Manufacturing Engineering Manager, Roadrunner

Anduril-1; Ashville (OH); On-site; USD 126,000 - 167,000; Full time

Job summary

Anduril Industries is seeking a Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead the Roadrunner program at Arsenal-1 in Ashville, OH. You will drive process improvements, scale production, and own manufacturing documentation for hardware at scale.

The role requires relocating to Costa Mesa for a 3-month training program with housing and transportation provided during the stay. A Bachelor’s degree in engineering and 5-7 years in manufacturing engineering (3+ in management) are expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, Industrial Engineering or related field.
• 5-7 years in manufacturing engineering with at least 3 years in a managerial role.
• Experience developing products from scratch and scaling to production in leading timeframes.
• Proven track record leading teams and cradle-to-grave ownership.
• Excellent project management and cross-functional leadership.

Responsibilities

• Direct and develop the manufacturing engineering team for the Roadrunner program and scale production lines.
• Set strategic technical direction, drive continuous process improvement.
• Develop production capabilities and incorporate new technologies.
• Own documentation for manufacturing hardware at scale (work instructions, inspection plans, requirements).
• Collaborate with product development to ensure manufacturability of new designs and smooth transition to production.
• Assist in selecting, installing, and commissioning new manufacturing equipment and processes.
• Drive cost reduction, quality, and throughput improvements.
• Manage budgets and forecast manufacturing needs.
• Establish training and documentation programs to enhance team skills.
• Foster a culture of innovation, teamwork, and accountability.
• Serve as technical expert for manufacturing engineering issues.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams for product launches.
• Liaise with vendors and suppliers for timely delivery and quality.
• Analyze production metrics to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Communication

Decision making

Attention to detail

Learning mindset

Manufacturing systems

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

MES

ERP

Job description

Manufacturing Engineering Manager, Roadrunner

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 SITE
Anduril, a leader in autonomous systems and weapons manufacturing, is building Arsenal-1 , its first hyperscale manufacturing facility, just south of Columbus, Ohio in Pickaway County. Arsenal-1 is redefining the scale and speed that autonomous systems and weapons can be produced for the United States and its allies and partners. This is a monumental and essential step toward rebuilding America’s defense industrial base, strengthening America’s warfighting capabilities, and enhancing deterrence amid rising international threats.
ABOUT THE PRODUCT
The future of defense is being built right now, and Anduril’sRoadrunner product is at its leading edge. Roadrunner is a cutting-edge VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) counter-UAS interceptor, designed for autonomous air defense operations. It rapidly detects, tracks, and neutralizes hostile unmanned aircraft systems to protect critical assets and personnel.

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Roadrunner Team (RLT) will set the standard for building the future at Arsenal-1 , our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Ashville, OH. This team will have the opportunity to train under our world-class manufacturing team at Anduril HQ in Costa Mesa, CA for 3 months before bringing that standard of excellence back to Ohio.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Manager of Manufacturing Engineering, you will be responsible for leading and managing a manufacturing engineering team over a subset of Anduril’s products to drive process improvements, ensure the highest quality of production, and support the development and implementation of new products and processes. You will play a crucial role in optimizing manufacturing processes, reducing costs, and increasing efficiencies on existing technologies while also developing new products and scaling to full scale production.
This role requires candidates to relocate to Costa Mesa for a 3-month training program. Housing, transportation, etc. will be provided during your stay.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Direct and develop the manufacturing engineering team dedicated to the Roadrunner program. Oversee the complete industrialization process, from initial prototyping and design validation to establishing and scaling large-volume production lines
• Responsible for setting strategic technical direction, driving continuous process improvement, evaluating team and project performance, and ensuring the highest standards of manufacturing efficiency and quality
• Develop and execute strategic plans for production capabilities, incorporating new technologies and methodologies.
• Own documentation required for successfully manufacturing product group hardware at scale, such as work instructions, inspection plans & requirements, etc.
• Collaborate with product development teams to ensure manufacturability of new designs and smooth transition from prototype to production
• Assist in the selection, installation, and commissioning of new manufacturing equipment and processes, ensuring optimal integration into production lines
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that result in cost reduction, quality enhancement, and throughput maximization
• Manage budgets and forecast future manufacturing needs, including personnel, equipment, and materials
• Establish and maintain robust training and documentation programs to enhance team skills and promote cross-functional knowledge sharing
• Foster a culture of innovation, teamwork, and accountability within the manufacturing engineering department
• Serve as the technical expert and point of contact for manufacturing engineering issues, providing guidance and support to resolve complex problems
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure successful product launches, from initial design through to full-scale production
• Liaise with vendors and suppliers to ensure the timely delivery of equipment and materials and maintain quality standards
• Analyze production metrics and performance data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement
• Ensure compliance with all safety, quality, and regulatory requirements within the manufacturing process

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in manufacturing engineering, with at least 3 years in a managerial role
• Experience developing products from scratch and successfully scaling to production in industry leading timeframes
• Proven track record of leading teams, developing new products and processes, and cradle to grave ownership
• Experience driving process improvements in a manufacturing setting
• An attitude of world-class mission assurance, quality, attention to detail, and dedication
• A genuine interest in manufacturing and thirst for learning
• Excellent project management skills and experience leading cross-functional projects
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively at all levels of the organization
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
• Ability to generate and manage metrics and dashboards
• Technical expertise in manufacturing systems (MES, ERP, etc.)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Exposure to aircraft programs or other relevant aerospace & defense technologies
• Software scripting experience in any language
• Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher) or equivalent experience
• Familiarity with J-STD-001, IPC-A-610, and IPC/WHMA-A-620 or equivalent standards
• Proficient in CAD software and familiar with modern manufacturing technologies and automation
• Personal experience physically manufacturing hardware via any means (machining, fabrication, soldering, assembly, etc.). Work on personal or extracurricular projects is a plus
• Masters degree in engineering, business, or related field

US Salary Range

$126,000 - $167,000 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 .