Lead Manufacturing Test Engineer, TFX

XYZ Venture Capital; Santa Ana (CA); On-site; USD 146,000 - 194,000; Full time

Job summary

Anduril Industries is seeking a Lead Manufacturing Test Engineer to build and guide a team delivering scalable, reliable test ecosystems for our defense products. You will own the roadmap for manufacturing test systems, blending software-driven test automation with complex electrical and mechanical integration.

The role emphasizes leadership, strategy, and hands-on mentorship while ensuring first-pass quality in high-volume production and readiness of test equipment across the line.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Electronics, Computer, Mechanical Engineering or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years in manufacturing test and product sustainment.
• 1+ years of leadership or cross-functional project management.
• Experience delivering electromechanical hardware in resource-constrained environments.
• Familiarity with Python and Linux.
• Experience with electronics test equipment (power supplies, loads, scopes, generators, sensors).
• Experience with test automation.
• Strong root cause analysis of non-conforming hardware.
• Able to obtain and maintain US Secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing team of MFG Test Engineers across electrical, software, and mechanical domains.
• Define the technical strategy and roadmap for all manufacturing test systems for prototype to full-rate production.
• Champion Design for Testability with cross-functional teams to build robust manufacturing testing.
• Oversee CAPEX budget for test tooling and equipment to meet production goals.
• Provide expert escalation support for complex software/firmware, electrical, and mechanical issues.
• Analyze test system data to monitor health and address inefficiencies.
• Lead RCCA investigations for production test failures with Design/Quality teams.
• Ensure readiness of test equipment via maintenance, calibration, and validation schedules.
• Drive cross-functional projects to stand up new test capabilities and integration into production flow.

Skills

Leadership

Python

Linux

Test automation

Root cause analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Electrical testing

MFG Test

Security clearance

DFT

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Electronics, Computer, Mechanical Engineering

Tools

LabVIEW

MATLAB

NixOS

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 TEAM

Tactical Effects is the team at Anduril dedicated to delivering decisive advantages to U.S. and Allied forces. To counter new threats from autonomous systems, our products like Bolt, Anvil, and Ghost are rapidly scaling in production to meet urgent customer demand.

ABOUT THE JOB

As the Lead Manufacturing Test Engineer for this division, you will be pivotal in enabling that scale. You will build and guide a team dedicated to creating the test ecosystem that guarantees the quality and reliability of these products. This is a leadership role focused on strategy, people, and process, where you will own the roadmap for our manufacturing test systems. Your work will directly ensure our cutting-edge technology reaches the field at volume and with first-time quality. This role requires a multidisciplinary mindset, blending deep expertise in software-driven test automation and complex electrical systems with a strong understanding of mechanical integration and fixtures. While you will remain hands‑on as a technical mentor and escalation point, your primary focus will be empowering your team to solve difficult testing problems and scale our production capabilities.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing team of MFG Test Engineers, instilling a culture of innovation, teamwork, and accountability. You will foster deep expertise across electrical, software, and mechanical test domains to support a diverse product portfolio.
• Define the technical strategy and roadmap for all manufacturing test systems, enabling the transition of products from prototype to full-rate production with speed, flexibility, and scalability.
• Champion Design for Testability (DFT) by working with cross-functional teams (Design, Quality, NPI) to drive best practices into the early design effort, ensuring new products are built for efficient and robust manufacturing testing.
• Oversee the execution of the CAPEX budget for test tooling and equipment, managing the procurement, delivery, and deployment of new or upgraded systems to meet production goals.
• Serve as the expert technical escalation point for your team, guiding them through real‑time problem‑solving involving complex software/firmware, electrical, and mechanical integration issues found on the test systems or production line.
• Own the analysis of test system data to monitor station health, identify performance trends (e.g., false failure rates, cycle time variations), and proactively address sources of inefficiency.
• Lead Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) investigations for production test failures, partnering with Design and Quality teams to analyze data and implement lasting solutions.
• Ensure the operational readiness of all test equipment by overseeing your team's maintenance, calibration, and validation schedules, guaranteeing precision and reliability.
• Drive cross‑functional projects to stand up new test capabilities, coordinating with Manufacturing, Design, and Quality to ensure seamless integration into the production flow.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Electronics, Computer, Mechanical Engineering, or related fields OR 10+ years of advanced knowledge acquired through work experience and/or intellectual instruction in lieu of degree.
• 8+ years of relevant industry experience with emphasis on manufacturing test and product sustainment.
• 1+ years of leadership or cross-functional project management experience
• Demonstrated ability to creatively deliver electromechanical hardware in a resource-constrained environment
• Familiarity with Python and Linux
• Familiarity with electronics test equipment such as power supplies, electronic loads, oscilloscope, function generators, spectrum analyzers, data acquisition and measurement sensors
• Experience with test automation.
• Strong root cause analysis skills of non-conforming hardware.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal and communication skills.
• Familiar with Product Life Cycle (PLM) systems, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), and Test Execution Systems (TES)
• Experience working on projects that involve the integration of electrical, mechanical, and software/firmware systems.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 10+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Pursuing a Master’s of Science in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science or related field.
• Experience with contract manufacturers in the testing of PCBA/electronic assemblies. Thorough knowledge of PCBA testing standards and methods.
• Familiarity with LabVIEW, and/or MATLAB for data parsing and data visualization.
• Familiarity with NixOS.
• Experience with PCBA design, and mechanical design.
• Experience with computer hardware communication protocols: USB, Ethernet, RS232, RS485, PCIe, HDMI, CAN, etc.
• Experience with ESS-related testing (Thermal, Vibration, etc.)
• Previously or currently Active Security Clearance

US Salary Range

$146,000 – $194,000 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.

Benefits

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.