Manufacturing Engineering Manager, Barracuda

ABOUT THE SITE

Anduril, a leader in autonomous systems and weapons manufacturing, is building Arsenal-1, its first hyper-scale manufacturing facility, just south of Columbus, Ohio in Pickaway County. Arsenal-1 is redefining the scale and speed that autonomous systems and weapons can be produced for the United States and its allies and partners. This is a monumental and essential step toward rebuilding America’s defense industrial base, strengthening America’s warfighting capabilities, and enhancing deterrence amid rising international threats.

ABOUT THE PRODUCT

The future of defense is being built right now, and Anduril’s Barracuda product is at its leading edge. Barracuda is a family of air breathing autonomous air vehicles (AAVS) purpose-built for hyper-scale production and mass employment. The Barracuda family of AAVs consist of Barracuda-100, Barracuda-250, and Barracuda-500. Each increment offers increasing size, range and payload capacity, but all barracudas are compatible with a host of payloads and employment mechanisms, support a variety of different missions, and provide warfighters with an adaptable and upgradeable capability to counter evolving threats.

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Barracuda Launch Team (BLT) will set the standard for building the future at Arsenal-1, our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Ashville, OH. This team will have the opportunity to train under our world-class manufacturing team at Anduril HQ in Costa Mesa, CA for 3 months before bringing that standard of excellence back to Ohio.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Manager of Manufacturing Engineering, you will be responsible for leading and managing a manufacturing engineering team over a subset of Anduril’s products to drive process improvements, ensure the highest quality of production, and support the development and implementation of new products and processes. You will play a crucial role in optimizing manufacturing processes, reducing costs, and increasing efficiencies on existing technologies while also developing new products and scaling to full scale production.

**This role requires candidates to relocate to Costa Mesa for a 3-month training program. Housing, transportation, etc. will be provided during your stay.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Direct and develop the manufacturing engineering team dedicated to the Barracuda 500 program. Oversee the complete industrialization process, from initial prototyping and design validation to establishing and scaling large-volume production lines
• Responsible for setting strategic technical direction, driving continuous process improvement, evaluating team and project performance, and ensuring the highest standards of manufacturing efficiency and quality
• Develop and execute strategic plans for production capabilities, incorporating new technologies and methodologies.
• Own documentation required for successfully manufacturing product group hardware at scale, such as work instructions, inspection plans & requirements, etc.
• Collaborate with product development teams to ensure manufacturability of new designs and smooth transition from prototype to production
• Assist in the selection, installation, and commissioning of new manufacturing equipment and processes, ensuring optimal integration into production lines
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that result in cost reduction, quality enhancement, and throughput maximization
• Manage budgets and forecast future manufacturing needs, including personnel, equipment, and materials
• Establish and maintain robust training and documentation programs to enhance team skills and promote cross-functional knowledge sharing
• Foster a culture of innovation, teamwork, and accountability within the manufacturing engineering department
• Serve as the technical expert and point of contact for manufacturing engineering issues, providing guidance and support to resolve complex problems
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure successful product launches, from initial design through to full-scale production
• Liaise with vendors and suppliers to ensure the timely delivery of equipment and materials and maintain quality standards
• Analyze production metrics and performance data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement
• Ensure compliance with all safety, quality, and regulatory requirements within the manufacturing process

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in manufacturing engineering, with at least 3 years in a managerial role
• Experience developing products from scratch and successfully scaling to production in industry leading timeframes
• Proven track record of leading teams, developing new products and processes, and cradle to grave ownership
• Experience driving process improvements in a manufacturing setting
• An attitude of world-class mission assurance, quality, attention to detail, and dedication
• A genuine interest in manufacturing and thirst for learning
• Excellent project management skills and experience leading cross-functional projects
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively at all levels of the organization
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
• Ability to generate and manage metrics and dashboards
• Technical expertise in manufacturing systems (MES, ERP, etc.)
• U.S. Citizen Required

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Exposure to aircraft programs or other relevant aerospace & defense technologies
• Software scripting experience in any language
• Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher) or equivalent experience
• Familiarity with J-STD-001, IPC-A-610, and IPC/WHMA-A-620 or equivalent standards
• Proficient in CAD software and familiar with modern manufacturing technologies and automation
• Personal experience physically manufacturing hardware via any means (machining, fabrication, soldering, assembly, etc.). Work on personal or extracurricular projects is a plus
• Masters degree in engineering, business, or related field