Manufacturing Operations Manager, AD&S

ABOUT THE SITE

Anduril, a leader in autonomous systems and weapons manufacturing, is building Arsenal-1, its first hyper-scale manufacturing facility, just south of Columbus, Ohio in Pickaway County. Arsenal-1 is redefining the scale and speed at which autonomous systems and weapons can be produced for the United States and its allies and partners. This is a monumental and essential step toward rebuilding America's defense industrial base, strengthening America's warfighting capabilities, and enhancing deterrence amid rising international threats.

ABOUT THE TEAM

Air Dominance & Strike (AD&S) is the team at Anduril responsible for producing the family of autonomous air vehicles and precision effects that define the modern fight, including Fury, Barracuda, and RoadRunner, as well as a wide array of emerging capabilities. New adversaries and the new economics of warfare demand mass, and our products are rapidly scaling in production to deliver the volumes our customers need. You will own one of these products in production and drive its production ramp, from rapidly maturing prototypes through full-rate production at scale. Your work will help change the balance of defense capabilities on a global scale. This team will have the opportunity to train under our world-class manufacturing team at Anduril HQ in Costa Mesa, CA for three months before bringing that standard of excellence back to Ohio.

ABOUT THE JOB

We are seeking a Manufacturing Operations Manager to join our growing team supporting Arsenal-1. Here you will work on cutting-edge technology aimed at advancing the state of the possible. The Manufacturing Operations Manager will manage a team of highly talented technicians producing multiple platforms of hardware for strategic military customers, reporting to the Director of Manufacturing Operations for AD&S. This is a highly dynamic role that requires both frontline technical and people-management skills. This role is at the forefront of delivering exceptional customer outcomes, fostering team development, and overseeing day-to-day production and delivery operations. Success in this role demands consistent achievement across hardware production, team management, manufacturing operations, and financial goals.

The ideal candidate has experience with New Product Introduction (NPI) and the technical acumen to communicate effectively across the floor and with engineering. We are looking for a highly organized, self-motivated individual who is energetic, deeply committed to scaling innovative products, and passionate about driving transformative change. While we value strong individual contributions, teamwork is crucial to success here, and to maintaining our Anduril culture above all.

This role will be based at Arsenal-01 in Columbus, OH, and may require candidates to relocate to Costa Mesa, CA for a three-month training program. Housing, transportation, and related costs will be provided during your stay.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Manage technician staff in the production and delivery of AD&S hardware through factory acceptance. You will have the critical task of managing the priorities, equipment, and people associated with the production line.
• Set priorities and direct daily operations, including the timely issuing and completion of work orders to the production floor.
• Ensure all operators follow safety procedures and that their teams' safety training is current, document EHS incidents, proactively correct workplace hazards, and empower others to continuously improve operations.
• Manage, coach, mentor, and support production technicians.
• Prioritize work activities for operators to achieve target on-time delivery goals.
• Ensure quality standards are met throughout the entire production process, and support no defects leaving a station or team area.
• Own the culture on your line: be a stakeholder in the programs and policies that affect life on the floor, and maintain a high bar for excellence while building a strong team.
• Provide clear, high-quality reports out to Production Managers, the Director of Manufacturing Operations, and the Head of Manufacturing as needed.
• Be an active participant in 5S and continuous improvement activities.
• Complete transactions in production systems (NetSuite, JIRA Anduril MES) on a daily basis.
• Work cross-functionally with Manufacturing Engineering, Design Engineering, Planning, Quality, and Supply Chain to ensure inventory levels are maintained and accurate in each work area.
• Provide a weekly report-out of production progress, blockers, risks, and needs, and generate daily pass-downs and weekly production reports for the engineering and operations teams.
• Lead daily communication with cross-functional teams, including engineering, technicians, supply chain, logistics, and quality, as necessary.
• Build a positive and collaborative team culture that promotes product knowledge, skills development, and cross-training.
• Show up every day with a high level of urgency, ownership, and enthusiasm to get the job done.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 7+ years of experience in production-oriented or electro-mechanical technician fields, with at least 3+ years in a supervisor or production operations lead/manager role in a high-volume production environment.
• Experience working with ERP and MES systems.
• A full understanding of the product life cycle (NPI to scaled production), LEAN manufacturing principles, and change management (ECOs).
• Ability to interpret technical documentation (mechanical drawings, work instructions, building plans, equipment specifications, electrical schematics, and similar).
• Experience working directly and communicating with designers and engineers.
• Extremely reliable, organized, and detail-oriented, with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• A passion for employee development, and enjoyment of the process of training and developing both new hires and veteran production staff.
• Proven skills in both process and equipment troubleshooting, allowing you to adapt easily to constantly changing production environments.
• Experience supporting process development.
• Knowledge of 5S, lean manufacturing, or 6-Sigma principles.
• Proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project).
• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• New Product Introduction (NPI) experience.
• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in a technical field (engineering, business, or applied science).
• Lean Six Sigma green belt certification.
• Working knowledge of AS9100 standards and OSHA laws.