Senior Manager, Development Testing (Drones)

ABOUT THE JOB

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Manager, Development Testing (Drones) to lead all aspects of development test for Anduril’s drone programs. This critical leadership role encompasses managing personnel, projects, and advanced testing equipment to conduct comprehensive development, verification, and qualification testing of our drone platforms and subsystems. The Manager will be instrumental in defining testing strategies, ensuring compliance with aerospace and defense standards, mitigating risks, and upholding the highest standards of safety, reliability, and airworthiness throughout the product lifecycle.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Provide technical leadership and strategic oversight for the planning and execution of structural, dynamic, and environmental testing on drones.
• Direct and empower your team to lead complex test campaigns, including defining scope, allocating resources, approving test plans, overseeing test operations, facilitating data review, and guiding test equipment design/fabrication.
• Plan and schedule short- and long-term testing projects, ensuring efficient resource allocation, and risk capture aligned with product development milestones.
• Conduct final review and approval of all test documentation and reports, ensuring accuracy, integrity, and compliance with internal, client, and regulatory expectations.
• Provide technical guidance, conduct performance evaluations, and implement strategies for continuous improvement in team productivity, technical excellence, and professional growth.
• Manage team priorities, resource allocation, and project assignments to ensure alignment with organizational objectives.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for internal engineering (hardware, software, mechanical, avionics) and product teams, providing critical feedback on design for testability, reliability, and performance.
• Build strong relationships with external stakeholders, including vendors, partners, and regulatory bodies, ensuring clear communication and successful project outcomes.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 12+ years of experience in hardware development or test engineering, with at least 5+ years in a leadership or management capacity.
• Proven experience in hiring, mentoring, and developing high-performing engineering teams.
• Demonstrated ability to foster a safety-first culture in a demanding test environment.
• Expertise in engineering first principles and their application to complex system validation.
• Proficiency in at least one coding language (Python, Matlab, labview, etc.) for test automation and data analysis, with experience guiding team members in these tools.
• Familiarity with instrumentation and control components (accelerometers, load cells, thermocouples, pressure transducers, strain gauges, RTDs, and others) and experience guiding team members in their use and troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with industry-standard test guidance - MIL-STD-810, SMC-S-016, NASA GEVS, and experience driving compliance and best practices.
• BS, MS or PhD in an engineering discipline.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Deep understanding of drone architectures, avionics, flight control systems, propulsion, navigation, communications, and payload integration.
• Experience managing budgets, schedules, and resources for engineering projects.
• Demonstrated ability to strategically plan, manage, and deliver complex test programs from inception to completion.
• Experience with 3D modeling software and PLM (Siemens NX, Teamcenter, etc.) for reviewing test fixture designs and managing data.
• Experience in a fast-paced, high-growth R&D environment.
• Experience developing novel solutions to complex testing issues and advancing test capabilities.