Head of Production, Compute & Comms

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking a Head of Production to own the strategic development, operational direction, and execution of production for high-volume compute devices. In this role, you will serve as both a strategic leader and a hands-on operator, responsible for defining and driving the future success of the production portfolio and ensuring consistent, flawless execution across engineering, supply chain, and contract manufacturing. You will own the end-to-end relationship with contract manufacturers (CMs), lead the transition from New Product Introduction (NPI) through to sustained high-rate mass production, and build supply chain resilience — all while ensuring operational excellence, scalability, and adherence to rigorous quality and cost targets.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Contract Manufacturer Management (High-Volume Compute)

• Own CM Relationships & Performance: Own the relationship, performance, and output of contract manufacturers producing compute devices at high volume. Drive CM communications, onboarding, capacity planning, and new product introduction (NPI) through to mass production ramp.
• KPI Management: Establish and manage KPIs across yield, quality, cost, throughput, and on-time delivery; hold CM partners accountable to them. Use data to drive continuous improvement and business impact.
• Production Ramps: Lead production ramps and volume transitions across multiple CM sites and geographies, ensuring on-time delivery against aggressive targets.

Supply Chain Management

• Supply Chain Strategy: Own supply chain strategy for high-volume production: demand/supply planning, component sourcing, inventory management, and logistics.
• Risk & Resilience: Build resilience against component shortages, single-source risk, and geopolitical or lead-time disruption.
• Component Sourcing: Partner with procurement and engineering to secure allocation of critical and long-lead components at scale.

Contract Negotiation

• Manufacturing Agreements: Negotiate manufacturing agreements, pricing, capacity commitments, SLAs, and cost-down roadmaps with CMs and suppliers.
• Commercial Terms: Structure commercial terms that protect margin, ensure supply, and align partner incentives with volume and quality targets.
• Cost Reduction: Drive year-over-year cost reduction through negotiation, design-for-cost, and competitive sourcing.

Strategic & Operational Leadership

• Executive Partnership: Serve as the production voice to the executive team and board; translate operational status, risk, and trade-offs into clear executive-level recommendations. Act as a key partner to Anduril's SVP of Manufacturing and broader Executive Leadership, contributing to company-wide production strategy and vision.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Product, Procurement, Quality, Program Management, Deployment Operations, and Finance to align production plans with company goals and ensure seamless product maturation and delivery.
• Talent & Team Building: Build, lead, and develop a high-performing production/operations organization. Attract, develop, and retain top-tier talent, fostering a culture of ownership and excellence.
• Process & Systems Excellence: Establish, mature, and continuously refine manufacturing processes, operational playbooks, and systems to enable efficient scaling and consistent quality.
• Digital Manufacturing Infrastructure: Advise on development and oversee implementation of digital technologies — including PLM, ERP, MES, and QMS — that enable production operations to scale efficiently while meeting customer requirements.
• Compliance & Standards: Ensure adherence to applicable industry standards (e.g., AS9100D) and all relevant safety, regulatory, and environmental requirements.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 10+ years of progressive leadership in high-volume production of compute or electronics hardware (servers, data center infrastructure, or comparable devices), scaling products from prototype to full-rate production.
• Proven track record managing contract manufacturers / EMS partners at scale, including NPI-to-mass-production ramps. Direct ownership of at least one new product ramp through full-rate production.
• Deep supply chain management expertise — planning, sourcing, risk mitigation, procurement, and warehousing functions essential to high-volume hardware manufacturing.
• Demonstrated contract negotiation skill with CMs and suppliers (pricing, capacity, SLAs, cost-down).
• Strong executive presence with the ability to influence and partner with C-level leadership and the board.
• Experience managing a workforce of 100+ employees across quality, supply chain, manufacturing engineering, operations, and technicians.
• Experience managing a P&L in a production environment, including capital expenditure forecasting and resource allocation.
• Demonstrated strategic thinking and strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to understand how problems and solutions integrate within the broader organization.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or related technical field; advanced degree a plus. Equivalent practical experience with a proven track record considered.
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience scaling a new compute product line from launch through high-volume production (on the order of thousands of units annually).
• Global CM/supplier management experience across multiple regions.
• Background blending in-house and outsourced manufacturing models.
• Experience with complex electromechanical systems in a deeply technical industry such as aerospace, defense, consumer electronics, or data center infrastructure.