Staff Production Program Manager, Barracuda

Anduril; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 166,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Anduril Industries is seeking a Staff Production Program Manager for the Barracuda program to oversee manufacturing and production lifecycle. You will work cross functionally with engineering, supply chain, operations, quality, and leadership to ensure on-time, within-scope, and on-budget program delivery.

The role requires strong manufacturing process knowledge, 12+ years in defense/hardware, and the ability to manage budgets and risks, with up to 25% travel. US security clearance is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management or related field.
• 12+ years in operations program management, production, manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and supply chain.
• Experience launching products with tight schedules.

Responsibilities

• Process Optimization– Drive continuous improvement for production efficiency and cost.
• Budget & Cost Control– Monitor budgets and ensure on-time delivery.
• Stakeholder Communication– Provide regular status updates to leadership.
• Resource Management– Allocate materials, labor and equipment.
• Risk Management– Identify and mitigate project risks and roadblocks.
• Cross Functional Collaboration– Align teams toward pre-production and transition goals.

Skills

Leadership

Problem-solving

Communication

Organizational

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Operations Management

Tools

Jira

Confluence

MS Project

Gantt Charts

Job description

Staff Production Program Manager, Barracuda

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.

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

As Production Program Manager for Barracuda, you will report to the Head of Production in overseeing the manufacturing and production lifecycle. You will work cross functionally with engineering, supply chain, operations, quality, program management, growth, and leadership teams to ensure the successful execution of production programs. Your role is critical in driving efficiency, managing schedules, mitigating risks, and ensuring that projects are delivered on time, within scope, and on a budget. If you possess a good foundation for manufacturing operational excellence coupled with determination/grit, join us in shaping the future of military might. Your work will not only translate prototypes for scalable production but also change the balance of defense capabilities on a global scale.

Please note: There will likely be up 25% travel required for this role.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Process Optimization– Drive continuous improvement initiatives aligned with our COGs objectives to enhance production efficiency, scalability, and cost effectiveness during the development and pre-production phase.
• Budget & Cost Control– Monitor project budgets, track progress and ensure we are continually focused on identifying and solving issues to enable a successful transition to full scale production.
• Stakeholder Communication– Provide regular updates to internal teams and leadership, ensuring transparency on project status, risks, and solutions.
• Resource Management– Ensure appropriate allocation of materials, labor and equipment to meet production readiness goals.
• Risk Management– Identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks and roadblocks that could impact project timelines or operational readiness.
• Cross Functional Collaboration– Coordinate between engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, program management, growth, quality and leadership teams to align pre-production efforts with business objectives leading up to program transition to full scale production.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Operations Management or related field
• 12+ years of experience in operations program management, production, manufacturing, preferably in defense, aerospace, or complex hardware industries
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, supply chain management, and production workflows
• Experience launching new products with condensed timelines
• Experience with project management methodologies (Agile, Lean, TPS, Six Sigma, etc.)
• Proficiency in project management tools (Jira, Confluence, MS Project, Gantt Charts)
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and organizational skills
• Strong communication and leadership abilities to influence and align cross functional teams
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with evolving priorities
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in defense, aerospace, or automotive manufacturing
• Experience with ERP, MRP, MES, PLM systems

US Salary Range

$166,000 - $220,000 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 .