Senior Manager, Emerging Talent Programs

Anduril Industries; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 183,000 - 243,000; Full time

Job summary

Anduril Industries in Costa Mesa, CA is seeking a senior leader to head the Emerging Talent Program Managers, shaping strategies for interns, new grads, veterans, and events, and aligning with our mission in defense technology.

You will coach a high-performing team, drive scalable program execution, monitor metrics, manage budgets, and partner across Recruiting, Engineering, HR, Finance and Legal to recruit world-class talent.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive leadership in talent acquisition, HR, or program management with 4+ years leading teams.
• Proven ability to design, implement, and scale emerging talent programs in fast-moving environments.
• Strong data analysis skills and experience driving decisions with metrics.
• Excellent stakeholder management with senior leadership and cross-functional partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing team overseeing interns, new grads, veterans, and events.
• Translate strategy into scalable program execution with clear priorities and standards.
• Oversee design and delivery of all emerging talent programs and candidate experience.
• Own metrics for conversion, retention, and hiring manager satisfaction with robust reporting.
• Collaborate with Recruiting, Engineering, HR, Finance and Legal to align resources and goals.
• Manage budgets and optimize resource allocation to maximize impact while ensuring quality.

Skills

Leadership

Team development

Data-driven decision making

Stakeholder management

Budget management

Strategic thinking

Ambiguity management

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business

Master's degree preferred

Tools

HRIS systems

Talent acquisition tech

Job description

ABOUT THE JOB

Anduril is experiencing hyper-growth, and the demand for exceptional engineering, software, and hardware talent is critical to our success. This strategic role is paramount to building and sustaining & retaining a world-class pipeline of early career professionals who are passionate about our mission. As the leader of our Emerging Talent Program Managers, you will be instrumental in defining, architecting, and executing Anduril's emerging talent strategy, positioning us as the employer of choice for the brightest minds ready to tackle the toughest challenges in defense technology. Your ability to empower your team will directly ensure that our Intern, New Grad, and Veteran programs consistently deliver high-quality, impactful experiences that convert and retain top talent.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Lead & Develop a High-Performing Team: Provide exceptional leadership, coaching, and mentorship to a team of Program Managers overseeing Anduril’s Intern, New Grad, Veteran, and Events initiatives. Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and professional growth within the team.
• Drive Strategic Program Execution: Translate high-level emerging talent strategy into consistent, high-quality, and scalable execution across all programs. Set clear priorities, establish robust operating rhythms, and define delivery standards to ensure programs consistently meet and exceed objectives.
• Oversee Program Management Excellence: Ensure the seamless planning, design, and delivery of all emerging talent programs, from university engagement and event strategy to candidate experience, onboarding, and development. Maintain program integrity, consistency, and alignment with Anduril’s values and mission.
• Establish & Monitor Performance Metrics: Own accountability for key program outcomes, including year-over-year improvements in candidate conversion, program participant retention, and hiring manager satisfaction. Develop and implement robust reporting frameworks to track performance, identify trends, and drive data-informed decisions across all emerging talent initiatives.
• Cultivate Cross-Functional Partnerships: Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with critical internal stakeholders, including Recruiting, Engineering leadership, HR Business Partners, Finance, and Legal. Partner effectively to secure necessary resources, align program goals with business needs, and ensure widespread support and buy-in for emerging talent initiatives.
• Optimize Budget & Resource Allocation: Oversee program budgets, working closely with Program Managers and Finance to ensure responsible allocation of resources, maximize ROI, and identify opportunities for cost efficiency without compromising program quality.
• Champion Continuous Improvement: Utilize comprehensive program data (e.g., conversion rates, satisfaction scores, retention data, cost-per-hire) to conduct in-depth analysis. Identify program gaps, scale successful initiatives, eliminate ineffective practices, and continuously iterate to enhance program design and delivery.
• Elevate Program Impact & Reputation: Work with Program Managers to ensure that Intern, New Grad, and Veteran experiences are consistently high-quality, impactful, and reflective of Anduril's innovative culture. Drive strategies that build trust with hiring managers, fostering active participation and advocacy for the programs.
• Strategic Event Oversight: Provide strategic guidance and oversight to the Program Manager responsible for event strategy, ensuring that all emerging talent events effectively attract, engage, and convert top technical talent, aligning with the broader university relations and talent acquisition goals.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 8+ years of progressive leadership experience in talent acquisition, HR, or program management, with at least 4+ years directly managing high-performing teams responsible for early career or emerging talent programs (Intern, New Grad, Veteran programs).
• Demonstrated expertise in building, coaching, and developing Program Managers or senior individual contributors to achieve strategic objectives.
• Proven track record of designing, implementing, and scaling complex emerging talent programs in a fast-moving, technical, or defense/aerospace environment.
• Strong operational acumen with the ability to set priorities, define operating rhythms, and ensure high-quality execution at scale.
• Exceptional data analysis and interpretation skills, with experience using metrics (conversion, retention, satisfaction, cost, throughput) to drive strategic decisions and continuous improvement.
• Superior stakeholder management and influencing skills, capable of building trust and collaboration with senior leadership, engineering managers, and cross-functional partners.
• Experience managing program budgets and optimizing resource allocation to achieve maximum impact.
• A strategic mindset, capable of identifying gaps, proactively solving problems, and translating high-level vision into actionable plans for your team.
• Comfort operating in ambiguous environments, adapting to change, and leading through periods of hyper-growth.
• Deep passion for Anduril's mission and a commitment to attracting and developing world-class technical talent
• Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export controlled information or facilities

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
• Experience with talent acquisition technologies and HRIS systems relevant to program management.
• Prior experience working within or closely with the defense, aerospace, or national security sectors.

US Salary Range

$183,000—$243,000 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:

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.