Head of Manufacturing Test Engineering

Anduril Industries · Costa Mesa, CA

Level: Director+
Team: Manufacturing
Degree: Required
Experience asked: 10+ years
Industry: Aerospace & defense
Posted: 30+ days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A director-level manufacturing role at Anduril Industries (aerospace & defense) in Costa Mesa, CA. You will play a pivotal leadership role in defining and executing the manufacturing test strategy across Anduril's rapidly expanding global manufacturing footprint.

They ask for: 10+ years · degree required
Tools it names: Root cause, Automation, Tooling, MES

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 (10+ vs 5+)

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.

Stands out: this posting asks for Python, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.

It asks for 10+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

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
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2
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3
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?
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4
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5
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This plant: Anduril Industries in Costa Mesa

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Full description from Anduril IndustriesAs posted on their careers site.Show

Required qualifications

✓Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
✓Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing test engineering, with a proven track record of developing, deploying, and scaling high-volume, complex system production operations across multiple global sites.
✓Profound expertise in the testing of complex electro-mechanical assemblies, advanced electrical systems, and propulsion technologies.
✓Proven ability to lead, mentor, and inspire large, diverse engineering teams, fostering professional growth and high performance.
✓Exceptional executive presence, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical strategies to non-technical audiences.
✓Strong financial acumen, including experience managing large departmental budgets and strategic capital expenditures.
✓Deep understanding of manufacturing processes, quality systems, and reliability engineering principles in high-volume, fast-paced environments.
✓Strong analytical skills for root cause analysis of non-conforming hardware and process deviations.
✓Familiarity with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), and Test Execution Systems (TES).
✓Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance.

Preferred qualifications

✓Advanced degree (Master's or Ph.D.) in a relevant engineering discipline or MBA.
✓Proven experience in establishing and expanding global manufacturing test capabilities, including greenfield site development.
✓Familiarity with test automation software platforms and programming languages (e.g., Python, C#, LabVIEW, MATLAB) for high-level system integration and data analysis.
✓Expertise in designing and specifying test fixtures and equipment for challenging mechanical, electrical, and propulsion components.
✓Strong knowledge of reliability and environmental testing (HASS, ESS, thermal cycling, vibration, shock) specifically for advanced physical systems.
✓Experience with various hardware communication protocols relevant to complex system integration.
✓Currently possesses and is able to maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance.

$254,000 — $336,000 USD

Show full description ↓

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.

As the Head of Manufacturing Test Engineering, you will play a pivotal leadership role in defining and executing the manufacturing test strategy across Anduril's rapidly expanding global manufacturing footprint. You are charged with establishing and scaling rigorous testing protocols for our high-volume, technologically advanced products, with a specific emphasis on complex mechanical, electrical, and propulsion systems. Your strategic leadership will ensure the consistent delivery of superior quality products to our customers worldwide, while meeting ambitious manufacturing throughput requirements. This position demands an exceptional blend of strategic foresight, executive presence, and deep technical acumen to resolve complex testing challenges, drive global scalability, and enhance our automation, uniformity, and data-driven decision-making processes.

What you’ll do

•Lead the definition and execution of a comprehensive global manufacturing test strategy, ensuring seamless scalability and operational excellence from pre-production to mass production across diverse international sites.
•Provide strong, inspirational leadership to a high-performing global engineering team, fostering innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
•Serve as a key executive liaison, adeptly communicating strategic visions and technical roadmaps to senior leadership, cross-functional stakeholders, and global partners to influence key decisions.
•Drive cutting-edge innovation in test methodologies and infrastructure, specializing in complex electro-mechanical assemblies, advanced electrical systems, and propulsion technologies, focusing on automation, standardization, and operational streamlining.
•Lead the strategic design, procurement, and implementation of test infrastructure and equipment, ensuring robust capabilities for diverse hardware complexities while optimizing cost-benefit and ROI.
•Collaborate extensively with R&D, product development, and manufacturing teams to integrate design-for-testability principles early in the product lifecycle, enhancing manufacturability and global production readiness.
•Champion initiatives that drive operational excellence, including enhancing safety, reducing costs, improving quality, and increasing productivity across all manufacturing test operations.
•Establish robust data analytics frameworks and reporting structures to provide actionable insights for strategic decision-making, continuous product/process enhancement, and performance optimization across the enterprise.
•Implement comprehensive training, documentation, and proactive maintenance strategies to elevate team expertise, facilitate knowledge transfer, and ensure equipment uptime across the global footprint.
•Act as the ultimate technical authority and strategic advisor for all manufacturing test matters, guiding complex problem-solving and long-range planning.