Manufacturing Test Engineering Manager

Anduril Industries · Costa Mesa, CA

Level: Manager
Team: Manufacturing
Degree: Required (or equivalent experience)
Experience asked: 10+ years
Industry: Aerospace & defense
Posted: Today

The role in 30 seconds

A management manufacturing role at Anduril Industries (aerospace & defense) in Costa Mesa, CA. Your role encompasses the strategic oversight and tactical management of production systems to support across multiple products in the Anduril portfolio.

They ask for: 10+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience)
Tools it names: Root cause, Automation, MES

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of October 26, 2026

Manufacturing Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $112k–$168k.

Median of the low and high ends of 138 live postings that list pay, out of 365 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 364 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 52%
New product launch 50%
✓ Root cause 40%
✓ Automation 36%
CATIA / NX 28%
Machining 27%

✓ = 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
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
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Kevin → (free)
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?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
5
Bring proof to the interview
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

163 other open roles at this site · 2 people we found in manufacturing roles at Anduril Industries.

Financial Data Operations Engineer · Production
Lead Maintenance Engineer, Maritime · Reliability · Manager
Manager, Manufacturing Engineering - Autonomous Airpower · Manufacturing · Manager
Asset Improvement - Electrical Technician · Reliability · Technician
Senior Supplier Quality Engineer, Lead · Quality · Manager
Electrical Engineering Technician, Connected Warfare · Reliability

All 164 roles at Anduril Industries →

Manufacturing Test Engineering Manager at Anduril Industries in other locations

Anduril Industries lists this title in 2 places. Pick the plant you can get to.

Irvine, CA

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

Required qualifications

✓Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Electronics, Computer, Mechanical Engineering, or related fields OR 10+ years of advanced knowledge acquired through work experience and/or intellectual instruction in lieu of degree.
✓Minimum of 8+ years of relevant industry experience leading manufacturing test engineering.
✓Expertise in Linux, C#, Python.
✓Experience with PCBA/electronic assembly testing and knowledge of testing standards.
✓Proficiency in using electronic test equipment.
✓Strong analytical skills for root cause analysis of non-conforming hardware.
✓Familiar with Product Life Cycle (PLM) systems, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), and Test Execution Systems (TES)
✓Experience in managing projects that integrate electrical, mechanical, and software/firmware systems.
✓Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance

Preferred qualifications

✓Advanced degree in a relevant engineering discipline.
✓10+ years of relevant industry experience leading manufacturing test engineering.
✓Demonstrated ability to lead the development of manufacturing test systems and teams.
✓Proficiency in Test Automation.
✓Knowledge of PCBA design, mechanical design, and ESS testing.
✓Familiarity with various hardware communication protocols.
✓Experience with HASS & ESS-related testing (Thermal, Vibration, etc.)
✓Active U.S. Secret security clearance

$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 information, Explore Our Benefits .

Protecting Yourself from Recruitment Scams

Anduril 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 contact@anduril.com .

Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Outreach: If you receive any communication that appears suspicious, contains gramma

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.

Summary - about the team / job

As the Manager of Manufacturing Test Engineering, your role encompasses the strategic oversight and tactical management of production systems to support across multiple products in the Anduril portfolio. You are charged with ensuring rigorous testing protocols are in place, resulting in the consistent delivery of superior quality products to our customers. Furthermore, your leadership guarantees the fulfillment of manufacturing's test throughput requirements. This position demands an innovative approach to resolving complex testing challenges, advancing scalability, and enhancing our automation, throughput, user interfaces, and data analytics methodologies.

What you’ll do

•Direct the manufacturing test engineering team, set objectives, guide initiatives, and assess team outcomes.
•Architect and oversee the manufacturing test strategy for multiple products to ensure scalable operations across Anduril, transitioning from pre-production to full-scale output.
•Strategize and implement advancements in manufacturing testing, focusing on automation, uniformity, and operational streamlining.
•Evaluate test data, compile findings, and identify opportunities for product and process enhancements.
•Collaborate with product development for design testability, ensuring seamless production integration.
•Lead the procurement and implementation of new test equipment, performing cost-benefit and ROI analyses as needed.
•Cultivate a culture focused on innovation, collaboration, and accountability in the engineering department.
•Design proactive maintenance and calibration protocols for manufacturing test equipment.