Manager, Manufacturing Engineering
Anduril Industries · Costa Mesa, CA
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 7+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A management manufacturing role at Anduril Industries (aerospace & defense) in Costa Mesa, CA. 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.
- They ask for
- 7+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Automation, Machining
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $114k–$167k.
Median of the low and high ends of 117 live postings that list pay, out of 320 manufacturing engineer openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 319 other live manufacturing postings in California.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (7+ vs 5+)
Typical $111k–$157k, from 105 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Tooling 53%
- ✓ New product launch 51%
- Root cause 40%
- ✓ Automation 35%
- ✓ Machining 29%
- CATIA / NX 29%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at Anduril Industries
We found 2 people at this company and state: 2 in this kind of role. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
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Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
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- 5
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One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Anduril Industries in Costa Mesa
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Full description from Anduril IndustriesAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
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 or supervisory role.
- ✓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.
- ✓Personal experience physically manufacturing hardware via any means (machining, fabrication, soldering, assembly, etc.). Work on personal or extracurricular projects is a plus.
- ✓Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export controlled information or facilities
Preferred qualifications
- ✓Masters degree in engineering, business, or related field.
- ✓Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and other process improvement methodologies.
- ✓Proficient in CAD software and familiar with modern manufacturing technologies and automation.
- ✓Software scripting experience in any language.
$147,000 — $196,000 USD
Benefits
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 informatio
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
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 job
We are seeking a highly experienced and dynamic Manager of Manufacturing Engineering to lead our manufacturing engineering efforts across multiple critical space programs. This pivotal role demands a visionary leader with deep technical expertise in advanced aerospace manufacturing, a proven track record of bringing complex space-qualified hardware from prototype to production, and an unwavering commitment to quality and mission success.
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. 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.
What you’ll do
- •Lead the manufacturing engineering team, setting goals, providing direction, and evaluating performance over a certain product or set of products, from initial prototyping through large full-scale production.
- •Develop and execute strategic plans to enhance 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, 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