-end value stream — from supplier material deliveries through internal optical assembly, test, and shipment. Identify bottlenecks, drive root-cause resolution, and implement process improvements to increase throughput and reduce cycle time.
• Process & Technology Advancement: Advise on development and oversee the implementation of digital technologies, from PLM and ERP to our custom MES and QMS systems, that enable our production operations to efficiently scale while meeting customer requirements. Shape corporate tools and processes to support the unique needs of aerospace production.
• Champion Quality & Safety: Ensure quality and safety standards are followed across clean room and optical assembly environments, minimizing defects and fostering a safe working environment.
• Drive Continuous Improvement: Lead 5S, Lean manufacturing, and other continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, optimize workflows, and scale production capacity.
• Strategic Communication: Provide regular updates to senior leadership on production status, risks, and resource needs. Facilitate cross-functional collaboration with engineering, supply chain, quality, and program management.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in optical or complex electro-mechanical production, with 3+ years in a senior production leadership.
• Demonstrated experience standing up, scaling and managing production of optical assemblies, precision hardware, or imaging systems — defense, aerospace, or adjacent industries strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of optical assembly processes, clean room manufacturing environments, and optical test and inspection methods.
• Proven expertise with ERP, MRP, and MES systems, coupled with a strong understanding of Lean manufacturing, NPI, and change management (ECOs).
• Ability to interpret complex technical documentation (drawings, schematics, work instructions) and troubleshoot processes and equipment.
• Demonstrated success in employee development, coaching, and mentorship.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, highly organized, and detail-oriented.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance.

US Salary Range

$220,000 - $292,000 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 .

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Anduril Industries’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.