Industrial Engineer, Production Controls & Simulation

Anduril; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm is seeking an Industrial Engineer to join the Production Control team in Costa Mesa, California. You will develop and maintain simulation models for production planning, automate workflows through scripting, and collaborate with manufacturing teams to optimize processes. Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor's in Industrial Engineering, at least two years of relevant experience, and strong analytical skills. The role requires proficiency in Python and a foundational knowledge of discrete event simulation platforms.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2+ years of experience in simulation modeling or industrial engineering.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to work with manufacturing teams.
• Willingness to integrate new technology and automate workflows.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain discrete event simulation models.
• Write scripts to automate production control tasks.
• Provide data-driven analysis for capital investments.

Skills

Simulation modeling

Production planning

Operations Research

Data analysis

Scripting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering or related field

Tools

Python

Excel

Discrete event simulation platforms

Job description

ABOUT THE JOB

As an Industrial Engineer on the Production Control team, you will develop and maintain discrete event simulation models and critical chain schedules that drive production planning for Anduril's advanced AI factory. You will use simulation and modeling tools to visualize production systems, identify bottlenecks, and optimize resource allocation—translating analytical insights into actionable production control decisions. You will also integrate technology into daily workflows by writing scripts and building automated processes that increase the team's throughput and decision speed. This is a hands-on role for someone with strong Operations Research fundamentals who is eager to apply simulation, optimization, and scripting to real manufacturing problems at scale.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Develop and maintain discrete event simulation (DES) models of maritime manufacturing processes to support production planning and facility layout decisions
• Build and operate critical chain project management models to drive production scheduling and resource leveling
• Write scripts and build technology-driven workflows to automate production control tasks and streamline planning processes
• Collaborate with manufacturing technology teams to validate simulation assumptions against physical reality and implement process improvements
• Provide data-driven analysis to support capital equipment investments, make-vs-buy decisions, and capacity planning
• Create visualizations and reports that enable cross-functional teams (design, ops, finance, leadership) to understand factory behavior and make informed decisions
• Identify production bottlenecks, resource conflicts, and capacity constraints before they become expensive problems

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Operations Research, Manufacturing Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related technical field
• 2+ years of experience in simulation modeling, production planning, or industrial engineering
• Foundational knowledge of discrete event simulation concepts and at least one DES platform (FlexSim, Simio, AnyLogic, Arena, or equivalent)
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights
• Willingness to integrate new technology into workflows — writing scripts, automating processes, and adopting tools that accelerate the team
• Proficiency in data analysis and visualization tools (Python, Excel, or similar)
• Ability to work directly with manufacturing teams to implement process improvements based on simulation and analytical results
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree or coursework emphasis in Operations Research, simulation, or optimization
• Experience with critical chain project management concepts or tools (Aurora from Stottler Henke, ProChain, or similar)
• Experience scripting or building automated workflows to support production planning or engineering processes
• Familiarity with manufacturing environments—shipyard, aerospace, defense, or advanced manufacturing
• Programming skills in Python for custom analysis, automation, and integration
• Knowledge of Lean manufacturing, Theory of Constraints, or Six Sigma methodologies
• Experience with digital twin concepts or integration of simulation with production systems (MES/ERP)
• Internship or project experience in factory layout, capacity planning, or production scheduling