Senior Manager, Emerging Talent Programs

Anduril Industries; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 183,000 - 243,000; Full time

Job summary

Anduril Industries is seeking a leader to head our Emerging Talent Program Management team in the United States. This strategic role focuses on building and sustaining a world-class pipeline of interns, new grads, and veterans, aligning programs with our mission while driving measurable outcomes.

You will empower program managers, translate strategy into scalable execution, and own performance metrics across all emerging talent initiatives.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in talent acquisition, HR, or program management with 4+ years leading teams.
• Proven ability to design and scale emerging talent programs in fast-moving settings.
• Strong operations sense, with metrics driven decision making.
• Excellent stakeholder management with senior leadership and cross-functional partners.
• Experience managing program budgets and resources for impact.
• Strategic thinker who translates vision into actionable plans.
• Comfort in ambiguous, high-growth environments.
• Passion for attracting and developing top technical talent.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of program managers handling intern, new grad, veteran, and events initiatives.
• Translate strategy into scalable, high-quality program execution.
• Oversee planning, design, and delivery of all emerging talent programs.
• Own metrics for candidate conversion, retention, and hiring manager satisfaction.
• Foster cross-functional partnerships with Recruiting, Engineering, HR, Finance, and Legal.
• Oversee budgets and resource allocation to maximize ROI.
• Drive continuous improvement using program data to close gaps and scale best practices.
• Ensure program impact reflects Anduril's mission and values.

Skills

Team leadership

Program management

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Budget management

Strategic thinking

Ambiguity handling

Talent development

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

HRIS systems

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.