Head of Production, Space

Head Of Production, Space

Costa Mesa, California, United States

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.

If you grew up reading science fiction, now is the chance to make it reality. The Space Business at Anduril is growing rapidly, and as the Head of Production, Space, you will be responsible for scaling it. You will own the short-to-mid-term strategy and execution for the Assembly, Integration, and Test (AIT) of a growing portfolio of space systems. You will lead and collaborate with some of the most brilliant engineers and production talent in the world. This is the role you tell your grandchildren about.

What You'll Do:

• Own production outcomes for the space business, standing up new manufacturing lines, including ramp plans, and headcount planning.
• Create and execute a long-term strategy to rapidly scale production volumes from a prototype units per year to predictable production rates.
• Lead cross-functional production teams to execute plans that meet aggressive customer timelines.
• Oversee all aspects of Assembly, Integration, and Test (AIT) for space systems, ensuring mission success.
• Partner with engineering to transition new satellite and space system designs to production quickly and efficiently.
• Work across planning, supply chain, engineering, quality, and AIT teams to deliver manufacturing excellence.
• Manage and scale cleanroom environments and procedures to support increasing production volumes and stringent quality requirements.
• Apply appropriate production controls and quality standards (e.g., AS9100) in line with product maturity and mission requirements.
• Shape corporate tools and processes to support the unique needs of space production.
• Triage production resources and focus to manage shifting priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Serve as a rallying point for production teams through strong leadership, advocacy, and on-site presence.

Required Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience overseeing the production, assembly, integration, and test of complex electromechanical products.
• Ownership and successful execution of NPI for multiple complex hardware products.
• Strong leadership of large (100+ person) manufacturing teams.
• Proven ability to direct and lead cross-departmental teams in a matrix environment.
• Demonstrated success in scaling production operations by 5x or more in a high-complexity manufacturing environment.
• Expert-level knowledge of aerospace quality management systems and standards, such as AS9100 and AS9103.
• Proven experience managing and operating in cleanroom manufacturing environments.
• A strong background in quality assurance, with a track record of driving a "quality-first" culture in a production environment.
• Past success operating in low rate and high rate manufacturing environments.
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance.
• High ownership and ability to effectively manage multiple (6+) large projects and priorities in parallel, at a rapid pace, and report out on progress regularly.
• Ability to work onsite five days a week at our HQ in Costa Mesa, CA and nearby Anduril sites.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience overseeing the production, assembly, integration, and test of complex space systems, satellites, or related aerospace hardware.
• Ownership and successful execution of NPI for multiple complex hardware products in the aerospace or space industry.
• Deep experience with the niche supply chains for space systems, including sourcing and managing suppliers for space-grade components and subsystems.

US Salary Range

$291,000 - $386,000 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.