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Anduril Industries is a defense technology company transforming U.S. and allied military capabilities through advanced technology, AI, autonomy, and sensor fusion. The Tactical Effects division delivers products like Bolt, Anvil, and Ghost to counter autonomous threats, scaling rapidly to meet urgent customer demand.
As Lead Manufacturing Engineer for Design Integration, you will serve as the critical bridge between initial design and full-rate production. This is a "player-coach" role combining individual technical leadership with team management. You will architect the New Product Introduction (NPI) process for the Tactical Effects division, ensuring manufacturability, scalability, and quality are embedded from concept through production handover.
Key responsibilities include:
- Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing team of Manufacturing Engineers, establishing NPI excellence standards across Anduril
- Architect and own the NPI playbook for Tactical Effects, creating standardized processes, phase gates, and checklists governing design-to-production transition
- Act as primary manufacturing partner to Design Engineering from earliest concept, providing Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) feedback to influence product architecture, part design, and material selection
- Serve as key liaison between upstream design teams and downstream product line Manufacturing Leads (Bolt, Anvil, Ghost), ensuring alignment for smooth production handover
- Lead technical transition of new products from prototype builds to rate production, overseeing build readiness reviews, initial line design, tooling preparation, and capacity analysis
- Drive early-stage manufacturing decisions including Make vs. Buy analysis, supplier selection, and tooling/fixture strategy
- Own creation and validation of initial manufacturing bill of materials (MBOM) and preliminary work instructions
- Analyze design changes for manufacturing impact, providing rapid feedback on cost, schedule, and quality implications
- Champion data-driven NPI approach by establishing key metrics to track product launch success and identify process improvements
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing Engineering, or related technical field
- 4+ years of experience in manufacturing environment with strong focus on New Product Introduction (NPI), manufacturing engineering, or design engineering
- 1+ years of demonstrated leadership experience (direct people management or cross-functional technical lead)
- Expert-level knowledge of Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles
- Proficiency in 3D CAD software (Siemens NX, SolidWorks, CATIA) for design review and interrogation
- Broad knowledge of manufacturing processes including CNC machining, sheet metal, composites, PCBA fabrication, and complex system assembly
- Proven ability to lead projects and influence cross-functional teams (Design, Supply Chain, Quality) in fast-paced environment
- Must be eligible to obtain and maintain U.S. Secret security clearance
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master's degree in engineering discipline or MBA
- Direct experience building NPI process or DFM program from ground up
- Experience in aerospace, defense, or automotive industries
- Experience with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems (Teamcenter) and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)
- Experience transitioning products to both internal production lines and external contract manufacturers
- Previously held or currently active U.S. Security Clearance
