Program Manager, USAF Air Defense

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 TEAMThe Air Defense team builds robots that find other robots and knock them out of the sky. At a time when air superiority can no longer be taken for granted, the Air Defense team provides mission critical capabilities to protect the nation’s most important assets. From detection to tracking, identification, deterrence, and defeat, our family of networked sensors, effectors, and Command & Control (C2) software enables our customers to rapidly close the kill chain against a broad range of UAS threats. Working across product, engineering, business development, logistics, and operations, the Air Defense team develops, tests, deploys, and sustains the Anduril Air Defense Family of Systems in challenging operational environments worldwide.ABOUT THE JOBOur Air Defense team is responsible for developing and fielding CUAS capabilities around the world. We are seeking a Program Manager to join our growing team focused on protecting critical national security assets for military customers worldwide. This role is designed for a strong operator who will help scale across U.S. and overseas operating environments.Operating CUAS capabilities in support of military missions requires a combination of technical rigor, operational excellence, and regulatory awareness. Our systems must integrate seamlessly with military operations while meeting applicable U.S. and host-nation legal authorities governing counter-drone activity. Our customers depend on precise execution, regulatory compliance, and professional fielding in environments where safety, legal authority, and public trust are paramount.In this role you will serve as the operational expert for Air Defense deployments—ensuring systems, personnel, training, documentation, and regulatory requirements are aligned for mission success. You will build repeatable deployment processes, manage cross-functional coordination, and serve as the connective tissue between technical teams and customers.You will operate at the intersection of technology development, operational deployment, and customer engagement - serving as a key integrator across teams and ensuring the program executes effectively and efficiently at scale. You will directly support program cost, schedule, risk management, executive reporting, and strategic execution.This role is ideal for an operator who thrives in ambiguity, is comfortable in front of customers and executives, wants to scale at speed, and build long-term sustainable operations.WHAT YOU’LL DOProgram ExecutionDevelop and maintain program execution frameworks, milestones, and reporting structures to ensure alignment across technical and operational teamsDrive program coordination across engineering, product, growth, compliance, and supply chainDevelop executive-level reporting, dashboards, and briefings to communicate program health and progress to leadershipIdentify program risks early and drive mitigation strategies across technical and operational stakeholdersEnsure program execution aligns with applicable U.S. and host-nation regulatory frameworks governing CUAS operationsCoordinate with regulatory and policy stakeholders to support deployments operating within DoD, host-nation, and other relevant authoritiesServe as subject matter expert to ensure operational concepts and deployment strategies reflect real-world legal and regulatory constraints as well as operational realitiesDeployment PlanningOversee planning and coordination of CUAS deployments — from planning and logistics through on-site activation to long-term sustainmentDevelop structured deployment plans, readiness gates, and operational checklists to ensure repeatable executionCoordinate cross-functional teams to deliver mission-ready capabilities to customer sitesLead after-action reviews and capture lessons learned to continuously improve deployment velocity and qualityStakeholder EngagementServe as senior program representative during key deployments and operational activitiesEnsure clear, proactive communication across internal stakeholders and external customersDrive stakeholder alignment across technical, operational, and regulatory teams to ensure program decisions are made quickly, transparently, and in support of mission successEnsure coordination between program leadership, field operations, and customer stakeholders to maintain readiness and program credibilityREQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS6+ years of experience working with government program offices, defense programs, or technical project managementExperience with government contracts, government acquisition processes, and proposal developmentDemonstrated experience managing complex, cross-functional programs involving hardware and software systems in high-stakes or regulated environmentsExperience across the broader counter-UAS (CUAS) domain and working with military and government entities, critical infrastructure operators, or defense customersStrong operational rigor—ability to build structured plans, manage concurrent workstreams, and execute against tight timelinesProven ability to cut through ambiguity and drive cross-functional alignment without formal authorityExceptional written and verbal communication skills; comfortable briefing senior leadership and customer executivesWillingness to travel up to 30% as program and deployment needs requireEligible to obtain and maintain a security clearancePREFERRED QUALIFICATIONSManufacturing, production, or supply chain experience (beneficial, though production responsibilities ultimately rest with the business lines rather than the PM)Familiarity with the CUAS operating environment with direct experience work on sensor networks, autonomy, or ISR platformsKnowledge of airspace coordination, regulatory compliance, and operational integration across U.S. and overseas operating environmentsPrior experience in a Deputy Program Manager, Program Analyst, or Technical Program Management roleFamiliarity with airspace regulations, military rules of engagement, or CUAS legal frameworksGeneral awareness of electronic warfare (EW), Radar, and infrared concepts (this role focuses on Counter-UAS, not electronic attack)Background in DoD, DHS, or critical infrastructure protection programsExperience scaling operations from early-stage deployments to sustained fielding, partnering with business lines on productionMBA or advanced degree in Business, Public Policy, Engineering, or a related technical disciplineWHO YOU AREYou are a structured operator who brings clarity and discipline to complex, fast-moving initiativesYou are comfortable navigating both technical complexity and operational ambiguityYou are detail-obsessed but capable of thinking strategicallyYou are comfortable both in a warehouse coordinating shipments and, in a boardroom presenting a program updateYou approach mission-critical work with high ownership and low egoUS Salary Range$146,000—$194,000 USDThe 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: BenefitsAt 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.Protecting Yourself from Recruitment ScamsAnduril is committed to maintaining the integrity of our Talent acquisition process and the security of our candidates. We've observed a rise in sophisticated phishing and fraudulent schemes where individuals impersonate Anduril representatives, luring job seekers with false interviews or job offers. These scammers often attempt to extract payment or sensitive personal information.To ensure your safety and help you navigate your job search with confidence, please keep the following critical points in mind:No Financial Requests: Anduril will never solicit payment or demand personal financial details (such as banking information, credit card numbers, or social security numbers) at any stage of our hiring process. Our legitimate recruitment is entirely free for candidates.Please always verify communications:Direct from Anduril: If you receive an email from one of our recruiters, it will only come from an @anduril.com address.Via Agency Partner: If contacted by a recruiting agency for an Anduril role, their email will clearly identify their agency. If you suspect any suspicious activity, please verify the agency's authenticity by reaching out to View email address on click.appcast.io. Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Outreach: If you receive any communication that appears suspicious, contains grammatical errors, or makes unusual requests, do not engage. Always confirm the sender's email domain is @anduril.com before providing any personal information or clicking on links.What to Do If You Suspect Fraud: Should you encounter any questionable or fraudulent outreach claiming to be from Anduril, please report it immediately to View email address on click.appcast.io. Your proactive caution is invaluable in protecting your personal information and upholding the security and trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts.Data PrivacyTo view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit . By submitting your application, you consent to Anduril Industries using a third-party service provider to conduct pre-employment risk, integrity, and due diligence screening and assessing potential risks as part of your application process. This third-party service provider provides risk-intelligence services that may include analysis of sanctions and watchlists, adverse media, public-record information, and other lawful open-source or commercial data sources. This third-party service provider does not act as a consumer reporting agency. Use of this provider helps to ensure compliance with applicable laws and protect technology, intellectual property, and organizational security.